Commissioner proposes Morris County film committee as Netflix scouts the area
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Summary
Commissioner Christy Myers asked the board to consider forming a county film committee after reports that Netflix scouts and local film shoots have appeared in Morris County; she said the committee could set rules and help capture revenue while addressing public-safety and equity concerns.
MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Commissioner Christy Myers asked the Morris County Board of Commissioners on Thursday to consider creating a county-level film committee after reports that Netflix and other productions are scouting and filming in the county.
Myers described repeated calls from Netflix and other production requests and suggested a film committee to craft county rules and manage requests. “Netflix has been calling … Can we use this? Can we use this? … I would like to suggest that we take another look at this and put together a film committee,” she said.
Why it matters: County facilities, roads and parks have been used by film crews, and commissioners described trade-offs including police overtime, road closures and the potential for uneven treatment of applicants. “The concern becomes is when you allow one and don't allow another,” Myers said.
Board discussion: Commissioners and staff noted municipalities, the county parks commission and the tourism bureau already handle some requests. Examples discussed included use of county roads and closed-road scenes and a recent instance when a production closed half a mile of road for repeated light and camera setups.
Decisions and next steps: Myers proposed forming a committee to study policies and best practices; the meeting record shows discussion and agreement to “consider a film committee,” but no formal motion, membership list, or ordinance was recorded.
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