EMERSON, N.J.—The borough is pursuing state certification to help attract film and television productions, Mayor Danielle DiPaola said at the Sept. 1 council meeting.
DiPaola said the five-step certification process prepares municipalities to host productions, potentially bringing revenue to the borough, local businesses and homeowners whose properties are used for filming.
A movie filmed in Emerson the previous week, she said, adding that the borough “seems to be a hot place where people do want to film.”
New Jersey has nearly 60 state-certified Film Ready communities. Westwood is currently the only certified Pascack Valley municipality.
Westwood was a filming location for the recently released “American Summer,” starring Steve Guttenberg, Christie Brinkley and Dan Lauria. Scenes were also filmed in Allendale and Ho-Ho-Kus. Westwood native Michael W. Gray produced the independent film, now in nationwide release.
For more, see “Borough stars with Guttenberg, Brinkley, family in ‘American Summer’,” by Michael Olohan, Aug. 24, 2026, at thepressgroup.net.
Park Ridge amended its filming ordinance in 2025 to conform to New Jersey’s Film Ready requirements. The borough is not listed on the commission’s current roster of certified communities; whether it has completed the remaining steps and received certification still needs confirmation. The program is part of the state’s Motion Picture & Television Commission.
Certification requires attending a Film Ready locality workshop, designating a liaison, adopting a formal permit process, uploading filming locations to Reel Scout and submitting a list of local resources. Film Ready says it “builds statewide consistency through predictable permitting and processing fees, creating a uniform production experience.”
Partners receive an elevated platform to market themselves as filming destinations and connect productions with trained municipal liaisons who provide local guidance, resource information, and location support, notes the state Film Ready website.