STARRING YOUR HOME
More homeowners want their properties used in films and TV

Monday, April 13, 2009
By DENISE D. GIBSON
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Are they looking for some spare cash, or just for 15 minutes of fame for their house? Whatever the reason, more homeowners, including residents of Hudson County, are advertising their property for use in movies and television shows, says Katy Schroeder, marketing and communications director of Filminglocations.com, a company that connects film location scouts with homeowners.

The number of people advertising their homes on her Web site has increased 30 percent since 2007, Schroeder said.

"Property owners can take photos, interior and exterior, and set up an account on our site with the photos of their property and a description," said Steve Mathie of Filminglocations.com. "(Film) companies will make contact based on interest."

Bill Harrison, a real estate broker/owner, has had his distinctive Bayonne Tudor "on the market" since October.

"It's not the best time financially, and I expect to make some extra money through this," Harrison said.

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice," a live-action film based on Disney's "Fantasia," is currently being filmed in Jersey City, and at least two others - independent films "Blood Night" and "A Dangerous Place" - were filmed in the city and are expected to be released this year.

"It's a good image for the county and gives a sense of pride to see your neighborhood on screen and viewed around the world," said Bill LaRosa, the director of the Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs for Hudson County.

"Jersey City is proud to be one of the locations that the film industry continues to choose for movies and television shows," said Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy.

"Not only does this provide revenue for our residents and local businesses while the filming is being conducted, it also gives us the opportunity to showcase our city to the rest of the country and the rest of the world," he added.

The Liberty House Restaurant at the Liberty State Park is hoping to one day be a film location. "We just started in January," said Carla Camargo, operations assistant for Landmark Hospitality, the company marketing the restaurant. The company plans on posting numerous updated pictures to increase the chances of getting noticed, Camargo said.

Portions of the hit movie "The Wrestler," starring Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei, were filmed in Bayonne last year at Color and Cuts, a salon on Broadway.

The film location scouts "thought the salon was interesting and took pictures, then a crew of nine people came to look at it and thought it was wonderful," owner Falisha Hefnawy said. "We had a contract set up with my attorney and it went from there."

www.Filminglocations.com