Jon Crowley is out as executive director at the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, according to reports.
Socko! Magazine posted the news Oct. 4 on Instagram. According to the publication covering film and entertainment in the state, “Crowley has been terminated …. effective Friday at 3 p.m.”
NJBIZ has not been able to independently confirm the move. Crowley still appears on the staff page of the Film Commission’s website as of Monday morning. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority announced Crowley as executive director in 2024. Before joining the NJEDA, he spent more than two decades working in the entertainment industry. Under his guidance, the film commission has expanded, helping position New Jersey as a premier destination for film and TV production.
Last year, NJMPTC revealed production spending hit a record $833 million in 2024 — a 41% increase from 2023, and beyond the previous record set in 2022 ($701 million). The activity has also attracted national attention, as spending cools elsewhere, like on the West Coast.
The reinstatement of the state Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program, extended to 2049 during the most recent budget deal, has helped fuel that growth.
Big spenders
- Spielberg’s ‘Disclosure Day’ drives $34M in New Jersey spending
- ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ a hole-in-one for NJ with $153M film spend
- Springsteen film spends $42M across New Jersey
Crowley also spoke with NJBIZ about the balance necessary to cultivate industry success in the Garden State.
“But we straddle the line, too … We don’t just favor production. We don’t just favor the municipality. You got to find that middle ground where works for both sides of the equation,” he explained during an interview about this year’s record-setting NJ Film Expo. “That the municipality is walking away from a production going – that was OK, that was alright. It was a good experience. And by the way, we loved that they were here and spending money.
“Likewise, you want the production company – it’s great to get them here once. But you want them to come back again and again and again. So that they’re spending more money. They’re hiring more people,” he continued. “Because that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day – it’s the spend and jobs.”
Other achievements under Crowley’s tenure include expanding the state’s Film Ready New Jersey program. The initiative aims to streamline permitting and production for municipalities and the crews that come here to film.
The state’s production footprint is also growing, driven by big players like Netflix at Fort Monmouth, Lionsgate Studio in Newark and Paramount-backed 1888 Studios in Bayonne.
New Jersey film studio inventory to triple by 2028
It’s no secret New Jersey has been busy reclaiming its crown as the center of film and television production. A new report puts some (techni)color on that story, and how it translates to physical impact. Read more from CBRE here.
Photo at right: MATTHEW FAZELPOOR/NJBIZ
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