Palisade Stages Opens In NJ
Palisade Stages, the first major soundstage to be built in New Jersey, has just opened for business in Kearny.

The facility offers 23,000 sq. ft. of studio space, 27’ high, an industry standard lighting grid, green rooms, loading bays and ample parking. “Our close proximity to New York City and many popular locations in North Jersey is also a tremendous asset,” according to Jamie Payne, Palisade president.

Financial incentives have sparked lensing in New Jersey. In 2019, film and TV production generated over $400 million for the state economy. Relatively recent productions filmed in Jersey include the Warner Bros. features Joker and The Many Saints of Newark, the critically acclaimed Netflix drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 and their upcoming action blockbuster Army of the Dead, Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story, and such network television series as ABC’s Emergence, NBC’s The Enemy Within and Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt For The Bone Collector, HBO’s The Plot Against America and the new CBS series The Equalizer.

Michael Uslan, chairman of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, said, “We are fielding many requests from production companies looking to shoot features and television programs here, so a facility like Palisade Stages will be in high demand.” Uslan expects the industry to rebound strongly from the pandemic shutdown of 2020, predicting that “New Jersey will be seeing plenty of action in the months to come.”

Film Florida Starts Emerging Filmmakers Fund
Film Florida, a statewide not-for-profit entertainment production trade association, has launched the Florida Emerging Filmmakers Fund, providing cash in the amount of $500-$1,000 per project to deserving filmmakers needing help for their film projects. Those selected for the Emerging Filmmakers Fund will also receive mentorship from an industry pro throughout the project.

Gail Morgan, president of Film Florida, said, “The volume of talented Florida filmmakers is immense and Film Florida is committed to nurturing those talents and encouraging them to produce Florida stories.”

Eligible projects submitted may include a broad range of subject matter and are judged by a committee of Film Florida pros. The program funds filmmakers working in both short and long formats. All genres are eligible--documentary, dramatic, educational, narrative, animated and experimental.

Requirements include: Applicant must be a Florida resident; all projects must be filmed entirely on location in Florida; all major postproduction must be done in Florida; the majority of crew hired must be “Florida Workers” defined as a person who has been a resident of Florida for at least one year at some time; or a person who graduated from a film school, college, university or community college in Florida in the past five years; or a person enrolled full-time in such a school, college or university; projects in development, pre-pro, production or early post stages are eligible; and you do not have to be a member of Film Florida to apply but Film Florida members will receive priority.

Lensing Starts In Scotland For Outlander
Starz and Sony Pictures Television have announced that production has commenced on the sixth season of the hit series Outlander on location in Scotland.  

The sixth season of Outlander continues Claire and Jamie’s fight to protect those they love, as they navigate life’s challenges in colonial America. If Season 4 asked “What is home?” and Season 5 asked, “What are you willing to do to protect your home?” then Season 6 explores what happens when there’s disharmony among the inhabitants of the home you’ve created: when you become an outsider, or an “outlander,” marginalized in your own home.