Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle appears in this production still from 1917’s “A Reckless Romeo,” shot in Fort Lee at Palisades Amusement Park. Courtesy Fort Lee Film Commission
Before there was Hollywood, there was Fort Lee, New Jersey home of a burgeoning film industry at the turn of the century. The Fort Lee Film Commission was formed in 2001 with its mission to preserve films made in Fort Lee, promote Fort Lee as a filmmaking location and educate through film retrospectives and exhibits about Fort Lee’s role as the birthplace of the American film industry.
Tom Meyers, Executive Director of Fort Lee Film Commission has a past in Fort Lee (his family worked in the film studios), an active present with year round programming of events and definite ideas for the future of filmmaking in New Jersey. Meyers said it remains an uphill battle, the outcome of which relies heavily on the political winds and the position of the governor. “We had the same issues with Governor Corzine, who was very aggressively anti-film,” Meyers said. “Christie’s not much better, but not worse, so it’s not a Republican-Democrat thing.” Meyers says when done right, the film industry can be an “economic engine.”We know from talking to production houses that they’d much rather shoot in New Jersey, in close proximity to Manhattan with good parking, good infrastructure,” he said. “It’s the same reason they 
came here 100 years ago and they would come here again. Will we be the next American film town? I doubt it. But could New Jersey be one of the largest areas of production in the United States if we encourage this industry? Absolutely.”
Aside from the assistance Fort Lee Film Commission gives to the independent filmmaker and television production teams, there are many special events going on year-round that highlights Fort Lee’s historic past. There’s a Women’s History Month and Reel Jersey Girls: Women in Film programs– screenings, symposiums and panels that showcase women in the 
filmmaking industry past, present and future. One woman in particular is first woman director, Alice Guy Blache and the highlight in recent years has been a Special Directorial Award bestowed on Madame Blache by the Director’s Guild of America (2011), a new grave marker with her Solax Studio logo (2012) and induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame (2014).
Fort Lee Film Commission also sponsors and presents an annual Jersey Filmmakers of Tomorrow (JFOT), student film festival for Bergen County High Schools, with a finalists screening and awards ceremony. This county wide festival is dedicated to nurturing and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers introducing their work to leading members of the film community.
Their annual Cliffhanger series includes historic walks, Movies Under the Stars screenings and exhibits at the Fort Lee Museum. Curators Fort Lee Film Commission and the Fort Lee Historical Society along with the Fort Lee Office of Cultural Affairs and the Fort Lee Public Library presented the Cliffhanger 2012 series: Reel Jersey Girls: Women Filmmakers of Fort Lee exhibit. On Friday, March 2, there was an opening night wine and cheese reception for the exhibit opening at the Fort Lee Museum, 1588 Palisade Avenue, Fort Lee, New Jersey. Hours: Saturday-Sunday noon-4 p.m. and Wednesday evenings 7-9 p.m. Groups can make appointments for weekday visits by calling in advance 201-592-3580.
