Ocean County Creates Commission To Court Film, TV Producers

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Filmmakers and television producers, Ocean County wants you. That will be the message of a new film and television advisory commission created by the Ocean County Board of Freeholders this week.

The Ocean County Film and Television Advisory Commission, established Wednesday by the freeholders, replaces the county's Film Advisory Committee, which had been in place since 1979, county officials said.

The new commission was created as a response to the reinstatement of the Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act that was signed into law July 3 by Gov. Phil Murphy.

"This industry has proven lucrative for many other states that have consistently offered tax incentives,” said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as liaison to Tourism and Business Development. "Ocean County has many attributes to offer the film industry and we are hoping to get its attention."

The commission would work with the state's Motion Picture and Television Development Commission to pursue and encourage filming in Ocean County.

The Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act provides film and television production companies with business tax and gross income tax credits for certain expenses incurred while filming in New Jersey and aims to encourage production companies to locate in New Jersey, which officials believe will spur economic growth and industry development.

Vicari said the county’s commission will seek "feature films, independent films, high quality television, and digital series, which can be a great benefit to the state and the local areas.:"

"Film crews, producers, and all the staffing that goes with this would fill hotels and restaurants," he said. "They would tap into and support local services and attractions and elevate the visibility of our tourism destinations."

The county commission members are Tim Hart, Ocean County historian; Toby Wolf, Jenkinson’s Boardwalk marketing director; Michael Redpath, executive director of the Seaside Heights Business Improvement District; Liz Santoro, director of sales at Mainland Holiday Inn, Manahawkin, and Dana Lancellotti, division director of Ocean County Tourism and Business Development. The positions are volunteers.

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