The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC), which operates under the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), has been nominated for the Outstanding Film Commission award by the Locations Managers Guild International (LMGI). The nomination is linked to the commission’s work on the film “A Complete Unknown,” which was also filmed almost entirely in New Jersey. The LMGI Award Ceremony is scheduled for August 23 in Santa Monica, California.
“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, the film industry has become a powerful driver of economic growth in New Jersey, creating good-paying jobs and supporting small businesses across the state,” said Tim Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of the NJEDA. “Over the past several years, the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTC) has made a name for itself by offering top-tier service to location scouts looking to film in the state. The commission’s hospitality and experience, paired with the State’s incentive program, local talent pool, and diverse locations has made New Jersey a premier destination for major, Oscar-caliber film productions—while also continuing to be a top choice for people to live, work, and raise a family.”
“A Complete Unknown” is also nominated for Outstanding Locations in a Period Feature Film. It received eight Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director. Last year’s winner of this LMGI category was “Oppenheimer,” which featured scenes shot in Princeton.
Filming for “A Complete Unknown” took place across 17 municipalities in New Jersey. Key locations included Hoboken, Jersey City, Paterson, Cape May, Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth (which doubled as Carnegie Hall), Newark Symphony Hall (used as a San Francisco concert venue), Paterson City Hall, White Mana Diner and William J. Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City, Columbus Park in Hoboken, Rutt’s Hut in Clifton, and the former Essex County Isolation Hospital in Belleville. Stage work was completed at Palisade Stages in Kearny. In the film’s narrative, New Jersey stood in for several places such as New York City, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island, Washington D.C., and Northern California.
“From big city lookalike locations that play like Manhattan or Washington, DC to quaint coastal towns, films such as A Complete Unknown showcase New Jersey’s remarkable versatility in doubling for a wide range of locations,” said Jon Crowley, Executive Director of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission. “This prestigious nomination solidifies that New Jersey values not only the important role of location scouts, but our variety of different looks has caught the attention of filmmakers and positions us to continue attracting top-tier productions for years to come.”
The NJMPTVC is staffed by industry professionals who serve as resources for production companies seeking to film in New Jersey. The commission promotes both film and television production within the state.
More information about their services can be found at www.film.nj.gov.
