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ROCK ON! This Week's Sound Bites...6/6/14


By Danny Coleman

originally published: 06/06/2014
"This movie? This movie is my homage to the Jersey shore," said screenwriter and Red Bank, NJ native Joe Basile of his new film "West End." "This is also an homage to the films I grew up loving; a movie where you have to pay attention, it has lots of twists and turns."

"West End" is a movie about family and "The Family" so to speak. The film's main character Vic Trevi is played by Neal Bledsoe (Ugly Betty, Smash) who's father (played by Academy Award and three time Golden Globe Nominee Eric Roberts) was jailed for racketeering when Vic was a young child. Vic's Uncle John (played by long time character actor Peter Onorati) assumed the role of crime family head from his brother and raises Vic as his own; eventually putting him through college and law school.

Upon the end of his schooling, Vic made a hurried departure from his roots, moving away and never looking back until the mob hit/murder of his father brought him home ten years later.



 


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Once back, antagonists from his past still remain. Vic's best friend has married his once high school sweetheart and his forever tenuous relationship with his mother (played by TV/film star Isabella Hofmann) continues to be a source of aggravation. Uncle John is now the head of the very family that his father once commanded and Vic; well, unbeknownst to his family is now an FBI agent.

Having been called "Hamlet Revisited, Jersey Style," "West End" is a throwback to films of days gone by. Shot entirely in and around the Jersey shore, Basile sought and has achieved his goal of bringing the reality of the state's famous coastline to the rest of the world. "I have a buddy in Texas," he said, "Who has been to New Jersey once. He paid me and the film, as far as I'm concerned, the highest compliment; he said it has a totally authentic feel."

Basile tells me that the idea for the movie was conceived over many years but the sparkles on this gem began to shine in 2011 when a short film adaptation took home top prize in the same category at the Garden State Film Festival. "In 2011, after it won, I approached and pitched the idea to Michelle Hurley. I figured it's a Jersey film, why not try for some Jersey money to back it. Without Michelle and Shelley (Co-executive producer LoCascio), this film never would've gotten anywhere. They are the best, I owe them much and they were one hundred percent behind it from the get go."

Once the funding was in place, Basile took this, his first ever screen play and turned it into his first full length motion picture. "I've literally done everything in Hollywood," he laughed. "I've been behind the camera, in front of the camera, been set on fire, was a coffee runner and been behind the scenes but this my first screen play and movie."



 
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Enlisting the skilled veteran cast came easy to Joe as he cashed in on those years of experience. "I lucked out! I mean, I just knew who I wanted, they were available and they are so talented and just simply amazing people as well. Peter is a Jersey native, Isabella is simply beautiful and Eric is such a pro and very generous. I can't say enough about, Paul Calderon, Neal, Joe Nieves, Melissa Archer from "One Life To Live," Wayne Duvall, Lou Martini, Anthony (Managano) and all of the supporting cast and crew were just outstanding!"


Shot mostly in Seaside Heights, NJ pre-Hurricane Sandy, the footage and locations truly do reflect the essence of what epitomizes the shore. "The roller coaster is in the footage. My sister always rents a house in Lavallette, we spread my dad's ashes at the Manasquan Inlet and whenever I could I used to walk the jetty; now, those things are all gone. I mean the jetty is there but the homes, the boardwalk, so much of my youth is gone and changed but this film, it captures that."


Being told by the local politicians and film office that, "As long as you don't kill anybody in public, you can shoot wherever you want," Basile took full advantage of his freedom. "The whole Jersey shore community made this movie happen. I've got to give it up to them, all of them helped to make this movie. The business community was very welcoming, and the people were just great!"

With additional shoots in Asbury Park and West End Long Branch, the locations could not possibly lack the authenticity which he sought. "Yeah, this is the "Real" Jersey shore," he told me with an almost sad tone; a tone which seemed to lament how the state has been depicted in other films and television shows.

The film is having several premiers throughout the country. June 2 it debuted on the west coast at the "Dances With Films Festival" and just the other evening on June 3 at the "Hoboken Film Festival" in Middletown, NJ. Tonight, it opens at the "New Jersey International Film Festival" in New Brunswick on the campus of Rutgers University, then again on June 30 at The Quad in Greenwich Village, NYC.

When asked what his favorite part of the film or film making experience was, Basile took a long pause and said, "I'll tell you what it is. I get to sit in the movie theater, look at the screen and say, yeah, I made that. I love the feeling of accomplishment and knowing that a dream of mine has come true."

With that, Joe headed off to prepare for a grueling month of travel as he hits the road in support of the project. To discover more about the film, the cast and crew, please log onto www.westendthemovie.com.

This space welcomes any suggestions and/or comments. Please send them to: Rockonradio1460@hotmail.com

That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!

THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS

Alchemist & Barrister

28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555

Thurs. 10 p.m. (TBA)

Sun. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson

Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night Hosted by Eric Puliti

All shows 21+

Amalfi's Bar & Restaurant

146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd. Lawrenceville



 
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(609) 912-1599

Sat. 8:30 p.m. The Aldrich Brothers

Amarones Windsor Inn

29 Church St. Windsor

(609) 448-714

Thurs. 6:30 p.m.Pizza Night w/Scott Gager & Debbie

Fri. 8 p.m. The Blue Moons

Sat. 8 p.m. Meg Hanson Band feat. Billy Hill

Tues. 7:30 p.m. Texas Hold'em

Blend

911 Rte. 33 Hamilton

(609) 245-8887

Sat. 9 p.m. Some Assembly Required

Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Tues. 8 p.m. Trivia Jam

Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612


Sat. 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Vince Ector Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)

Cedar Gardens Pub
661 Hwy. 33 Hamilton
(609) 587-0930

Sat. 8:30 p.m. Charles Laurita & The Mischief


The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton

(609) 394-7437

Fri. 7 p.m. Awake At Last. All ages, $8/$10.

Sat. 5 p.m. Keys To The Cadillac, Episode Earth, We Remain So, Vine Street, Tramcar Revolution, Circus Fiction, The Trusties. All ages, $8/$10

Sun. 10 p.m. Khaled Dajani, Leo Lydon, Max Prussner, GSBS. Ages 21+, $5

Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100

Sun. 4 p.m.Billy O'neal


Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night hosted by Shaun Ruymen



 
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Erini Restaurant

1140 River Rd. Ewing

(609) 882-0303

Sat. 8:30 p.m. Mike Matisa & Karly Coleman w/ Bob O

Fran's Pub

116 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.

(215)862-5539

Mon. 8 p.m. Open Mic Blues Jam

All shows 21+.

Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897


Fri. 8:30 p.m. Bonehead


Sat. 8:30 p.m. Philly Rock

Sun. (1 p.m.) Warrior Tattoo Event (6 p.m.) Mercer County Pour

Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridge

Wed. 8 p.m. Progressive Rock Night feat. Carpe Nota

All shows 21+

Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435

Fri. 10 p.m. Kindred Spirit

Sat. 10 p.m. Blind Lemmon Pie
All shows 21+


John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981


Thurs. 9 p.m. Snackpile

Fri. 8 p.m. Chris Harford & The Band of Changes

Sat. (3 p.m.) Crosscut Saw (9:30 p.m.) TBA

Sun. (3 p.m.) David Falcone (9:30 p.m.) Eric Sommer

Mon. Open Mic.

Tues. 9 p.m. Jerry's Bones

Wed. The Invitational (Featuring John & Peter's House Band)
All shows 21+

JoJo's Tavern

2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton

(609) 586-2678


Sat. 10 p.m. Trenton Makes Band

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke

Millhill Basement

300 South Broad St. Trenton

(609) 989-1600

Fri 6 p.m. Stag Party, Bad American, School Drugs, Executors, Ugly Park,

Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979


Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Drunk Monkeys

All shows 21+

Patriot's Crossing

1339 River Rd. Titusville

(609) 737-2780

Fri. 7:30 p.m. Sensei Juan and The Black Belts

Sat. 7:30 p.m. Andrea Carlson


Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008


Fri. 9:30 p.m. Radio Fiction

RHO Waterfront


50 Riverview Plaza Trenton


(609) 393-7300

Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night w/ DJ Jeff Scott

Fri. (4:30 p.m.) Deb & Mike $10 buffet(8:30 p.m.) Big Chill (10 p.m.) DJ Jimmie Palumbo


All Shows 21+

Spigola Ristorante

3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd. Hamilton

Fri. 8:30 p.m. Danny Povio and Retro Memories

Sat. 8:30 p.m. Tony Malandro

Sunsets at Cream Ridge

181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge

(609) 208-2500

Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Joe Kaplow

Fri. (6 p.m.) Duncan Lucier (9:30 p.m.) Drew's Farm

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Alright Alright

Mon. 7 p.m. Open Mic. and Karaoke w/ Rich Barry


Tavern On The Lake

101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345


Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Night

Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night

The Cool Cricket

216 4th St. Fieldsboro

(609) 291-9110

Fri. 9 p.m. Gunsmoke

Sat. 9 p.m. El Ka Bong

Sun. 1 p.m. Bikes, Beers, Burgers, Bands feat. Never Enough

The Ivy Inn

248 Nassau St. Princeton

(609) 921-8555

Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr

Fri. 10 p.m. El Ka Bong

Sat. 10 p.m. Boxorox

Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr

The Record Collector

358 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown

(609) 324-0880

Fri. 8 p.m. Kate Taylor. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $20 (advance)

Sun. 8 p.m. Joe Zook & Blues Deluxe. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $12 (advance).

The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007

Fri. 9 p.m. Montzer Zero

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Perfect Stranger

All shows 21+

The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200

Please check web site for upcoming events

Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554


Fri. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson

Sat. 9 p.m. Mike Brill

Tues. 9 p.m.Taylor Reed

Wed. 9 p.m. Paul Wiese

All shows 21+

Trenton Social

449 South Broad Street Trenton

(609) 989-7777

Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays Presents: The Backseat

Fri. 10 p.m. Friday night w/ Jay Kountree & Jaxx

Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree

Tues. 9 p.m. LiveMusic/Open Mic.

Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300


Thurs. 10 p.m. Aaron and The Spell, Besides Daniel, JD Eicher

Fri. 10 p.m. Something With Strings. $5 (coverage)

Sat. (2 p.m.) Spontageous (10 p.m.) Bengal Gold . $5 (cover charge)

Sun. (2 p.m.) John Danaher and The Walking Flukes (7 p.m.) Open Jam Night

All shows 21+

Wildflowers Inn


2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington


Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke

All shows 21+





Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.

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