(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- New Jersey native Zach Braff returned home to shoot his upcoming feature film, A Good Person. Written and directed by Braff, the movie tells the story of Allison, whose life falls apart following her involvement in a fatal accident. A Good Person is executive produced by Beverly Rogers and will be released in theaters March 24th.
A Good Person stars Florence Pugh, Morgan Freeman, Molly Shannon, Chinaza Uche, Celeste O'Connor, and Jackie Hoffman. It was shot throughout North Jersey, at such locations as Colonial Pharmacy, Rabkin Drive and Van Houten Avenue in Clifton, the now closed Pastime Bar in Elizabeth, the athletic field of Columbia High School in Maplewood (Braff’s alma mater), Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown, Carmita Avenue in Rutherford, the South Orange Duck Pond, the South Orange Train Station and Prospect Street in South Orange, and at the intersection of Mississippi and Harrison Ave in West Orange. Montclair State University was used as a basecamp for the filming of the movie.
Braff is best known for portraying J.D. on the long-running NBC/ABC television series Scrubs. He made his directorial debut in New Jersey with the rom-com Garden State (2004), which he also starred in with Natalie Portman. That movie was filmed on location in Cranford, Dumont, Mahwah, Morris Township, South Orange, Tenafly, and Wallington.
Killer Films and MGM, the producers, spent $11 million in New Jersey and hired 194 cast and crew members for the filming of A Good Person according to Michael Uslan, Chairman of the NJ Motion Picture and Television Commission. The film is one of many projects recently attracted to the state by the New Jersey Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program, which offers a tax credit for qualified productions filming here. In 2022, production work enhanced the local economy by more than $650 million and created thousands of jobs.
“We’re thrilled that Zach Braff decided to shoot his third feature film in his home state, casting New Jersey as the lead character,” said Secretary of State Tahesha Way. “Not only did many towns enjoy an economic benefit from the filming of this project, they’re also benefiting from the image enhancement of seeing familiar locations on the big screen.”
The New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission, which falls under the New Jersey Department of State’s Business Action Center, is staffed by industry professionals and serves as a resource for production companies. The Commission promotes film and television production in New Jersey.
