Doreen Sayegh loved being among the more than 5,000 people who attended the 2026
N.J. Film Expo last week at the Meadowlands Arena.
As the owner of the Cranford Theater, she knows what movies can do for a community.
“Film was born in New Jersey, so this is a natural relationship,” she said.
Sayegh wasn’t there to promote her theater — she was there to help filmmakers
understand what a theater can offer. She said filmmakers often don’t realize how many
ways a local theater can support a production.
“I’m always interested in meeting people that may be looking for a movie theater to
screen their independent film, or a location where they need to film, or a place to host
their cast and crew when they are filming in downtown Cranford — or even get a
marquee shot they might need,” she said. “Whatever it may be, we’re always available.”
She also wanted filmmakers to understand the industry’s real secret — the people
behind the scenes matter just as much as the people on screen.
“We are here to support everyone,” she said.
Representatives from the Bergen Performing Arts Center were making a similar pitch —
that New Jersey’s cultural institutions are ready to be part of the state’s growing
production ecosystem.
Jennifer Schuck, assistant director of development at Bergen PAC, said the venue’s
history makes it a natural fit for film-related events.
“The Bergen Performing Arts Center, which is celebrating 100 years this year, started
out as a movie house,” she said. “We have a lot of people in Englewood stop by and
they talk about going to movies there when they were kids. So, it’s an easy transition for
us to do events involving film.”
And for filmmakers looking for visually rich locations, Schuck said Bergen PAC is more
than ready.
“The building is stunning,” she said. “It certainly has an old feel to it, but at the same
time, it has all the modern technology. It’s been completely renovated within the last
three years.”
She rattled off the options: a 1,367-seat auditorium with huge screens, the Spotlight
Cabaret Lounge with a full bar, the Legends Lounge for smaller gatherings, a large
lobby perfect for receptions and an upstairs art gallery that doubles as an event space.
“We encourage people to come down and take a look,” she said. “It’s really a
magnificent space for any type of event.”
Adam Lucas, Bergen PAC’s marketing coordinator, said the organization’s connection
to the industry goes beyond premieres.
“What really keeps us going is our performing arts school,” he said. “It’s a way to give
back to our community. We would love to show people in the movie industry all that we
do.”
Sayegh said her goal is simple: to give filmmakers a place where their work can be
celebrated the way it was intended.
“We like to host special screenings of the films that are filmed in New Jersey, especially
in Cranford,” she said. “We like to put them on the big screen so they can be enjoyed
the way they were meant to be enjoyed.”
And then she offered the line that summed up the day.
“We love bringing people together to share stories the way they were meant to be
shared. Movies are made to be seen on the big screen.”
