Garden State Greenlight
Garden State Greenlight is an ROI-NJ podcast exploring the business, policy and economic forces behind New Jersey’s growing film and television industry. Hosted by ROI-NJ Video Journalist Thomas Philip, the series features conversations with the executives, filmmakers, developers, policymakers and industry leaders shaping the state’s production landscape. Episodes examine the investments, infrastructure, incentives and workforce needs driving growth across New Jersey’s screen sector.
Alec Palumbo discusses independent filmmaking in New Jersey
New Jersey filmmaker Alec Palumbo joins ROI-NJ Multimedia Journalist Thomas Philip on the latest episode of Garden State Greenlight to discuss his journey from making short films to producing his first feature-length documentary.
Palumbo discusses the challenges of financing projects independently, the importance of building relationships through film festivals and networking, and the lessons he has learned from producing a feature.
He also discusses his documentary, “I Called Her Mary,” which was filmed in New Jersey, and the process of submitting the project to film festivals.
The conversation also explores Palumbo’s outlook on the...
Withum's Conor Barnes and Alex Holderbaum on N.J.’s film tax credit and industry growth
New Jersey’s film and television industry has grown rapidly in recent years, fueled in part by state tax incentives designed to attract productions.
On the latest episode of Garden State Greenlight, Alex Holderbaum, partner and team leader of Withum’s Theatre and Entertainment Services team, and Conor Barnes, partner and team co-leader of the firm’s Music Industry team, join ROI-NJ Multimedia Journalist Thomas Philip to discuss how the state’s film tax credit works and what the industry’s growth could mean for New Jersey’s economy.
Withum is a top-25 advisory, ta...
Doreen Sayegh on future of movie theaters, N.J.’s film boom
As New Jersey’s film and television industry continues to grow, local movie theaters are finding new ways to connect audiences with productions being made across the state.
On the latest episode of Garden State Greenlight, Doreen Sayegh, owner of the Cranford Theater and a board member of the Garden State Film Festival, joins ROI-NJ Multimedia Journalist Thomas Philip to discuss the changing movie theater business, the importance of the communal moviegoing experience and the connection between theaters and New Jersey’s growing film industry.
Sayegh grew up in the movie theater business, working alongside her...
Jon Crowley discusses New Jersey’s rise as a national film production hub
As New Jersey continues to attract major studios, television series and independent productions, the state is establishing itself as one of the country’s leading destinations for film and television production.
On the latest episode of Garden State Greenlight, Jon Crowley, executive director of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, joins ROI-NJ Multimedia Journalist Thomas Philip to discuss the factors fueling the state's remarkable growth and what comes next for the industry.
Crowley reflects on his three-decade career in production, from starting as a production assistant and editor to leadership roles at NB...
Moshe Gross discusses the business of connecting New Jersey properties with film productions
As film and television production continues to expand across New Jersey, the demand for unique filming locations has created opportunities well beyond the soundstage. On the latest episode of Garden State Greenlight, Moshe Gross, founder and CEO of Reset Locations, discusses how his company has become a bridge between property owners and productions looking to film in the Garden State.
Gross reflects on his transition from commercial real estate to the entertainment industry, explaining how his experience helping redevelop Bell Works in Holmdel revealed the value film productions could bring to commercial properties. That insight eventually led...
Janice Kovach discusses how local governments drive New Jersey's film industry growth
New Jersey’s film and television industry is expanding rapidly, but its continued success depends on more than tax incentives and new studio developments. It also requires strong partnerships between production companies and the communities that host them.
On the latest episode of Garden State Greenlight, Clinton Mayor and New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission Commissioner Janice Kovach joins ROI-NJ Multimedia Journalist Thomas Philip to discuss the role local governments play in supporting the state’s growing production economy.
Kovach explains how municipalities can prepare to welcome productions, why communication between filmmakers and local officials is c...
Filmmaker Phil Mazo discusses independent film success in New Jersey
Independent filmmaking requires more than creativity. It demands the mindset of an entrepreneur — balancing limited resources, financial uncertainty and the challenge of building a sustainable career.
Newark-based filmmaker and viral content creator Phil Mazo understands that reality firsthand. Through his production company, Small Mallet Pictures, Mazo has built a career defined by creative risk-taking, from producing solo films during the COVID-19 pandemic to bringing his latest short, “Replay,” to theaters across the country.
On this episode of Garden State Greenlight, Mazo discusses the journey behind “Replay,” a three-and-a-half-minute docu-comedy built around real VHS footage of his appear...
David Schoner discusses New Jersey’s rise as a film and television destination
New Jersey’s film and television industry is undergoing a major transformation, fueled by expanded tax incentives, growing studio infrastructure and a renewed effort to make the state a long-term home for productions of all sizes.
Few people have witnessed that evolution more closely than David Schoner, senior advisor to the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission. Having spent decades helping productions navigate the state’s resources, Schoner has seen New Jersey transform from a filming location into a rapidly expanding production hub.
On the first episode of Garden State Greenlight, Schoner discusses the fact...
