Cooperative launches to bring film, TV productions to South Jersey

Listen to this article

Two South Jersey counties are looking to entice more film and television production to the area with the establishment of the South Jersey Film Office Cooperative.

The regional initiative, which will assist with permitting, scouting and other services for film productions throughout Camden and Gloucester counties, launched April 4.

Both counties are flush with quaint downtowns and urban centers, untouched forests and manicured parks, historic estates and apartment complexes, rolling farmland and winding rivers, giving move producers a wide variety of scenery to work with.

“We are always looking for ways to bring new employment and economic opportunities to Camden County and the South Jersey Film Cooperative is one way to do that,” said Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. “Camden County has a unique geography that can serve as the setting to a variety of film projects. Whether it’s the urban backdrop on the Delaware River or the rural terrain in the Pine Barrens, Camden County has much to offer and we’re overjoyed to embark on this new venture.”

The South Jersey Film Office Cooperative was created to bring economic activity to the region and also to incentivize production companies with The New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program, which provides tax credits against the corporation business tax for film production.

“The South Jersey Film Office Cooperative will bring an extraordinary amount of opportunity to southern New Jersey as we look forward to welcoming participation from our neighboring counties. The economic benefits of bringing productions to our counties are endless. It will help stimulate growth and create employment opportunities across the industry,” said Gloucester County Board of Commissioners Deputy Director Heather Simmons.

The South Jersey Film Office Cooperative’s services are free to productions working within the counties.

“Each municipality across Gloucester and Camden counties have named a representative. This representative will serve a liaison on the ground for talent, location and vendor scouts. When Hollywood comes to southern New Jersey, we’re going to show them the best of the best in the most efficient way possible,” said former Assemblyman John Burzichelli, managing partner at Hill Theatre Studio and chair of the South Jersey Film Office Cooperative.