The basics:

• $250 million Filmology Labs studio campus planned in Paterson
• Alan Mruvka plans redevelopment of 250,000-square-foot historic Reinhardt Building
• 21 sound stages to focus on vertical micro-dramas, digital content
• Project leverages New Jersey film tax credits, 20 minutes from Manhattan

A $250 million next-generation film and digital studio campus is set to transform a historic mill in the Silk City into a hub for vertical storytelling and creator-driven content.

Media entrepreneur Alan Mruvka, co-founder of E! Entertainment Television, recently announced the launch of Filmology Labs: Content Creation Studios in Paterson.

The project will transform the historic Reinhardt Building into a 250,000-square-foot production hub. The former silk mill is known locally as the Padded Wagon Building. The new space will focus on vertical micro-dramas, digital series and creator-driven content.

The campus will also house Mruvka’s micro-drama platform VERZA TV. It plans to produce more than two vertical micro-dramas per month. Additionally, Filmology will host other micro-drama producers and outside production companies as well as independent content creators.

Celebrity architect Conrad Roncati of Architectura designed the space. Filmology will feature 21 production sound stages with pre-built, fully lit, permanent standing sets.

A one-stop shop

Project stakeholders say the campus design encourages speed, efficiency and scale. They note the approach eliminates the time and cost typically associated with set design, construction and lighting.

Filmology will provide access to New Jersey film and digital media tax credits, with a location just 20 minutes from Manhattan. The property will also include AI studios, podcast facilities, a green-screen stage and an LED volume wall similar to technology used on “The Mandalorian.”

Additional amenities include creative office space, a commissary, and a fitness and yoga studio.

And the Oscar goes to…

New Jersey posted a major showing in this year’s Oscar nominations, highlighting the state’s rise as a production hub. Read more here.

Paterson has steadily established itself as a growing production hub in recent years. The Silk City has hosted major motion pictures, including “The Many Saints of Newark,” “A Complete Unknown,” “West Side Story” and “The Irishman,” among others.

That growing track record now sets the stage for Paterson’s next act to launch with this Filmology project.

‘Filmology Labs is about creating opportunity’

“We are thrilled to welcome Filmology Labs to Paterson,” said Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh. “This significant investment will create jobs, spark innovation, and help position our city at the forefront of the evolving media and entertainment economy.

“Projects like this generate new opportunities for residents, support local businesses, and accelerate Paterson’s continued growth and revitalization.”

Calling Paterson “one of the most extraordinary cities in New Jersey,” Mruvka pointed to Paterson’s deep industrial roots. He referenced when it earned the named Silk City and stood as one of America’s great manufacturing powerhouses. He said the studio will honor that legacy by reimagining a historic mill to establish a hub for next-generation media production.

“Our goal is to engage local schools to help train young people for careers in this fast-growing industry, while drawing investment into Paterson and showcasing the city to the world,” said Mruvka. “Filmology Labs is about creating opportunity — creatively, economically, and culturally.”