ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Making films and filmmaker since 2009.

NJ Film School opened in 2009 and, since then, we’ve worked with over 1,500 students creating over 1,000 films. Take our virtual tour, read about our people and our students, and watch our films to learn what makes the NJ Film School family special.

Our People

Chris Messineo Director ~ NJ Film School

Chris Messineo is an award-winning writer and director.

As the owner and director of NJ Film School, he has taught the craft of independent filmmaking to hundreds of kids, teens, and adults - who have gone on to win their own awards for writing and directing.

He has worked as a director, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, script reader, screenplay consultant, and even a film festival judge.

He is the founder of Off Stage Films, an independent production company. Their films have played at festivals around the world and been recognized for screenwriting, acting, sound, cinematography, editing, score, and directing.

In 1998, he formed the NJ Screenwriter's Group and since then, they have held hundreds of original screenplay readings. In 2002, he created MoviePoet, a free online contest and forum to celebrate the art of short scripts and help bring screenwriters and filmmakers together resulting in the production of over 300 films.

Chris is passionate about filmmaking, teaching, and frequently lectures on Hitchcock, Film Noir, Chaplin and Keaton, and much more. He lives in New Providence with his wife and during the pandemic, he created a zombie video game, "Don't Get Bit", with his daughter.

Elizabeth Messineo Manager ~ NJ Film School

Elizabeth Messineo, some call her "Mrs. Film School", works behind the scenes keeping the books and managing the business.

Liz has been many things at many times. Using her degree from Susquehanna University in Theatre Arts, she has performed on stage throughout Northern New Jersey for the past twenty five years. Additionally, she has directed numerous children productions for theaters and school groups. She has worked a variety of film crew positions for Off Stage Films and others.

Using the left side of her brain, she has been an accountant for several corporations throughout New Jersey, as well as an editor and proofreader for local businesses.

When not at the film school, Liz can be found watching movies with her husband, daughter, dog, and cat.

Daryn Davidson Instructor ~ NJ Film School

Daryn Davidson is an award-winning filmmaker and editor who has been working professionally since 2014 after getting her bachelors degree in Film Engineering .

She has worked as an editor, director, cinematographer, camera operator, writer, sound engineer, gaffer, and grip on many different projects including: short films, commercials, documentaries, live events, and social media videos.

She is part owner of a full service film production company called Bold Media Films, LLC.

She has lived in multiple states in the USA and for five years in Beijing, China and Basel, Switzerland. She has also traveled extensively in Europe and Asia.

Daryn is a movie lover and lives in Ringoes.

Chris Furlong Instructor ~ NJ Film School

Chris Furlong believes that "Life is an Improv."

He has been affiliated with the Chatham Playhouse in Chatham, NJ for over 25 years. He has done it all from performing, designing/building sets, sound design, casting, and painting. He has also served on the theater's Board of Trustees as President, Vice President and Business Manager.

For over 10 years, he taught drama and improvisation at an overnight summer camp in North Jersey. Chris worked for the S.P.A.T.T. program of Chatham by teaching theater to students ranging from Kindergarten to 6th grade. Locally, he has directed High School plays.

Chris has produced numerous films for Off Stage Films and assisted with production responsibilities on corporate videos. He lives in Morris Plains with his cat, Mocha.

Mark Menditto Instructor ~ NJ Film School

Mark Menditto is a freelance photographer and cinematographer in New Jersey.

His still photography work has been on exhibition at Soho Photo Gallery (New York), Visions Gallery and the Swerdlow Gallery (New Jersey), and as stock photography through PhotoShelter, iStockphoto and the Auroraphoto stock agencies. Mark's work has appeared in Bark Magazine and ASMP Bulletin.

His cinematographic work (IMDB) includes Facade, Test Subject, Undercover, and The Water's Edge. Mark is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and one of their Best of 2009 photographers.

Mark and his lovely wife live in New Jersey and watch their rescued greyhound "Tessie" romp around their yard in between photo and film shoots. His website is www.MendittoPhoto.com.

Our Studio

We are located in New Providence (minutes from Routes 22, 24, 78, and the Short Hills Mall). Our 3,700 square foot studio is handicapped accessible and provides plenty of room for both instruction and production.

Our Gear

No need to bring your own equipment. Our sound stage is loaded with all the professional cameras, lights, and gear we need to shoot all our productions.

Cameras and Lenses:
  • 2 Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k Pro
  • Panasonic HPX170 Digital Camera
  • Canon T6i DSLR
  • Rokinon Cine DS Lenses: 14, 24, 35, 50, 85, 100, & 135mm
  • Sigma 18-35mm Zoom Lens
  • Canon 18-55mm Zoom Lens
  • Lensbaby Composer Pro, Macro, and Optic Kit
  • 52mm and 77mm Reverse Ring Adapters
  • Chrosziel Matte Box
  • Tiffen Filters: Polarizer and Pro-Mist 1/8
  • Schneider Filters: Polarizer, Blue Streak, & .6/.9 ND
  • Cavision .6 Neutral Density Filter
  • Edelkrone Follow Focus v2
  • Fotasy Follow Focus
  • Cinetech Follow Focus
  • LensShifter Focus and Zoom Puller
  • Zacuto Universal Baseplate and Zwiss Plate
  • 2 Tilta Camera Cage
  • 2 SmallRig Baseplate
  • Cavision Support Rods System
  • Camvate and UURig Handles

Drone:
  • DJI Mavic 2 Air Drone and Controller

Monitors:
  • ViewZ VZ-215LED-SN 21.5" Video Monitor
  • Ikan Blitz 400 Pro Wireless
  • Accsoon CineEye 2S
  • Studio Monitor Tent

Jib:
Dolly:
  • Dana Dolly Original Kit
  • 2 Matthews Slider Stands
  • Kessler Pocket Dolly
  • Rowe Cine Dolly
  • Digital Juice Orbit Dolly w/ Pneumatic, Caster, & Skate Wheels
  • Benro Tripod Dolly Wheels
  • Wheelchair Dolly
  • Over 30 Feet of Dolly Track

Sound:
  • Zoom H4n Portable Digital Recorder
  • Sony MDR-7506 Production Headphones
  • 3 Sennheiser HD 280 Headphones
  • Sennheiser G3 Wireless Microphones
  • Sennheiser G2 Wireless Microphones
  • Sennheiser MKH416 Shotgun Microphone
  • Sennheiser Pistol Grip, Windsock, and Windscreen
  • Oktava MK012 Omni, Cardiod, and Hypercardiod Microphone
  • Oktava Shockmount, Windscreen, and Headphone Hanger
  • Rode NTG4+ Shotgun Microphone
  • Rode VideoMic Go - Shotgun Microphone
  • Rode Pro Boom Pole
  • Rode Pistol Grip
  • Rode WS6 Deluxe Windscreen
  • Carbon Fiber Boom Pole
  • Matthews Boom Pole Grip
  • Boom Boy Boom Pole Grip
  • Professional Sound DV ProMix 3 - Field Mixer
  • XLR Cables (various lengths)

Editing and Post Production:
Tripod and Mounts:
Lighting:
  • 3 Luxli Timpani 1x1 RGBAW LED Light
  • 2 Kino-Flo Diva-Lite 400 Kit
  • 2 Kino-Flo Diva-Lite 200 Kit
  • Kino-Flo 4ft Double Complete Fixture
  • Lowel DV Creator Light Kit 55
  • Dracast LED500 S-Series Bi-Color LED 3-Light Kit
  • 3 Yongnuo YN360 II LED Light Wand (3200-5500K)
  • 2 Lite Panels Micro LED Lights
  • China Ball
  • 4 Metal Clamp Lights
  • 3 Govee LED RGB Bluetooth Light Bulbs
  • 5 LED Wax Candles with Remote
  • 2 Remote Dimmer Switches
  • Digital Juice Butterfly Kit - White and Black (8' x 8')
  • Digital Juice Shadow Kit (Cucoloris)
  • Digital Juice Color Gel Kit
  • Westcott Reflector 6 in 1 52"
  • 2 Westcott Reflector 5 in 1 40"
  • PhotoFlex Reflector 5 in 1 42"
  • PhotoFlex Tripod and Reflector Arm
  • Westcott Pop-Up Green Screen (5' x 7')
  • Digital Juice Chroma Pop Green Screen (5' x 7')
  • Matthews Green/Blue Screen (20' x 20')
  • 2 Green Screens (10' x 24')
  • Matthews White Screen (20' x 20')
  • Green Screen Kit (10' x 12' w/ stands and crossbar)
  • Westcott Collapsible Background Black and White (5' x 7')
  • White and Black Bounce Boards(various sizes)
  • Marble Cloth Interview Backdrop
  • 3 Matthews 18" x 24" Flags
  • Matthews 24" x 36" Flag
  • Matthews 48" x 48" Cutter
  • Matthews 48" x 48" Floppy Cutters (Top Hinge)
  • 3 Matthews 48" x 48" 1/4 Stop Silk White
  • Westcott Scrim Jim with 2 Silks and a Reflector
  • Blackout Curtains w/ Expandable Pressure Curtain Rod
  • Rosco Gels: Diffusion, Blue, Silver, and Minus Green
  • Matthews Hollywood Baby Jr. Triple Riser Stand
  • 2 Matthews Hollywood Baby Jr. Double Riser Stand
  • 6 Matthews Century Stands with Arms
  • 2 Matthews Half Height Century Stands with Arms
  • 2 Matthews Lighting Stands
  • 3 Norms Century Stands with Arms
  • 1 Norms Half Height Century Stand
  • 1 Norms Rolling Half Height Century Stand
  • 1 Avenegr Half Height Century Stand
  • 2 Large Junior Pin Stands
  • 1 RPS Studio Stands and Cross Piece
  • Avenger Pump Cup with Baby Swivel Pin
  • 13 Boa Weight Bags
  • Warm Cards White Balance Reference System
  • Gossen Sixticolor Light Meter
  • Lumu Light Meter

Grip Cart:
  • Slate
  • Cinefoil
  • NJFS Apple Boxes
  • Milk Crates
  • 3 Grip Boxes
  • Pelican Cases
  • Gaffer's (Black, Green, & White), Duct, and Paper Tape
  • 12 Colored "T" Marks
  • Telescoping Hangers (Trombones)
  • Matthews "Schnarr" Mini Boom Arm
  • 1 Matthews Baby Sitt'r
  • Clamps (C, Mafer, Cardellini, Duckbill, Pony 3202, & C47)
  • Makeup Kit (Brushes, Ben Nye Bruise Wheel, etc.)
  • Hawgfly Blood
  • Atmosphere Aerosol Haze
  • Mini Fogger Smoke Machine
  • Costumes (hats, masks, etc.)
  • Props (lightsabers, wands, rayguns, money, spork, etc.)
  • Green Screen Suit and Glove
  • Gym Mat
  • and Much More

ACTION!

We want to meet and learn about you. Tell us why you love movies and how we can help bring your film dreams to life.