How New Jersey Is Becoming the New Hollywood and the Surprising Black Projects Filmed There

As folks in California continue to see the decline in TV/film productions in Hollywood, another state is seemingly filmed to the brim with opportunities: New Jersey. And whether you know it or not, a lot of our fave Black shows and movies are already being produced there!

But what exactly is the allure for big entertainment studios like Netflix, Paramount, and Lionsgate to film all the way on the East Coast as opposed to the West? Well, for starters, a large part of the reason why these companies are taking their filming talents out there is that the state offers “the most effective tax incentive program” in the country, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal.

To put it in layman’s terms, the local government is providing way better tax credit options for companies who decide to film there in a way that the Los Angeles scene isn’t, and that’s unfortunately driving production out of the traditionally glitzy city and into places like Jersey City and Hoboken. As noted by WSJ, over the last several years, New Jersey fleshed out its programs to offer credits of up to 35 percent on local production spending. They also proposed extra tax breaks on studios that used their newly built soundstages.

Related: Why Black Celebrity Icons Choose To Live In Alpine, NJ

But the state’s biggest move was no doubt the 45 percent of extra tax incentives they offered for three major studios if they could commit to a 10-year filming deal in the state. As a result, you can expect to see more and more Netflix, Lionsgate, and Paramount productions being filmed there.

Given this news, it got us curious to see which of our fave Black shows and films have already been filmed on location in New Jersey—and the answer just might shock you!

According to the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, Kevin Hart’s new movie, “72 Hours,” which just premiered on Netflix over the weekend, was filmed there. The crazy film, directed by Tim Story, stars Hart, Teyana Taylor, Mason Gooding and more. The second season of Colman Domingo’s Netflix series, “The Four Seasons,” which premiered on Netflix at the end of June, was also shot there.

Starz’s upcoming prequel series, “Power: Origins,” Denzel Washington’s upcoming movie “Here Comes the Flood,” and Nia Long and Larenz Tate’s forthcoming romantic film “Don’t Ever Wonder” are also all being filmed in New Jersey.

Past shows like “Diarra From Detroit,” Queen Latifah’s “The Equalizer,” “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” and movies like “Rob Peace,” Halle Berry’s “Bruised,” and Idris Elba’s “A House of Dynamite” were filmed there as well. We think it’s pretty safe to say that Black Hollywood now has a booming home base in New Jersey!