Atlantic City Can Help Make New Jersey

Last week, we had an exclusive on-air interview with Rob Schwartz, one of the new owners of ACX1 Studios, which will be located at the iconic # 1 Atlantic Ocean address in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Since 1906, this historic space has been the home of the famed Million Dollar Pier, The Pier Shops at Caesars and more recently Playground Pier when it was owned by Philadelphia and Atlantic City developer Bart Blatstein.

During our on-air interview with Blatstein this past Friday, he wished the new owner well and Blatstein is encouraging more people to invest in Atlantic City.

Blatstein has both purchased and developed major projects in Atlantic City, including:

Showboat Atlantic City (hotel)
Lucky Snakes Arcade
ISLAND Waterpark

Blatstein would also like to develop Bader Field and he is bullish about the potential for the inlet section of Atlantic City.

During our interview with Schwartz, he confirmed that as a part of their new project (ACX1 Studios), they will construct movie production sets on the 3rd floor level of the Atlantic City pier.

There is a significant tax benefit available to make movies in New Jersey. There is a 35 percent film tax credit for movies made in South Jersey and a 30 percent film tax credit in North Jersey.

Big movie companies are taking notice of New Jersey.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced in late December, 2022 that Netflix will build a large movie production complex at what used to be the Fort Monmouth campus.

It will be a neatly $ 1 billion initial investment by Netflix in The Garden State, in addition to all of the jobs that will be created.

During the same week in late December, 2022, Governor Murphy also announced that Lions Gate Films Division will develop five soundstages in Newark, New Jersey.

The Lions Gate project will also include additional space for various production facilities.

Now, with ACX1 Studios planning to build movie sets, this further brings Atlantic City into the movie and television business.

The Atlantic City area has already been the location for various Hallmark movies, Snake Eyes, (starring Nicolas Cage and Gary Sinese); the movie “Bruised,” starring Academy Award winner Halle Berry (it was also her directorial debut); The iconic movie “Atlantic City,” starring Burt Lancaster … to name just a few.

I’m especially sentimental about the making of the movie, The Godfather - Part III, which major portions were filmed at then Trump Castle Casino Resort By The Bay, (now The Golden Nugget).

Both Tom Cantone and I were right there during the filming. It was another feather in the cap of Cantone, who made the Atlantic City location possible for this part of the iconic trilogy.

Al Pacino and all of the biggest stars were there. One of the scenes grimness was the infamous mob board room … the helicopter massacre scene. It was epic.

Movie and television companies like Netflix, Lions Gate Films and others can invest in New Jersey with confidence as the attractive film tax credit program has been extended through 2034, providing a long-term incentive to invest in New Jersey.