What’s happening with Newark video production this week
Newark video production is everywhere this month, from curb-to-curtain street shoots to fresh studio square-footage that will keep every Newark camera crew busy through 2026. Below is your one-stop outlook for the next two weeks, packed with verified dates, permits, and industry incentives shaping Brick City’s creative economy.
Lionsgate Build and Incentive Landscape
New Jersey’s latest report hails Lionsgate Newark Studios as the state’s first purpose-built complex, totaling 270 000 sq ft across 12 acres. The $200 million facility nears interior fit-out, and a recent feature on the statewide boom credits Newark’s site for helping New Jersey climb to “#3 in U.S. production volume. Adding fuel, the NJEDA updated its Film & Digital Media Tax Credit rules on Oct 7, inviting public feedback before year-end adoption; the program still offers up to 35 % on qualified spends and 40 % on post-production.
Street-Level Production Alerts
The city’s brand-new Office of Film & TV isn’t wasting time. A traffic advisory for Oct 17 warns of lane closures on Broad, Market, and adjacent blocks from sunrise to 11 p.m. for an unnamed episodic drama. On Instagram, Newark Public Safety echoes the alert, underscoring police support and advising loaders to stage gear before 6 a.m. to avoid towing.
Upcoming On-Screen Events
CityPlex 12 Spotlight
- Oct 26 — “U GOTTA RESPECT The Legends” premiere brings a home-grown hip-hop story to the Springfield Ave multiplex, with cast Q&A slated after the 7:30 p.m. screening.
- Daily repertory matinees continue at the Shaq-backed theater, offering early-bird tickets at just $6.50
Community & Culture
- Audible’s “The Pillars” officially activates at 33 Washington St. later this month, promising editing bays, pop-up sound booths, and retail aimed at content creators.
- Newark Tech Week (Oct 15-17) just wrapped workshops on XR and live-stream encoding, further blurring tech-media lines for up-and-coming crews
Newark’s Permit & Policy Toolbox
Since launching last fall, the city’s Film & TV office has trimmed application red-tape to a two-page online form and consolidated police, fire, and parking requests. Producers now get draft approvals in 72 hours for low-impact shoots—vital when street dates coincide with events like Newark Arts Festival (which wrapped Oct 12 after drawing 20 000 visitors city-wide).
Bullet list—Why shoot here now?
- Tax sweeteners: 35 % base credit plus a 2 % diversity bonus for hiring in-state talent.
- Diverse looks: Art-deco City Hall, post-industrial Ironbound, and Calatrava-style PATH stations within a square mile.
- Transit edge: Amtrak, NJ Transit, and EWR Airport connect crews to NYC in under 20 minutes
Looking Ahead
Whoopi Goldberg’s MBS Group is in active talks for a mixed-use studio on Newark’s waterfront, layering even more square footage onto the Lionsgate site. With the state pushing 36 purpose-built stages by 2028, NJ101.5 notes that local grips and gaffers can expect steady work. Producers eyeing November and December shoots should lock permits now, as holiday parades will trim available street-closure slots.
Key Resources to Bookmark
Permit & Policy Links
- Newark Office of Film & TV – application portal & location library.
- NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission – statewide incentives and stage directory
Venue & Crew Network
- CityPlex 12 booking desk for private screenings and festival blocks.
- “The Pillars” creator hub for Foley rooms, vocal booths, and meet-ups
With incentives climbing, street shoots in full swing, and new stages on the horizon, Newark’s production scene is stitching itself into every corner of the city. Whether you’re penciling in a pop-up interview or locking a 10-day feature schedule, the Brick City ecosystem is ready to roll.
