Hey Folks,
Now THIS is the kind of story that gets me fired up. A Cape May native is bringing Hollywood-level production right here to Atlantic County — and this one just keeps building momentum.
Jonathan Sachar, a South Jersey filmmaker who grew up down here and worked on more than 200 productions out in California, is officially launching Atlantic Motion Picture Studios in Egg Harbor City. Construction is set to begin this year on a 100-acre site on Moss Mill Road, and the vision is big — full sound stages, production facilities, and even on-site crew housing so productions can operate completely right here between Atlantic City and Philadelphia.
And here’s where it gets exciting…
Sachar’s latest film, Killing Mary Sue, filmed entirely in New Jersey, just won Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress at the 2025 LA Film Festival. The movie stars Dermot Mulroney and features Martin Kove from Karate Kid along with South Jersey’s own Jason Mewes of Clerks fame.
This isn’t theory — this is real traction.
Yesterday (2/11/26) on the AC Mike Radio Show on WOND 1400, I had the chance to sit down with Egg Harbor City Councilman and former Mayor Joseph Kuehner Jr. We talked about what this project really means for the area. Joe’s been in leadership in EHC for years, so he’s seen opportunities come and go — but he’s genuinely excited about this one. He made it clear: this is about long-term jobs, infrastructure improvements that benefit residents, and thoughtfully transforming a protected Pinelands site into something productive and forward-looking.
You could hear the pride. Egg Harbor City is ready for this moment.
The studio is backed by more than $1 million in infrastructure upgrades and supported by New Jersey’s Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program. Productions filmed here can qualify for up to 42% tax credits with no cap — making Atlantic County one of the most financially attractive places in the country to shoot a film.
Let that sink in for a second.
We already know the Shore has character. Boardwalks, casinos, beaches, marinas, neighborhoods with personality — you can’t recreate that on a soundstage in Burbank. Now we’re building the soundstages too.
And this is bigger than movies.
Think about what that means — hotel bookings midweek, restaurants feeding crews, local trades building sets, and more year-round buzz. It adds to the growing list of Things to do in Atlantic City, Egg Harbor City as well as all the surrounding towns.
Operations are projected to begin in late 2026, with full completion expected in 2027.
Hollywood East?
Don’t blink. South Jersey might just steal the scene.
See you on the 48
AC Mike
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