1888 Studios marked the milestone on Wednesday, Dec. 17, with a groundbreaking ceremony for what is set to become the largest purpose-built film and television production facility in New Jersey and one of the largest in the nation, according to the company.
The project is led by Arpad “Arki” Busson, chairman of 1888 Studios. Busson’s sons, Flynn and Cy Busson, whom he shares with Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson, are also involved in helping lead and shape the vision of the studio. Macpherson, who was in a relationship with Busson from 1996 to 2005, attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Flynn, who serves as the VP of business development for 1888 Studios/Togus Urban Renewal, hosted the groundbreaking ceremony speeches (click here to watch).
Blending New Jersey’s cinematic legacy with state-of-the-art infrastructure, 1888 Studios is planned as a sprawling 1.6 million-square-foot campus in Bayonne, designed to serve as the Northeast’s premier production hub, the company's website reads. The site is located at the foot of Avenue A near the Bayonne Bridge on land that once housed a Texaco refinery that closed in the 1980s, Jersey Digs reported.
Plans for the campus include 23 state-of-the-art “Smart” sound stages ranging from 18,000 to 60,000 square feet, each with 40- to 50-foot clear ceilings and power capacity designed to support large-scale filmmaking technologies such as LED volume capture, according to 1888 Studios. The campus will also feature more than 10 acres of basecamp parking, a five-story on-site parking garage, a 22-acre privately owned water backlot, and on-site industry vendors, including a dedicated lighting and grip facility.
Officials said the campus’ location less than 30 minutes from Manhattan places it within the union-mandated 25-mile studio zone centered on Columbus Circle, with access by train, car, helicopter, and water ferry. Tenants will also be eligible for New Jersey’s Film and TV tax incentive program, which offers a 35% rebate on in-state spending and a 40% rebate on labor costs through 2039, according to the company.
Paramount has signed a minimum 10-year lease for more than 285,000 square feet at the campus, establishing a major production hub in New Jersey, officials said.
Gov. Phil Murphy said the project builds on New Jersey’s deep film history while driving economic growth.
“As the birthplace of the motion picture industry, we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate the groundbreaking of 1888 Studios in Bayonne – a project that represents another chapter in world-class film and television production here in the Garden State,” Murphy said.
Murphy said Paramount’s long-term commitment will strengthen New Jersey’s role as a leading East Coast creative hub while opening new opportunities for residents. He said the project is expected to generate thousands of jobs, support small businesses, fuel economic growth in Hudson County, and draw creators and storytellers from around the world to local communities.
Officials said the campus is expected to attract major productions and further cement New Jersey’s position as a destination for film and television production.
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