RECENT PRESS
JUNE 7th, 2007 June 6th, 2007 The Hudson Reporter Local film debuts at festival After a demanding two years of filming and editing, “Shooting Johnson Roebling,” by a Brielle filmmaker, will debut at the Hoboken International Film Festival from June 1 to June 7. The film is one of 12 that will be screened out of over 1,000 submissions to the festival, and filmmaker Tommy Walsh, formerly of Brielle, said he is honored that the film will make its premier in his home state. “Shooting Johnson Roebling,” an 85-minute film, is a smart comedy that pokes fun at society’s obsession with reality TV and the concept of celebrity. It follows the journey of film student Charles Pavolski as he struggles to find his purpose in life. Initially, he sacrifices his integrity to high-powered network executives, but ultimately breaks free and becomes acquainted with the underbelly of New York City. With only a week until graduation, Charles’s film project takes him on a wild ride which will change the course of his life forever. This project is the brainchild of Seven Bridges Productions, founded by Mr. Walsh, who now lives in New York City, and former Little Silver resident Christopher Burke. The production company was incorporated in 2005, but “Shooting Johnson Roebling” has been in the works for over five years. The two friends created characters and storylines based on experiences they had growing up in New Jersey and ones they had while trying to break into the entertainment business in New York City. This film does their local roots proud, incorporating beautiful shots of the Jersey Shore and mostly local actors. In true homegrown indie style, Mr. Walsh and Mr. Burke cast their friends, families and pets in many roles and used their homes and apartments as locations, as well as the Osborn family burial ground on Holly Hill Drive. Mr. Walsh’s mother and brother play pivotal rolls in the film, as does Mr. Burke’s wife. Mr. Walsh’s brother’s former band even made the soundtrack. With the efforts of over 60 cast and crew members, Worldwide Audio and Georgia Hilton, “Shooting Johnson Roebling” is about to make its debut at The Hoboken International Film Festival. The festival features a celebrity jury of Academy and Emmy award winners. Grand prize is a distribution deal with Echelon Studios, while official film selections will be aired on the cable television network The DirectorZ Channel. For more information on “Shooting Johnson Roebling,” visit www.RoeblingMovie.com or www.myspace.com/shootingjohnsonroebling. Scenes from Independent Film Shot in Brielle By Erin Scott (Costar, Thursday, August 18, 2005) Red Bank Filmmaker Kevin Smith got his start by shooting his first independent feature film, “Clerks” in his hometown over 10 years ago. The movie, which Mr. Smith wrote, directed and produced, went on to win the highest award at the Sundance Film Festival and was picked up and brought to theaters by Miramax. Hoping for similar success, former Brielle resident Tommy Walsh headed back to his birthplace earlier this week to film scenes for his latest motion pictures, “The Legend of Johnson Roebling.” “We definitely want to try to get into Sundance, South-by-Southwest, and the Austin Film Festival.” said Mr. Walsh, who was driving around New York City doing some pre-production work Monday morning. The film, which is being produced by Seven Bridges Productions, centers around Charles Pavolski [played by Gabe Fazio], a film student at Brooklyn College who is on a journey of self-discovery, said Mr. Walsh. Along the way, the lead character befriends a host of eccentric theater-lifers while pursuing the godfather of the New York avant-garde theatre community, Johnson Roebling. “Our hero basically has to decide whether to sell out or chase his dream [of becoming a serious filmmaker],” he said. The scenes that were shot at Brielle’s historic Osborn Burial Ground Monday, though, focused on Charles’ nemesis, rival film student [played by the film’s assoc. producer Scott Addison Clay]. “The scenes at the cemetery are for a film within a film,” Mr. Walsh, who is one of the film’s producers, explained. “It’s Paul’s thesis" which is a documentary about his sister’s death.” Mr. Walsh remembered the Brielle cemetery from when he was growing up as a teenager in the borough. Mr. Walsh, who now resides in New York City, began writing the film four years ago with long time pal Chris Burke, who is also directing the film. The two met while attending high school in Red Bank, with Mr. Walsh at Red Bank Catholic and Mr. Burke at Red Bank Regional. After attending different colleges, they met up again doing theatre work in the city and decided to give their film a shot. “It is definitely drawn on our experience working in New York on both sides of the spectrum,” said Mr. Walsh about the feature length film that he described as “fast, furious and a lot of fun.” While the former locals may be in charge of things behind the scenes, on camera the duo nabbed a handful of professional actors from both coasts. “August is usually the slowest month for actors,” said Mr. Walsh, “so we were lucky that we were able to get some very talented actors from New York and Los Angeles.” Mr. Walsh expects the filming to wrap in November when he plans on returning to Monmouth County to film a coming home scene at his brother’s home in Wall Township. He hopes to be finished by July 2006. “We’re raising money privately, but we’re still looking for investors,” said Mr. Walsh, who is currently in talks with larger production companies to get more funding for the film. Anyone interested in the project can check out www.sevenbridgesproductions.com. |