NJ's Largest Movie Studio Being Built In Jersey City

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City has seen an influx of television shows and movies be filmed there recently. Now, the line of "lights, camera, action" may be uttered a lot more.

New Jersey's largest movie studio, Caven Point Studios, is coming to Jersey City, Mayor Steven Fulop announced Thursday in a news release. The studio is expected to open in the spring of 2020.

Shibber Khan, the principal of Criterion Group LLC, said the size of the studio will make Jersey City "competitive with other film production facilities, not just in the tristate area, but on a national basis."

Criterion Group's 135,000-square-foot complex at 21 Caven Point Avenue will have three sound stages and other space necessary for "large scale productions" to be filmed in Jersey City.

"Not only will this bring even more production activity to the area, but this will also benefit Jersey City further as production companies stimulate the local economy, provide various employment opportunities, and contribute to the redevelopment of the southern part of our city."

Various movies and television shows have been filmed in Jersey City recently, including "Joker," "The Many Saints of Newark," "The Enemy Within," "The Plot Against America," and "Little America."

The increase in filming in Jersey City is not just limited to Jersey City. Television and movie production has increased in New Jersey since the Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act went into effect last year. The law incentivizes choosing the Garden State by granting tax credits to film and digital media companies.

Steven Spielberg filmed part of his "West Side Story" remake in Paterson and at William Paterson University earlier this summer.

Twentieth Century Fox, received about $6.85 million in film tax credits from the state's economic development authority.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com