New Jersey is considered the cradle of the film industry by many. During the late 1880s and early 1890s, Thomas Edison and his crew invented the motion picture camera kinetograph and the forerunner of the film projector, kinetoscope in West Orange, New Jersey.
Thomas Edison did also build the world’s pioneer film production studio, The Black Maria, in his laboratory. Just before the Hollywood world, Fort Lee in New Jersey was considered the world’s silent film capital. In the early 1890s, there were about 17 film studios in New Jersey, including the 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures.
The waterfalls, forests, and rolling hills in Fort Lee were perfect for capturing diverse film landscapes. Part of the early film industry's success was also due to the readily available talent in the New Jersey metro area.
Today, New Jersey remains quite popular for film shooting, with numerous studios and stunning landscapes. In this article, we will discuss the most famous film shooting locations in NJ.
New Jersey’s Casinos Seen on Screen
NJ happens to be home to some of the best online casinos and brick-and-mortar casino establishments. The physical casinos are not only popular among players but filmmakers too.
We have all come across casino scenes in some of our favorite movies and TV shows. NJ casinos serve as a great resource whenever filmmakers are looking to incorporate the casino thrill into their masterpieces.
Some of the leading film studios hire New Jersey casino spaces for film shooting. As mentioned, online gambling is also legal in the Garden State. Click here for more information.
The Great Falls of Paterson
The falls were carved out and took shape during the great ice age. The Great Falls are also considered to have been a vital catalyst for the American Industrial revolution. Paterson became the first planned industrial community in America courtesy of the works of architect Alexander Hamilton.
While long gone are the days of the textile industry, the majestic Great Falls of Paterson remains a beautiful scenery. It’s fine to visit the falls any time for film shooting, but the best time is during the cold spell of winter.
Who wouldn’t love to see a frozen fall? The humble park surrounding the Great Falls was renovated in 2014, adding more appeal and shooting landscape.
Princeton University
Princeton is arguably one of the ivy league varsities in the country. Besides that, the university also serves as a display of the American architectural dream, which many filmmakers and photographers have fallen in love with.
Situated just an hour away from Philadelphia and New York, Princeton University sits on about 500 acres of land. Most of the buildings in the school were designed in the collegiate gothic motif, with walkways and sweeping arches.
At the southern edge of the university is Lake Carnegie, a beautiful man-made lake named after the famous Andrew Carnegie. The lake is often used by the Princeton rowing and crew teams.
What’s more, the Princeton University Chapel is essentially a magnificent creation reminiscent of an English church. It features carved woodworks, sandstone and limestone interior, and stained-glass windows. One could easily mistake the chapel for a Middle Age English church.
Fort Lee Historic Park
If you are looking to capture a close view of the George Washington Bridge, then Fort Lee Historic Park is your ideal spot. The park offers cliff-top views, a Visitor Center, and a reconstructed Revolutionary War encampment.
For those who haven’t had a chance to visit the park yet, it is a 33-acre park with stunning views of George Washington Bridge, the skyline of Upper Manhattan, and the Hudson River.
If you would love to capture military items, the southern portion of the Fort Lee Historic Park hosts a reconstructed blockhouse with firearm batteries and firing steps.
Ken Lockwood Gorge, High Bridge
Setting foot into the Lockwood Gorge is like stepping into a different world. This location is considered one of the most picturesque spots in New Jersey. Sandwiched between Califon in Hunterdon Country and the High Bridge, Lockwood Gorge is the perfect spot for trout fishing.
The steep slopes, large boulders, and the river with small waterfalls and rapids offer numerous shooting landscapes. The 2.5 miles stretch of the Raritan River delivers some sense of isolation and serenity due to the slopes on each side, studded with hemlock trees.
The Palisades
The NJ Palisades is arguably the most popular geologic feature in the state, featuring sheer cliffs of basalt formed over 200 million ago. The Palisade cliffs overlook the lower Hudson River and stretch 20 miles from Jersey City to Nyack in New York.
The landscape is more popular among hikers, with two major hiking paths and several lookouts for photographers and videographers looking to capture its beauty. One can easily capture the sweeping vista of the NY skyline from the Palisades.
Take a drive along the interstate parkway and make stops at any of the three scenic lookout points over the NJ Palisades about whether the Manhattan Island begins at River Harlem.
Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills
Though not that popular compared to other locations, Leonard J. Buck Garden is one of the premier rock gardens on the East Coast. The 33-acre garden features wildflowers, exotic plants, and ferns.
It’s named after its owner Leonard J. Buck, who spent years working with landscape architect Zenon Schreiber to build an ecologically current garden without giving a hint of its being man-made.
Every outcropping in the garden is unique, giving the perfect scene for a photographer or videographer. Nature and outdoor shooting crews can spend an entire day at Leonard J. Buck Garden without running out of options.
Jockey Hollow, Morristown
Do you enjoy a blend of history and photography? If that’s the case for you, you should consider visiting Jockey Hollow in Morristown. This is the location where General George Washington and the entire Continental Army made camp between December 1779 and June 1780.
The 20-mile hiking trails lead to an 18th-century building. You will also have access to Fort Nonsense, which has magnificent scenic vistas of the verdant rolling hill.