QUEEN OF CASTLES: KERRY O'BRIEN
The Monmouth Beach real estate agent and small-business owner explains the magic of uniting homeowners and filmmakers to find the perfect locations for productions.
Written by Adriana Toma
When I met with Kerrin “Kerry” O’Brien, the co-owner of O’Brien Realty in Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, she lit up our time together with near-constant smiles, a strong sense of purpose, and her joyful approach to bringing meaning, value, and utility to the residents of her hometown.
O’Brien, who co-founded O’Brien Realty in 2013 with her business and life partner, Tammy O’Brien, is the kind of small-business owner who has an intuitive sense for what the people around her need—and then she springs into action to make their dreams come true. In the case of her latest business, O’Brien on Location, this means welcoming filmmakers from out of town into her world of property offerings by matching them with the perfect house in which to set their projects.
And she’s not stopping there: Brien has spun her real estate company into several small businesses. In addition to O’Brien on Location, which took off in February of this year, the O’Brien duo has also launched O’Brien Moving and O’Brien Concierge, a new offering that helps homeowners “summerize” their homes after indolent winters.
For Kerry O’Brien, matching location scouts with the properties, locations, and props they need to bring their vision to life is deeper than revenue: Alongside Tammy, Kerry’s goal is to build tangible and intangible generational wealth by creating unforgettable memories for residents. The timing also aligns with Netflix’s major development plans for its studios at Fort Monmouth nearby.
“We just launched and it’s been amazing to see the community come together,” she says. “We now have hundreds of properties registered—homes, cars, boats, planes, restaurants, commercial spaces.”
O’Brien, who co-founded O’Brien Realty in 2013 with her business and life partner, Tammy O’Brien, is the kind of small-business owner who has an intuitive sense for what the people around her need—and then she springs into action to make their dreams come true. In the case of her latest business, O’Brien on Location, this means welcoming filmmakers from out of town into her world of property offerings by matching them with the perfect house in which to set their projects.
And she’s not stopping there: Brien has spun her real estate company into several small businesses. In addition to O’Brien on Location, which took off in February of this year, the O’Brien duo has also launched O’Brien Moving and O’Brien Concierge, a new offering that helps homeowners “summerize” their homes after indolent winters.
For Kerry O’Brien, matching location scouts with the properties, locations, and props they need to bring their vision to life is deeper than revenue: Alongside Tammy, Kerry’s goal is to build tangible and intangible generational wealth by creating unforgettable memories for residents. The timing also aligns with Netflix’s major development plans for its studios at Fort Monmouth nearby.
“We just launched and it’s been amazing to see the community come together,” she says. “We now have hundreds of properties registered—homes, cars, boats, planes, restaurants, commercial spaces.”
Seeing your town in a film is something special.” - Kerry O'Brien
By helping location scouts find the ideal settings and guiding residents in welcoming film crews into their homes and towns, O’Brien says her purpose is to preserve local legacies and communities onto film indelibly: “Film production benefits local businesses, too: restaurants, shops, everyone. Seeing your town in a film is something special.”
O’Brien chatted with SOCKO! about how O’Brien on Location works and why it’s meaningful as the New Jersey film industry continues to flourish, recently earning its spot as the third largest production hub in the U.S, after California and New York.
Adriana Toma: Thanks for joining us, Kerry! You’ve clearly got your hands full with exciting small businesses, including Kerry on Location.
Kerry O’Brien: It’s funny, I’m able to compartmentalize a few different things and focus on a lot of different areas, which I’ve made my superpower.
Toma: Something tells me you have an artistic side. Have you always been drawn to film and storytelling?
O’Brien: Yes. I actually started at HBO after graduating from Seton Hall. I worked in on-air promotion and did some writing and producing. I also worked at Showtime and other networks. I was a voice-over artist and even wrote screenplays. I always loved the creative side, but it didn’t pay the bills—so I moved into real estate.
Toma: Have you always lived in Monmouth Beach?
O’Brien: I was born and raised in Monmouth Beach. My parents came here from Hoboken. They summered here, my great-grandparents and my grandparents. So it kind of just was a natural fit. My mother was also the original historian. She wrote the first book on the town, so that's a really nice thing. And here we are celebrating America for 250 years this summer, and so a lot of great things are happening.
Toma: What a wonderful time for filmmakers to capture the area, especially in a state that doesn’t always get the appreciation it deserves.
O’Brien: We have some stereotypes, but this brings a positive spotlight. Some people resist change, especially longtime residents, but the benefits outweigh the temporary inconvenience. Seeing your town in a film is something special.
Toma: What do you personally bring to this process?
O’Brien: The network. People trust us. We’ve already been in these homes, built relationships. That trust is everything—for both homeowners and production teams. I love what I do. I’m grateful. I stay focused on growth, purpose, and helping people.
Toma: How does O’Brien on Location work?
O’Brien: We work closely with the Film Commission and track permits and activity. We also attend events like the Film Expo and stay connected with industry contacts. A lot of people are finding us now through marketing and online presence.
Toma: Which films and homes inspire you as an entrepreneur?
O’Brien: I love classic films. And it’s exciting to think that any home could become iconic—like the house in Home Alone. These homes can become destinations. People will drive by them, tour them—it becomes part of the culture.
Toma: How do you match location scouts with spaces that suit their stories?
O’Brien: Homeowners often end up calling me. I believe in manifestation. Social media is helping us reach more people, and they’re coming to us. It’s incredible to see people bringing out vintage cars, boats, unique properties. There’s so much enthusiasm.
Toma: In addition to Monmouth Beach, which towns are you looking forward to showcasing as the film industry continues to flourish?
O’Brien: Rumson, Middletown—there’s already activity happening. I encourage all towns to become film-ready. We help them with that process too.
Toma: What excites you the most about film-industry growth in New Jersey?
O’Brien: Bringing good people together. Being that shortcut for production teams to find the right locations quickly and smoothly. Helping homeowners feel secure and excited about the process. Even with AI, I think the human element will always matter. You can’t replace the feeling of a real home, a real place.
Learn more about O’Brien on Location.
O’Brien chatted with SOCKO! about how O’Brien on Location works and why it’s meaningful as the New Jersey film industry continues to flourish, recently earning its spot as the third largest production hub in the U.S, after California and New York.
Adriana Toma: Thanks for joining us, Kerry! You’ve clearly got your hands full with exciting small businesses, including Kerry on Location.
Kerry O’Brien: It’s funny, I’m able to compartmentalize a few different things and focus on a lot of different areas, which I’ve made my superpower.
Toma: Something tells me you have an artistic side. Have you always been drawn to film and storytelling?
O’Brien: Yes. I actually started at HBO after graduating from Seton Hall. I worked in on-air promotion and did some writing and producing. I also worked at Showtime and other networks. I was a voice-over artist and even wrote screenplays. I always loved the creative side, but it didn’t pay the bills—so I moved into real estate.
Toma: Have you always lived in Monmouth Beach?
O’Brien: I was born and raised in Monmouth Beach. My parents came here from Hoboken. They summered here, my great-grandparents and my grandparents. So it kind of just was a natural fit. My mother was also the original historian. She wrote the first book on the town, so that's a really nice thing. And here we are celebrating America for 250 years this summer, and so a lot of great things are happening.
Toma: What a wonderful time for filmmakers to capture the area, especially in a state that doesn’t always get the appreciation it deserves.
O’Brien: We have some stereotypes, but this brings a positive spotlight. Some people resist change, especially longtime residents, but the benefits outweigh the temporary inconvenience. Seeing your town in a film is something special.
Toma: What do you personally bring to this process?
O’Brien: The network. People trust us. We’ve already been in these homes, built relationships. That trust is everything—for both homeowners and production teams. I love what I do. I’m grateful. I stay focused on growth, purpose, and helping people.
Toma: How does O’Brien on Location work?
O’Brien: We work closely with the Film Commission and track permits and activity. We also attend events like the Film Expo and stay connected with industry contacts. A lot of people are finding us now through marketing and online presence.
Toma: Which films and homes inspire you as an entrepreneur?
O’Brien: I love classic films. And it’s exciting to think that any home could become iconic—like the house in Home Alone. These homes can become destinations. People will drive by them, tour them—it becomes part of the culture.
Toma: How do you match location scouts with spaces that suit their stories?
O’Brien: Homeowners often end up calling me. I believe in manifestation. Social media is helping us reach more people, and they’re coming to us. It’s incredible to see people bringing out vintage cars, boats, unique properties. There’s so much enthusiasm.
Toma: In addition to Monmouth Beach, which towns are you looking forward to showcasing as the film industry continues to flourish?
O’Brien: Rumson, Middletown—there’s already activity happening. I encourage all towns to become film-ready. We help them with that process too.
Toma: What excites you the most about film-industry growth in New Jersey?
O’Brien: Bringing good people together. Being that shortcut for production teams to find the right locations quickly and smoothly. Helping homeowners feel secure and excited about the process. Even with AI, I think the human element will always matter. You can’t replace the feeling of a real home, a real place.
Learn more about O’Brien on Location.
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This story appeared in the inaugural issue of Socko! Magazine [May, 2026]. Click here to subscribe
