NEW JERSEY. NOW!
A declaration from the state that taught the world how to look at a screen.

​Written by Adam Nelson, Co-Founder, Socko!
Photography by Samad Haq
On the cover: Viva June
Location: Gleason's New Jersey home of NJ Give a Kid a Dream
TONY SHALOUB:
LOOKING BACK ON BIG NIGHT AT 30
​
How an indie film shot on the Jersey Shore became the actor's game-changer.
​
​Written by Angela Matusik, Editor in Chief, Socko! 
THE MARTIANS
RETURN TO NEW JERSEY
​
​The Welles broadcast, the Spielberg picture, and the state that keeps hosting the landing.
​
​Written by Adam Nelson, Co-Founder, Socko! 
​Photography by March Brodsky and Adam Nelson
On the page: Disclosure Day @ The Cranford Theater
THERE IS OIL
IN THE ​GROUND
​
​The Netflix Studios at Fort Monmouth, the gold rush it ignites, and the
​warning we cannot afford to forget.
​
​Written by Adam Nelson, Co-Founder, Socko! 
​Photography by Workhouse
On the page: The first Netflix soundstage constructed at Fort Monmouth 
ONE WAY ONLY
​
​Meet Steve Way, The Actor Everyone's Talking About on Hulu's Hit Show Furious (And Yes, He's From New Jersey) 

​
Written by Angela Matusik, Editor in Chief, Socko! 
​Photography Courtesy of Hulu
WHY MOVIES MATTER
MORE THAN EVER

​New Jersey's boom in production will be bittersweet if our local cinemas die.
​A case for getting off the couch and going to see a film on the big screen.
​
Written by Angela Matusik, Editor in Chief, Socko! 
​Photography by Chad Hunt
On the page: Maplewood's Woodland, for David Lynch's Wild at Heart
AMERICA'S GREATEST
​EXPORT IS LEAVING HOME
​
​The Coalition for American Production, the fight for a federal film incentive, and why the country that invented movies is losing them
​
​Written by Adam Nelson, Co-Founder, Socko! 
​Photography by C.A.P.
NEW JERSEY 
​HAS BEEN PREPPING FOR DISCLOSURE DAY LONGER THAN SPIELBERG HIMSELF
​
​Garden State residents will recognize many of the locations in the Summer blockbuster and also the UFO lore that has been spoken about for decades.
​
​Written by Angela Matusik, Editor in Chief, Socko! 
​Images Courtesy of Universal Pictures
JANE MUSKY
Magic Maker
​
With more than 60 films and TV series under her belt, including iconic films like When Harry Met Sally and Ghost, the renowned designer brings her talents to a production in her beloved hometown. 

Photography: Tracy Sham
Written by Angela Matusik, Editor in Chief, Socko!
THE MOTHER 
Of All Film Studios
​
How Thomas Edison's Black Maria Motion Picture Studio, built for less than $650, paved the way for New Jersey's $800M film industry. 

Photography: Thomas Edison Foundation
Written by Nicole Acosta, Thomas Edison Foundation
TIM SQUYERS
Master Editor
​
For this celebrated film editor, known for his career-long collaboration with Ang Lee, the devil is in the details and home is in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Photography: Chad Hunt
​Written by Wilhelm Kuhn
DIANE RAVER
​Keeper of Jersey's Cinematic Flame
​
​She built what the whole industry is talking about: The New Jersey Film Academy, a training ground for the state's next in-demand generation of production talent.

​​Written by Adam Nelson, Co-Founder, Socko! ​
KERRY O'BRIEN
Queen of Castles
​
​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​
MICHAEL USLAN
Batman's Protector & Defender
​
​The New Jersey Hall of Famer explains how he went from comic book aficionado to one of cinema's most successful producers. All it took was passion, chutzpah, and a refusal to take "no" for an answer. 

​​Written by Barry Lyga​
JOHN VELEZ
The Man Who Lights The Movies
​
​He has lit Black Swan and The Whale and Maestro and Garden State. He has worked with Aronofsky and Spike Lee and Bradley Cooper and Oliver Stone. He lives in Atlantic Highlands. And he would like you to call him Gaffer.  

​​Written by Adam Nelson, Co-Founder, Socko! ​
LAUREN CONCUR
The Force Behind "The Filmmaker's Festival"
​
​The Executive Director of the Garden State Film Festival shares the secrets of its success at the start of its big 25th Anniversary year.

​​Written by Angela Matusik, Editor in Chief, Socko! ​
THE BEST KINDS OF 
Friend's and Neighbors
​
​For Stephanie Kurtzuba and Manu Narayan, their roles in Apple TV's Your Friends and Neighbors highlights all the great things about being a working actor in New Jersey. 

​​Written by Angela Matusik, Editor in Chief, Socko! ​
FACES
​OF THE FILM ACADEMY

​The New Jersey Film Academy is a celebration of the cinematic arts from crew to cast. Socko! shares the new faces of Jersey state film. 

Photography by Vishnu ​Nair and Antonio Johnson ​
​​Written by Angela Matusik, Editor in Chief, Socko! ​
I'LL HAVE
​WHAT THEY'RE HAVING 
​
​It's no surprise that the diner capital of the world is also the diner scene captial of the world. Here's where you can find the most iconic on-screen meal moments ever.

​​Written by Elisa Roland​
MONSIEUR KUHN 
A French Filmmaker in New Jersey
​
Executive director, producer, cinematographer, educator. To turn his love of film into a career that works for him and his family, Wilhelm Kuhn wears many hats. None of them are a beret.

​​Written by Elizabeth Moglia Jackson​
The New Jersey Production Guide is the ultimate resource for A-List crew. Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker or a seasoned pro, this comprehensive and user-friendly listings guide connects you to invaluable resources and collaborations, enriching the filmmaking journey from pre-production to post-production. Get listed and be a part of the vibrant creative community right here in New Jersey.
© COPYRIGHT SOCKO! 2026. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.