West Orange Greenlights Film Permit Fees For Movies, TV Shows

WEST ORANGE, NJ — How much money should it cost to shoot a movie, show or commercial in West Orange? That’s one of several questions that the newly convened town council tackled during their first meeting of the year.

The West Orange Town Council unanimously voted in favor of a resolution that sets the prices of a film permit in the township at their Monday meeting.

No daily filming fee will be imposed for productions that film on private property.

Meanwhile, a permit for nonprofit applicants filming for “educational purposes” – including student films – will cost $25. There is no daily rate required.

The fee schedule for other productions includes:

• Basic filming permit – $150 (“Where an applicant requests a waiver of the provision of Chapter 25, Section 24.7, Subsection d(8) of the Township Municipal Code requiring expedited processing of a permit application within seven days of the filming date, the basic filming permit fee for processing the application on an expedited basis shall be doubled.”)
• Daily filming fee payable in addition to the basic filming permit when filming entirely on public property – $500 per day (“Where an applicant requests a waiver of the provision of Chapter 25, Section 24.7, Subsection d(8) of the Township Municipal Code requiring expedited processing of a permit application within seven days of the filming date, the daily filming fee for processing the application on an expedited basis shall be doubled.”)
• Daily filming fee payable for major motion pictures when filming entirely on public property – $1,500 per day (“Where an applicant requests a waiver of the provision of Chapter 25, Section 24.7, Subsection d(8) of the Township Municipal Code requiring expedited processing of a permit application within seven (7) days of the filming date, the basic filming permit fee for processing the application on an expedited basis shall be doubled.”)

West Orange was recently named as a “Film Ready Community” by the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission. Read More: West Orange Is ‘Film Ready’ For Movie Producers, NJ Officials Declare

According to township administrators, the fees approved Monday are in line with the commission’s model. They will be able to be changed if needed in the future.

Watch footage from Monday’s meeting below (video is cued to the discussion and vote).

FILMING IN WEST ORANGE

The state film commission previously noted that West Orange is home to the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, where the world's first film studio, The Black Maria, once stood.

“Being chosen for the Film Ready New Jersey program is not only an honor, but it's an appropriate testament to the history that is deeply interwoven into our own community,” West Orange Mayor Susan McCartney said.

West Orange’s town council recently voted to approve a redevelopment agreement that could bring a new movie studio to the township.

• See Related: West Orange Council Takes Crucial Vote On Movie Studio Proposal
• See Related: West Orange Seeks To Bolster Film Studio Plans With More Development

Recent filming in West Orange has included “Walking Dead” spinoff show, “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” and “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” which was selected to screen at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

• See Related: New 'Walking Dead' Spinoff Filmed In West Orange
• See Related: Movies Filmed In The Oranges Will Appear At 2024 Sundance Fest

The town has also dabbled in its own moviemaking efforts, recently releasing a promotional video that aims to attract more businesses – and homeowners – to the township.

• See Related: Watch West Orange’s New Promotional Video

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