Lights, Camera, NJ! 15 New Towns Named ‘Film Ready’ as Hollywood Moves East
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey is officially cementing its status as “Hollywood East.” On March 11, 2026, the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC) announced the addition of 15 new municipalities to its prestigious “Film Ready Communities” (FRC) cohort.
This latest expansion brings the state’s total to 58 certified towns, all equipped with streamlined permitting and local expertise to host major motion pictures and hit TV series.
Which Towns Are the Newest Stars?
The March 2026 cohort spans the entire Garden State, from the historic streets of Lambertville to the bustling hubs of New Brunswick and Edison. The 15 new Film Ready Communities are:
| North Jersey | Central Jersey | South/Coastal |
| Hanover | Edison | Hamilton |
| Newton | Fanwood | Hightstown |
| Randolph | Garwood | Lambertville |
| Highland Park | Oceanport | |
| New Brunswick | Phillipsburg | |
| Robbinsville | Shrewsbury |
Why “Film Ready” Matters for NJ Homeowners and Businesses
Being “Film Ready” isn’t just about celebrity sightings. It’s a calculated economic strategy. According to NJEDA CEO Evan Weiss, these communities are now positioned to capture a slice of the state’s multi-billion dollar film industry.
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Small Business Boost: Local delis, hardware stores, and hotels often see a 20% to 30% revenue increase when a production crew is in town.
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Job Creation: Large-scale productions like the recent Marty Supreme (starring Timothée Chalamet) have hired over 1,000 local residents for a single project.
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Tax Revenue: By standardizing permits, towns can host productions with minimal disruption to residents while maximizing municipal fees and local spending.
“The Film Ready Program establishes statewide consistency,” says NJMPTVC Executive Director Jon Crowley. “It ensures that whether a producer is in Newton or New Brunswick, they find the same professional standards for permitting and public safety.”
The 5-Step Path to the Silver Screen
To earn the “Film Ready” designation, towns must complete a rigorous five-step certification process designed to eliminate the “red tape” that often drives productions away:
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Workship Attendance: Training for local officials on the industry’s unique needs.
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Liaison Designation: Appointing a single point of contact for production scouts.
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Standardized Permitting: Adopting a predictable, fair ordinance for filming.
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Location Mapping: Uploading local landmarks to the state’s official database.
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Resource Auditing: Identifying local vendors (catering, security, etc.) that can serve a crew.
The Big Picture: A Record-Breaking Year
With Netflix building a massive production hub at Fort Monmouth and major studios increasingly choosing NJ over New York or Georgia, the demand for “Film Ready” towns is at an all-time high.
New Jersey currently offers a competitive 30% to 35% transferable tax credit, making the state a financial “no-brainer” for studios looking for diverse landscapes—from rugged mountains to charming main streets.
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Tags: #NJFilm #FilmReadyNJ #NewJerseyBusiness #NJRealEstate #HollywoodEast #NJEDA
