"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.
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."
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
(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
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+
