New Jersey

It’s Oscars night! New Jerseyans up for awards at this year’s event

Published

3 weeks ago

March 1, 2025

Press Room

It’s Oscars night! New Jerseyans up for awards at this year’s event

2-minute read

New Jersey actors, a director and cinematographer are nominated for awards.
An Oscar-nominated Best Picture film was even filmed in NJ.

A full display of New Jersey talent can be seen at this year’s Oscars.

New Jersey actors, a director and cinematographer are nominated for numerous awards. The Garden State was even used as the backdrop for an Oscar-nominated Best Picture film.

The 2025 Oscars will be held this Sunday March 2 at 7 p.m. eastern time. You can watch the award show live on ABC or stream on Hulu.

Here is how New Jersey played its part in helping shape this year’s list of movies at the Oscars.

‘A Complete Unknown’ filmed in New Jersey

The Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown,” featuring Timothée Chalamet, was filmed all across New Jersey.

The Oscar-nominated movie filmed near the Jersey Shore at Bahrs Landing in Highlands, Cape May and at White Mana in Jersey City this past spring.

“A Complete Unknown” is nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Timothée Chalamet is nominated for best Actor in a Leading Role, Edward Norton is nominated for best Actor in a Supporting Role and Monica Barba is nominated for best Actress in a Supporting Role.

The film was also nominated for best Costume Design, Directing, Sound and Writing in an adapted screenplay.

New Jersey actors nominated at the Oscars

Zoe Saldaña is nominated for best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Rita Mora Castro in the movie Emilia Pérez.

Saldaña was born in Passaic in 1978. She was raised in New York City and spent some time in her childhood in the Dominican Republic.

The Hispanic movie star previously starred in blockbuster films such as “Avatar,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Star Trek.”

Sebastian Stan is nominated for best Actor in a Leading Role at the Oscar’s. He played the role of a young Donald Trump in the movie “The Apprentice.”

Stan went to Rutgers University in New Brunswick where he studied theater at the Mason Gross School of Arts. He graduated in 2005.

The actor, who also played the “Winter Soldier” in the Marvel movies, told the Star Ledger: “Rutgers and Mason Gross School of the Arts is a big part of my life. It’s where I really, like truly, got to know acting and the history and everything. I had great teachers there. I had great classmates. I love the program. It’s dear to my heart.”

Stan grew up in Romania before moving to New York as a child.

Jesse Eisenberg, who was raised in East Brunswick, is nominated for best Writing for the movie “A Real Pain.” Eisenburg wrote and starred in the film.

Eisenburg previously starred in many popular films such as “The Social Network,” “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Zombieland.”

New Jersey director and cinematographer nominated

Sean Baker is nominated for four Oscars this year for his directing and writing in the movie “Anora.” He is nominated for best Writing, best Directing, best Film Editing and Best Picture.

Baker was born in Summit and grew up in Short Hills. His family moved to Somerset County, and he attended Gill St. Bernard’s in Glad Stone. Baker also worked as a projectionist at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair before pursuing his dream of becoming a director.

Baker also directed critically acclaimed films such as “The Florida Project” and “Tangerine.”

Edward Lachman is a cinematographer who is nominated for best Cinematography for the movie “Maria” at the 2025 Oscars.

Lachman was born in Morristown. He has also made movies such as “Far From Heaven,” “Carol” and “Ken Park.”

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New Jersey

Crews battling wildfire at Wharton State Forest in Waterford, New Jersey

Published

11 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Press Room

Crews battling wildfire at Wharton State Forest in Waterford, New Jersey

At least two campgrounds have been evacuated as precaution.

Sunday, March 23, 2025 2:43PM

Crews battling wildfire at Wharton State Forest in Waterford, New Jersey

WATERFORD, New Jersey (WPVI) — A wildfire continues to burn in Camden County, New Jersey.

Officials say the so-called “California Branch Wildfire” has burned more than 1700 acres of Wharton State Forest in Waterford.

The flames were first reported near Raritan Avenue and Old Astion Road.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service says the fire crossed Mullica River, and is burning in Shamong Township as well.

At least two campgrounds have been evacuated as precaution.

Crews have the first at least 50-percent contained.

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New Jersey

Devils Head Coach Tears Into Newly-Extended Defenseman as Team Flounders

Published

22 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Press Room

Devils Head Coach Tears Into Newly-Extended Defenseman as Team Flounders

NEWARK—The New Jersey Devils are not playing well as of late. And although their struggles appear team-wide, Saturday’s loss to the Ottawa Senators was seemingly the straw that broke the camel’s back. In his postgame press conference with the New Jersey media, head coach Sheldon Keefe called out defenseman, Johnathan Kovacevic, for his poor play.

READ MORE: Bratt’s Historic Night Marred; Devils’ Struggles Persist in Loss to Senators

Following the 3-2 loss, Kovacevic explained the Devils need to have a playoff-like mentality for the rest of the season, with the advantage of playing most of their games at the Prudential Center down the stretch.

“We have a pretty home-heavy schedule the rest of the rest of the way here. We got to make this place a hard place to play and a hard place to beat us,” Kovacevic explained. “I think that’s something that we want to take pride in. We’re in a fight, and hopefully that gets us in that playoff mentality 10-11, games out, and we carry that into the playoffs. Obviously the results are tough, but we’re in a fight here, and we’re not going to back down.”

Kovacevic was the direct culprit of New Jersey heading into an early power play during the first period on Saturday. He sent a puck over the glass and sat for a two-minute delay-of-game minor infraction.

Fortunately, the Devils were able to kill it off.

No harm, no foul.

However, over the last week, Kovacevic has really seen his struggles. At 5-on-5, he’s been out-chanced 24-31, with a 40.95 CF% and 39.29 xGF%.
*Per Natural Stat Trick

Keefe’s recognized that the defenseman who once was one of the NHLs best shut-down players this season has tailed off.

When prompted with Kovacevic’s message about the Devils having a playoff mentality, Sheldon Keefe put his defenseman on blast.

“Kovacevic just needs to play better. That would help,” Keefe scathed.

The criticism is harsh, but fair.

New Jersey just extended Johnathan Kovacevic to a five-year, $20 million contract. The extension was a reward for his positive play through most of the season.

Yet, since his usual defense partner, Jonas Siegenthaler, has been out of the lineup with injury, Kovacevic’s game has certainly waned.

The 27-year-old defenseman has shown he can be both reliable and unreliable without Siegenthaler by his side. He has yet to find the consistency he once touted, and it’s hurting the Devils at a crucial point of the season.

Kovacevic isn’t alone among players who need to be better. However, he was in Keefe’s crosshairs on Saturday.

For the newly extended, and far richer defenseman, the Devils need Kovacevic to find his game from earlier this season.

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