South Orange Village is working to officially become “Film Ready.” This will formalize the process of hosting film and television production crews, while reflecting the Village’s long-standing reputation for supporting the Arts.
Although the Village of South Orange is not yet certified Film Ready New Jersey, Mayor Sheena Collum says that the Village already operates “in a way that is very similar to Film Ready communities.”
“South Orange has always supported the Arts, including film and television production, and in practice, we already have many of the steps Film Ready communities need,” she told The Village Green. “We haven’t had any issues with film productions reaching the Village, getting permits or logistics. We work together with each other to make sure everything goes smoothly, with minimal disruption to residents.”
According to Collum, what attracts film productions to South Orange is the community’s character. “What truly draws crews to South Orange is our extraordinary housing stock and distinctive streetscapes, which provide the kind of authentic, character-rich backdrop that filmmakers are looking for,” she said.
Village Administrator Julie Doran said the Village is currently preparing its application for the state’s Film Ready New Jersey certification.
“We are in the process of preparing our application,” Doran said. “Essentially, it is a matter of ensuring our current filming ordinance meets the program requirements. We may need to update our existing ordinance slightly, and then we’ll be all set to file our application.”
The Film Ready New Jersey designation, issued by the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, which helps towns streamline the permitting process and become more supportive of film and TV productions. The state says that communities that earn this designation will receive training, guidance, and tools to better communicate with film productions while maintaining local control.
The designation would formalize procedures that are already in place, which would make South Orange a more competitive place for film productions, Collum said, adding that having film productions in the area can be good for local businesses while letting residents get a behind-the-scenes look at film productions and bringing a level of excitement to the area.
Seton Hall Pirates Basketball posted this photo of Adam Sandler at Seton Hall University when he was in town filming Happy Gilmore.
South Orange has hosted film productions in recent years, including scenes from Zach Braff’s A Good Person in 2021 and Happy Gilmore 2 in 2024, starring Adam Sandler. Collum said that having Sandler in the area was a highlight for her.
“Having Adam Sandler in town was amazing,” she said. “Growing up, I loved watching him, growing up, and I’m still a big fan.” The designation would make South Orange an even more desirable place for filmmakers who want a suburban setting with charm and local government support.
Francesca Cudrin is an 11th-grade student at Columbia High School, working as a paid student freelancer with Village Green through a grant from the NJ Civic Information Consortium.
