Media productions in the Garden State are projected to reach a historic level, as the state's lucrative incentive program has bolstered demand and ramped up the amount of studio, network and independent filming.

Many projects filmed in New Jersey have already claimed millions of dollars in state subsidies. And now that is coming back to the state, thanks to its lucrative incentive program, and demand for TV and film content, according to many industry insiders.

In 2019, the media giant received nearly $14.4 million for its season one production in East Rutherford of “The Enemy Within,” and an $11.2 million award for the Kearny production of “Little America.”

The soon-to-be renovated venue will feature independent, non-fiction and international films, keeping with the theme of the festival's programming since its inception in 2011.

When NJBIZ last checked in on the state of showbiz in the Garden State in October few producers were willing to talk about what they were up to. Film and television production all but shut down during the pandemic, with few exceptions for projects that imposed strict standards for social distancing, mask usage and sanitization. But now, with New Jersey reopening, industry insiders are more forthcoming.

Before Hollywood, there was Fort Lee. At the turn of the century, the Hudson River borough was home to nearly a dozen film studios. Amid COVID-19, the state’s burgeoning film industry is learning to navigate the pandemic.