Look Who's Shooting in New Jersey.
Seinfeld, Sopranos,
an Oscar-contender, and More.
Aaron Sorkin's "The Trial of the Chicago 7"
One of many major productions shot in New Jersey, and serious Oscar contender, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” was written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Sorkin, who won Best Adapted Screenplay for "The Social Network", is perhaps best known for the hit TV series “The West Wing.”
HBO's Long-awaited Sopranos Prequel.
Sopranos prequel "The Many Saints of Newark" is back in New Jersey shooting! To create this historical drama, Branford Place (a street in Newark) was transported back to the 1960s. This included, detailing storefronts, the old Adams Theatre marquee, and the retro neon sign for Hobby's Delicatessen.
Fun fact: A retired Newark police officer served as a technical adviser for the film :)
Annnnd Who's Shooting at Cobalt.
In the past year, we've hosted numerous Netflix and HBO comedy productions! Jerry Seinfeld's "23 Hours to Kill" and John Mulaney's "Sack Lunch Bunch" comedy specials both took advantage of our next-level VIP suite and amenities. "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" is a repeat client who chooses Cobalt for the convenience and confidence that only our Safe Shoots can deliver. In addition to these comedy shows, our pandemic-smart breakout spaces and vast "space to spread out" has attracted the NFL, the Metropolitan Opera, and a steady stream of commercial productions since we safely re-opened.
New Jersey leads the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven't shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
Netflix Back at Cobalt with Jerry Seinfeld
Challenge
For a recent promo shoot with Jerry Seinfeld, Netflix needed a location convenient to NYC, combined with an extraordinary level of comfort, convenience, and privacy. As a repeat Cobalt client, they knew just where to park their production! What they didn’t know yet, was that impromptu creative ideas would come up in the course of the shoot that only Cobalt’s “Swiss Army Knife of Studios” could make happen.
Solution
Cobalt’s VIP rooms and spacious, well-appointed workspaces add a layer of hospitality you won’t find at a bare-bones soundstage. Celebrity talent like Jerry love shooting at Cobalt, where they can take over our separate second-floor production suite—complete with stage views, networked Video Village monitors, and a private bathroom with shower, washer, and dryer. When the production wanted to try out an ambitious last-minute scene (involving Jerry strapped to a table and threatened with a James Bond-style laser beam), Team Cobalt pulled out all the stops to MacGyver a solution on the spot.
Impact
We did more than host a VIP in complete comfort and privacy. With our Turnkey solution, Team Cobalt was able to quickly set up a custom Motion Control rig to move the “laser beam” smoothly and precisely in three directions to show Seinfeld’s character in mortal peril at the hands of a madman. Not only did Cobalt have the mechanical parts and expertise on hand to do the job, but we also had the emergency expendables to make the prop visually convincing. The concept was successfully executed without creative compromises. And nobody was stressed out or sent out shopping in a pandemic — so the vibe onset was fun and productive from start to finish.
New Jersey leads the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven't shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
Shooting in New Jersey is Trending
Jerry Seinfeld, Netflix, and the NFL at Cobalt
Cobalt and our New Jersey home base provide a safe and flexible place for productions where VIP talent feels secure and comfortable lol. We're incredibly grateful for the recent opportunities to host repeat client Netflix, their star Jerry Seinfeld, and the NFL here at “Hollywood on the Hudson.”
Hosting VIP Talent at Cobalt
Needing to shoot a promo for Jerry Seinfeld's "23 Hours to Kill" comedy special, repeat client Netflix knew precisely where to find world-class convenience, comfort, security, and privacy. And VIPs like Jerry love taking over our separate 2nd Floor Production Suite—complete with upstairs stage views, hair and makeup areas, networked Video Village monitors, and private bathroom with shower, washer, and dryer. VIPs can also use our private drive-in garage for next-level privacy and security. You can literally roll up, and the gates roll down.
Pretty smooth, huh?
New Jersey is Trending
While hosting Safe Shoots, The Garden State has thankfully avoided imposing a maximum crew size. Cobalt's in-house Livestreaming, Virtual Set, and Remote Camerawork offerings add another layer of convenience and value by making it easy to social distance on set without compromising creativity. NJ's Film and Digital Media Jobs Act also saves productions up to 35% on ABOVE AND BELOW THE LINE expenses, while NY's tax credit is limited to below the line expenses.
We're All in This Together
We're so grateful to the Tri-State production community for adopting NJ’s Safe Shoot guidelines encompassing distancing, sanitizing, mask and glove use, as well as limiting cast and crew on set to only those required. We’re working with a bit more complexity than we're all used to, but we're making it a very functional, great experience and we couldn't do it without you. If you haven't shot in New Jersey lately, there's a lot to catch up on ;)
New Jersey leads the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to midtown than Brooklyn.
If you haven't shot in NJ lately, there’s a lot to catch up on.
No Max Crew Size in New Jersey!
Our success hosting larger crews is thanks to You!
Ever-responsive to the Tri-State production community’s needs, New Jersey provides a safe and flexible home for larger productions. Part of NJ’s success in hosting larger crews is thanks to you. Strict adherence to the state’s protocols is a team effort, and we’re not just meeting state requirements—we’re exceeding them! Here's a big thanks to everyone who’s been working within our Safe Shoot guidelines to encompass distancing, sanitizing, mask and glove use, as well as limiting cast and crew on set to only those required. That means anyone who can work remotely should, and our world-class Livestreaming setup is here to help you make that a great experience. However, if you need to be on set, we welcome you (and your social distance smile that radiates whether we can see it through your mask or not :)
How NJ is leading the nation:
New Jersey is responsive to the unique needs of productions.
New Jersey's guidelines are that we adhere to the state’s Safe Shoot protocols, but they kindly don’t specify a maximum crew size.
The Garden State's Film and Digital Media Jobs Act saves productions up to 35% on ABOVE AND BELOW THE LINE expenses. (New York’s tax credit is limited to below the line expenses.)
If you haven't shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
New Jersey is leading the nation in safe shoots
and Hoboken is closer to Midtown than Brooklyn.
We want to recognize The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission for their extraordinary leadership. We always celebrate our Hoboken location for its small-town vibe and for being closer, safer, and more convenient to Midtown than Brooklyn. Now, we want to give a shout out to The Garden State for being the Safe Shoot leader.
How NJ is leading the nation:
New Jersey is responsive to the unique needs of productions.
New Jersey's guidelines are that we adhere to the state’s Safe Shoot protocols, but they kindly don’t specify a maximum crew size.
The Garden State's Film and Digital Media Jobs Act saves productions up to 35% on ABOVE AND BELOW THE LINE expenses. (New York’s tax credit is limited to below the line expenses.)
If you haven't shot in NJ lately,
there’s a lot to catch up on.
Livestreaming at Cobalt
For today’s remote production needs,
Wi-Fi just won’t cut it.
WE OFFER
Reliable hardwired internet
850mb per second bandwidth
Isolated Livestream SSID for stability
Excellent audio quality
Group and private sidebar chat
All-in-one encoder, switcher, and recorder to minimize crew size
Video format conversion to accept footage in any HD format
Plus, a backup STARLINK system!
Call us and let’s work together!
Case Study: Solving Livestreaming Complexity for a Commercial Production
Challenge
A producer and longtime Cobalt client came to us with this Safe Shoot challenge. The producer’s client, a well-known health & beauty brand, needed to connect about twenty-five collaborators via Livestream. Team members were spread out across many different U.S. cities, and the project required high-res images, shared in real-time, from multiple sources. Our producer-client wanted to know, could we make it bulletproof?
Solution
Thankfully, Team Cobalt has the technical expertise and tools in place to solve Livestreaming challenges just like this one. We provided the production team—a hybrid of in-person and remote collaborators—with HD footage straight from the camera, but that’s not all! We also set up a camera in the wardrobe department, so decision-makers could make real-time wardrobe approvals from anywhere. To manage a high number of collaborators, we handpicked our video conference platform for its robust group chat and private sidebar chat features. Our facility is equipped with reliable hardwired internet with 850mb per second bandwidth for ultimate speed and stability. To reduce crew size onset, we employed an all-in-one encoder, switcher, and recorder. And to maximize versatility, we’re set up with world-class video format conversion capabilities—that means we can accept footage in any HD format. This alone is a major consideration since there are at least a dozen HD formats in use.
Impact
We were able to meet the project’s complex Livestreaming requirements beautifully, and our client didn’t have to worry about a thing. With our copious private breakout spaces, the Livestream’s chief engineer (Team Cobalt’s Chloe) was able to maintain her distance to reduce the number of people on set. And while we offered some options that this production didn’t use (like recording), we were able to go the extra mile by branding the livestream with our clients logo to the HD teleconference footage for a highly-polished presentation.
Case Study: Creating Complex Tabletop VFX for Vallarta
Challenge
We leaned heavily on our team's deep expertise and our comprehensive inventory of onsite Motion Control robotics for a recent commercial shoot with Hispanic grocery store chain, Vallarta. To produce a commercial where Vallarta's vibrant fresh flavors come alive, the store's meat, vegetables, herbs, spices, and citrus juices needed to collide on camera, choreographed in a midair ballet—not all at the same time, but sequentially. Vallarta knew what they wanted to see, but they needed Cobalt's extensive background knowledge to realize their vision.
Solution
To deliver Vallarta's delicious concept, we created one-of-a-kind rigs to orchestrate the shoot's astounding array of manual, pneumatic, electromagnetic, and robotic elements. By shooting 1000 frames a second, a tenth of a second's action was slowed down to 4 seconds onscreen. This enabled Vallarta to show audiences citrus juices meeting onions, then adding peppers, and so on, with ingredients crashing in the specific order and combination the client envisioned. Using our programmable logic computer, we empowered this production to trigger multiple rigs with millisecond accuracy, releasing slingshots laden with fresh ingredients so they'd spring into action in front of the camera. To simulate wood-fired grilling, we built a unique grill rigged with lights and gas jets to create the appearance of flames, embers, and sparks coming up through it. Then, a manually-operated rig allowed the camera to look up through the grill and flames, and pivot to look down onto the sizzling steak.
Impact
We specialize in solving complex technical challenges, so our Turnkey soundstage is well-equipped to support clients with advanced rigs and technology. Even with many decades of Motion Control magic behind us, the complexity of these shots and this installation's uniqueness will stand as a testament to our "Science in the Service of Art" credo. With our unique rigs, Vallarta captured their food on camera from new and exciting perspectives. Their audiences will have the opportunity to experience the stores' freshness and flavor in a whole new way. And, when the shoot wrapped, everyone left happy :)
How We’re Using Safe Shoot Tools to Help Producers
Helping producers problem-solve is our specialty.
Get to know our pandemic-smart Turnkey soundstage and let our experienced team help you make the most of it.
Livestreaming and Video Village
We recommend Livestreaming as a way to limit crew size on set. Clients and collaborators can keep tabs from anywhere with continuous HD quality footage delivered in real-time. For over a decade, we’ve invested in our Industry-leading Livestream capabilities, and mastered the skills needed to support your creative vision and remote working requirements. Already on our second generation of Livestreaming hardware, we have the tools in place to help you switch and stream from multiple video sources. Streaming from Video Village unlocks endless additional options for video inputs and content! We’re always here to help you strategize and customize the setup that’s right for you.
Virtual Sets
A must-have resource for producers and directors, our Virtual Backlot is more essential than ever for shooting safely in a pandemic. As the first soundstage to offer Virtual Sets to the public on the East Coast, we’ve been able to help clients like IBM and Lowe’s make the most of this high-tech social distancing tool. Virtual Sets deliver a degree of rich, photorealistic detail that’s completely convincing—and it works without needing to build practical sets or location travel. Our Virtual Backlot unlocks an infinite world of creative potential where you can shoot in any setting, real or imagined— safely.
Remote Camerawork Robotics
Sometimes called “Precision Playback”, Motion Control tools make it possible to program and repeat complex camera moves with a degree of precision that is impossible for humans to replicate. In today’s production landscape, Cobalt’s comprehensive inventory of Motion Control tools empowers our clients to remote-control cameras by reducing crew on set by two to three people. When pre-programming and editing camera moves, remotely, you can shoot without a camera operator, camera assistant, and focus puller physically on set. We can even operate multiple rigged devices, remotely, to help maintain social distancing.
Founded by producers for producers, Cobalt understands your needs better than your average soundstage. We’re here to deliver the solutions you need in these unprecedented times.
Why Our Clients Love Hoboken
With most Tri-State soundstages consolidated in industrial Brooklyn, our quaint Hoboken village setting stands out. "Hollywood on the Hudson” has a lot to love—especially for clients. Here are some of the top reasons our clients say they love working with us here in Hoboken.
Closer and Convenient
Some productions choose Brooklyn locations because that's where many PA's live. Our clients, on the other hand, appreciate that we're only 15 minutes from Midtown. They often choose to fly into Newark to stay at the W Hotel in Hoboken—they don't want to deal with JFK just to be closer to Avenue W! The spectacular view of NYC's skyline from the W Hotel’s river rooms ALONE is worth the trip. Hoboken also gets high praise for accessibility. The data company, AllTransit, gives our PATH train, bus, and ferry options a score of 9.5 for our "superlative combination of trips per week." The "reverse-commute" makes driving here remarkably fast and stress-free, too. And as a bonus, after the shoot, it's easy to head straight Upstate like we do on weekends, or head south to explore the Jersey shore :)
Small-Town Vibe
Let's be honest. When your client steps out for a breather, being nestled between a salvage yard and an auto body shop isn't relaxing or hospitable. The "West, West Village", as we call it, is a destination in its own right and the perfect place to avoid crowds of tourists. Want to kick back after production wraps for the day? Grab a burger at Hoboken's oldest bar, The Elysian Café, a charming stroll away from our soundstage and Hoboken House locations. Afterward, stretch your legs along the waterfront or check out our historic brownstones.
Drive-Up Suppliers
Our NYC colleagues know what we're talking about... Parking can make or break your day. The larger lighting and grip houses moved to NJ years ago to take advantage of the wide-open spaces. And they all have big ole American parking lots where it's easy to roll up, load up, and head out. We love Brooklyn, but when the nearest lot is 15 minutes away, whoever is trying to snag a spot and parallel-park a truck will wish you were shooting here in New Jersey where the prop shops and grip houses have plenty of accessible parking.
Our clients love Hoboken because it's ultra-convenient and offers a laid-back college town vibe. If you haven't experienced it yet, let us know! Ha - we'll have to show you around!!