NEWARK, NJ — This city is enjoying its post-pandemic popularity as one of North Jersey’s most photogenic backdrops for new movies and television shows.
Production companies are providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in new revenue to retail stores, restaurants and caterers, plus a host of temporary construction jobs. Some lucky locals are getting paid to appear on camera as “extras.”
Newark’s number of film permits plummeted to just 15 in 2020 – from 57 in 2019 – after COVID-19 forced the shutdown most TV and movie productions. But, it bounced back to 54 permits 2021.
In 2022, Newark’s Office of Film & Television issued 72 new production permits. City officials expect that number to rise substantially in 2023 and beyond.
“Big-budget productions to smaller independent movies are discovering that Newark is ready for its close-up,” Mayor Ras Baraka says proudly, explaining the entertainment industry is boosting his city’s economic health.
“Overcoming the challenges and difficulties of COVID-19, Newark is once again the backdrop for all kinds of movies and TV shows,” Baraka said. “We have hosted period pieces like “The Plot Against America,” set in the 1930s; and “The Many Saints of Newark,” a prequel to “The Sopranos,” set in the 1960s.
Read the full article published on tapinto.net
Last modified: September 9, 2024
