By Julia Train
Cape May County is no stranger to the spotlight, with another significant film production slated to take place in the area.
Following the success of the Oscar-nominated film “A Complete Unknown” in 2024, which featured Cape May as a stand-in for Newport, R.I., the county is getting a second shot at the big screen.
This time, the legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg is bringing his sci-fi magic to the area with his latest project.
The movie is currently untitled but is being called “Non-View” for production purposes. It reportedly has the working title “The Dish.” Scheduled for release on May 15, 2026, “The Dish” marks Spielberg’s return to the genre that helped define his career.
This film, reportedly about UFOs, boasts a star-studded cast that includes Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Josh O’Connor and Colman Domingo.
Cape May County is a rising star in the film industry
Cape May County’s recent emergence as a hotspot for filming has sparked interest from both residents and industry professionals. The Cape May County Tourism Department has been working to promote the region as an attractive destination for movie productions, and their efforts are paying off.
As part of New Jersey’s “Film Ready” initiative, the county is actively involved in efforts to make the area more accessible to filmmakers and boost its presence in the film and TV industries.
In 2023, the state saw nearly $590 million in film and television spending. While last year’s exact spending number is not yet available, projections for 2024 expected an increase to $600 million, according to the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission.
As with any major production, locals are eager to be a part of the magic. The first round of casting for “The Dish” has already begun, with an open call for extras. The casting agency handling the extras is Grant Wilfley Casting, the same team behind the extras for “A Complete Unknown.”
“Grant Wilfley, one of our longtime colleagues who’s doing the casting for this, is wonderful, making sure that local actors are used and that the film stays within budget, with having to spend a certain amount of their budget in our state to qualify, which is the balancing act always for the casting directors,” said Ryan-Manhim.
Grant Wilfley is looking for individuals to play train passengers or car drivers in scenes shot in Woodbine between Monday, March 10 and Friday, March 14.
No prior acting experience is required for those wishing to be extras. Participants will be compensated with a base pay of $216 for eight hours of work and a car allowance of $37.50.
“It’s open to everyone, every size, every look, every ethnicity, every disability, true to life, really, in film. It’s great because there are no exclusions. Just like when you walk down the street, you see people of every walk,” said Ryan-Manhim.
Those interested in joining the film can find more information at gwcionlocation.com/new-jersey or send an email to nj@gwcnyc.com.
In the email, write “Non-View Cape May Locals” as the subject and include your name, pronouns, phone number, whether or not you are a SAG-AFTRA member, what dates you are available during the filming window, whether or not you have visible tattoos, and whether or not you are local to Cape May.
Also include current non-professional photos of yourself, both close-up and full-body. If you own a car that you can use in the film, also send the color, year, make and model, and a photo of the car.
