New Jersey Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews
Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in New Jersey? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in New Jersey
For an introduction to shooting in New Jersey see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.
New Jersey Film Locations
New Jersey is a northeastern state located on the Atlantic coast. Film locations include modern city skyline locations, up-market and working class suburbs, university campuses, entertainment venues, sport stadiums, ports, airports, beaches, piers, boardwalks, and lighthouses. The Pine Barrens, located in the south of the state, are a wilderness area with dense forest, scenic rivers, and swampland. The Appalachian Mountains run through the northwest of the state.
Agriculture is a very small sector of the economy. Farms produce Jersey tomatoes, blueberries, cranberries, peaches, asparagus, dairy products, and horses. The service sector is the economic mainstay with industries of note including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, information technology, finance, chemical development, telecommunications, electronics, food processing, tourism, and gambling. Energy locations include coal and natural gas fired power plants, as well as nuclear power plants.
Productions shot in New Jersey include Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), It Ends with Us (2024), Insidious: The Red Door (2023), Smile (2022), Severance (2022-), The Many Saints of Newark (2021), The Irishman (2019), Joker (2019), Jersey Shore (2009-2012), Real Housewives Of New Jersey (2009-2020), The Sopranos (1999-2007), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Cop Land (1997), Clerks (1994),The Prowler (1981), and Friday the 13th (1980).
Film locations can be divided into the following regions:
North Jersey
This region includes the counties of Hudson, Essex, Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Sussex, and Warren.
New Jersey’s largest city, Newark offers a city skyline, gritty urban looks, working and abandoned industrial areas. Film locations of note include the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark Museum of Art, Newark Symphony Hall, Dock Bridge, Rutgers University campus, Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Prudential Center, Newark Liberty International Airport, Port Newark, and the New Jersey Turnpike. Branch Brook Park’s cherry blossom trees bloom in the spring.
Jersey City offers some great skyline views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, from across the Hudson River. Jersey City film locations of note include Liberty State Park, Liberty Science Center, Jersey City Terminal, and White Mana Diner.
Akshardham Mahamandir Hindu Temple is located in Robbinsville.
The Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford is home to the MetLife Stadium, Meadowlands Racetrack, and the mega-mall and entertainment complex American Dream Meadowlands.
Ellis Island was once the busiest immigrant inspection station in the United States.
Park locations of note include Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Hacklebarney State Park, Jenny Jump State Forest, Palisades Interstate Park, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Ringwood State Park, and Wawayanda State Park.
Many productions filmed extensively throughout North Jersey including:
The Sopranos (1999-2007) filmed throughout the state including in Lodi, North Caldwell, East Brunswick, Paramus, Verona, Belleville, Kearny, Bloomfield, Clifton, Fort Lee, Garfield, Lyndhurst, Passaic, Paterson, Secaucus, West Orange, Wayne, Jersey City, East Rutherford, Harrison, and Newark, North Arlington, and Nutley.
The Many Saints of Newark (2021) filmed in Bendix Diner in Hasbrouck Heights, Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionery in Bloomfield, Passaic, Newark, and Paterson.
Joker (2019) filmed in Newark Paramount Theatre, Hudson County Courthouse, and Loew’s Jersey Theatre.
The Irishman (2019) filmed in Paterson, Northern State Prison in Newark, and East Jersey State Prison in Avenel.
A Beautiful Mind (2001) filmed in Princeton, Belleville, Newark, Bayonne, East Orange, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Jersey City.
Cop Land (1997) filmed in Edgewater, Cliffside Park, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Fort Lee, Teaneck, Jersey City, and Cliffside Park.
Friday the 13th (1980) filmed in Camp NoBeBoSco in Hardwick Township, the Moravian Cemetery in Hope, and Blairstown Diner in Blairstown.
Real Housewives Of New Jersey (2009-2020) filmed in Clifton, Franklin Lakes, Montville, Oakland, Paterson, Totowa, Wayne, and West Orange.
Central Jersey
This region includes the counties of Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Mercer, and Hunterdon.
Trenton is the state capital. Film locations include the New Jersey State House, State Museum, and Grounds For Sculpture park.
Princeton University campus is known for its beautiful Gothic buildings. Structures of note include Nassau Hall, Pyne Hall, Firestone Library, Cleveland Tower, Whig Hall, Princeton University Chapel, Ivy Club, Princeton University Art Museum, McCarter Theatre, Princeton Stadium, and Gordon Wu Hall was designed by Robert Venturi. Beautiful Mind (2001) filmed partly in Princeton.
Cheesequake State Park is located in Old Bridge.
South Jersey
This region includes the counties of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland.
Battleship New Jersey is located in Camden.
Salem Nuclear Power Plant and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station are located in Lower Alloways Creek.
Wharton State Forest, and Parvin State Park, are located in South Jersey.
Jersey Shore
This region includes the counties of Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May.
The Jersey Shore is known for its amusement parks, beaches, piers, and boardwalks.
Amusement parks of note include Six Flags Great Adventure, Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks, Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Seaside Boardwalk, Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, Keansburg Amusement Park, and Storybook Land.
Atlantic City is known for its casinos, wide beaches and iconic Boardwalk. Film locations of note include the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Steel Pier, Borgata Hotel Casino, Resorts Casino Hotel, Greek Temple Monument War Memorial, and Absecon Lighthouse. Real Housewives Of New Jersey (2009-2020) filmed in Atlantic City.
Asbury Park is a small seaside city known for its sandy shore and beachfront boardwalk. Film locations include Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall, and Asbury Park Casino.
Sandy Hook, part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, is known for its beaches and Fort Hancock.
Monmouth Park Race Track is located in Oceanport.
Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum is located in Cape May.
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is located on the northern tip of Long Beach Island.
Navesink Twin Lights is a non-operational lighthouse located in Highlands.
The Great Auditorium is located in Ocean Grove.
Cape May Point State Park, Allaire State Park, Belleplain State Forest, and Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge are located in the Jersey Shore.
Emlen Physick Estate, located in Cape May, was filmed for The Prowler (1980).
Jersey Shore (2009-2012) filmed in Seaside Heights.
Clerks (1994) filmed in Leonardo, Mount Holly, Atlantic Highlands, Middletown, and Red Bank.
Severance (2022-) filmed in Bell Labs Holmdel Complex.
New Jersey Film Location Permits
Location permits are required for filming on public property. Each city and town has its own permitting regulations. Proof of insurance is required. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
New Jersey has a four-season climate with springs in full bloom, hot humid summers, colorful fall leaves and cold snowy winters. The winters are colder the farther north you go. The state is vulnerable to summer hurricanes and thunderstorms.
The Race of Gentlemen Vintage Car & Motorcycle Beach Drag Races take place in Wildwood in October.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in the United States.
Unique Local Stories
Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.
If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.
If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.
New Jersey Tax Incentives For Filming
New Jersey offers a transferable tax credit of 30% (up to 35% if filming in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, or Salem County) on qualifying projects. Digital media projects can earn a tax credit of 20% – 25%.
New Jersey Film Crew & Equipment
Crew. New Jersey has a good pool of local crew. More specialized crew can be quickly brought in from neighboring New York City which is home to one of the world’s largest pools of creative and technical film crews.
Contact us if you are looking for a Newark, Atlantic City, or Jersey City based director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew in New Jersey.
Talent. New Jersey is a diverse state with talent from all ethnicities and walks of life available. Its proximity to New York City gives productions easy access to that extensive pool of talent. The state’s Italian American community is often the focus of film characters in the form of Jersey Shore types and mobsters.
New Jersey Film Equipment
Equipment. Standard camera, grip and lighting equipment available locally. More specialised equipment can be easily brought in from New York.
Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.
Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.
For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.
New Jersey Film-Friendly Accommodation
Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Newark, Atlantic City, Jersey City and other areas of New Jersey.
Final Notes
Safety. New Jersey is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Take The Sopranos Tour.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in New Jersey, please see below:
Hire New Jersey Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in New Jersey, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in New Jersey, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.
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