Lange is a resident of Hoboken.

-Thanks for the photo Arty

Photo by Joe Calamito

The post You Never Know Who You Will See in Hudson County first appeared on River View Observer.

Hoboken International Film Festival Shines Kliegs on Teaneck!

By Sally Deering

 First Cannes, then Sundance, now Teaneck? Yes folks, Cedar Lane Cinemas in Teaneck rolls out the red carpet for the fifth annual Hoboken International Film Festival, which used to be held in Hoboken, but because of some snafu, will now wow film-lovers a few miles north of Sinatra’s hometown.

The indie film fest promises to be a feast for the eyes, 115 feature-length films, documentaries, shorts and TV pilots presented on the silver screen with in-person appearances by Oscar-winning movie stars, Emmy-winning TV stars and the writers and directors who nurtured their films from their first baby-steps.

Some films were made by accomplished writers and directors; others by up-and-comers who likely financed their flicks with credit cards while staying afloat on a diet of peanut butter sandwiches. But these filmmakers all share the same passion: to create their film, their way, with the freedom to uphold the integrity of their script and sustain creative control over every frame without big studio interference.  And since many festival entries get picked up by big studio distributors, film festivals are a great way for an independent filmmaker to get their foot in the door. It’s like when an Olympian goes pro. All the hard work earns the gold medal which leads to the deal for the Wheaties box.

“The main reason a filmmaker wants to put his film in a festival is distribution,” Festival Chairman Kenneth DelVecchio says. “We pride ourselves in being able to show the edgiest and hottest filmmaking and to give these films a shot at getting distribution. The Grand Prize this year, the film that receives the Best Feature Film Award will get an automatic distribution contract from Light Year Entertainment. As a filmmaker you can have your dream made and get a distribution contract.”

 DelVecchio started this East Coast happening with a nod to his roots. A Hudson County native, DelVecchio grew up in Kearny, attended St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, graduated law school and served as a New Jersey judge. An accomplished writer who wrote his first book while still in law school, Del Vecchio has numerous writing and producing credits under his belt, including the hit Rules for Men. His new comedy, O.B.A.M.A.Nude is being shown at the festival, along with the controversial courtroom drama he wrote and produced about gay marriage called An Affirmative Act. But DelVecchio is not a contender in the festival he’s producing. Although his films will be screened, they’re not part of the competition, assuring the integrity of the awards given out to the winning films at the end of the 7-day event.

 Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling of The Howard Stern Show, who took on a part in Rules for Men and An Affirmative Act, which also stars Academy-Award winning actor Charles Durning, will host major events at the festival including the opening reception on June 4^th and the Awards Gala on the 10^th.

 Of the 1500 submissions, 115 films were chosen by a 15-member screening committee that helps determine the final entries. Of those 115 entered in the festival, some interesting local entries include Asbury Park and The Pope of Jersey City – both made by New Jersey filmmakers; Venus to Vegas by Luis Moro of Union City and Santorini Blue a film written and directed by Matthew Panepinto, starring Panepinto and Deirdre Lorenz who also serves as Executive Producer. Lorenz describes the five-years it took to make the film a labor of love. One that also came with labor pains from raising the financing. Lorenz says she reached out to everyone she knew to get the bucks and even received a check by a stranger in a scene that sounds straight out of a Hollywood movie.

 “I met a guy in a diner, he saw me talking and asked me what I was so passionate about,” Lorenz says, “and the next thing you know he’s writing me a check.”

 Father vs. Son, also in the feature-length category, is a comedy directed by screenwriter Joe Ballarini who has written for big studios like Warner Bros, Disney and Miramax. Ballarini co-wrote the script with Paul Wolff, his screenwriting teacher and mentor at the University of Southern California. Wolff’s writing resume is also impressive with TV credits that include Little House on the Prairie and Life Goes On.

 “I wanted to make a movie about dating in your 60s,” Ballarini says. “And I mentioned my idea to Paul. I’m 30, and I was talking about how difficult it is on the dating scene and he’s 60, and he was talking about how difficult it is on the dating scene. Not much changes from thirty to sixty and we shared some hilarious stories about different dates we’d been on. So we wrote it together. I’d been writing for studios for about seven years at that point.  I love being a screenwriter, but I wanted to make a film I can call my own and direct.”

 When working on an indie, what you lack in budget, you get back in creative control, Ballarini says. He shot Father vs. Son in 21 days with a crew of friends and classmates at USC. It premiered at the Houston International Film Festival a couple weeks ago and won the Critics Choice Award from the Houston Film Critics Association.

 Like all indie festivals, outstanding films at the Hoboken International Film Festival will be awarded prizes for Best Narrative Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Best Documentary and other achievements at the Gala Award Ceremony on June 10^th where DelVecchio will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Robert Loggia, star of TV and films including Scarface, Independence Day and Big. But not all film festivals are equal, DelVecchio says. The Big Kahunas like Cannes, Sundance and the Tribecca Film Festival are more like film markets, because they provide venues for big studios to premiere blockbusters.

“They’re showcasing big films, studio films and not independent films,” DelVecchio says. “As a filmmaker making movies, I saw all these film festivals and decided to start my own. We started in 2005 and now we’re in the top ten-to-fifteen percent in the whole world. My film festival is a true film festival. ”

 It’s also big for Cedar Lane Cinemas, a 1930s movie house that shows big blockbuster hits, art and foreign films, says General Manager Diane Walker. There are two pipe organs, too, which will be played between shows and because they expect a huge attendance, they’ll be hiring extra ushers and popcorn-poppers to pop fresh corn before every screening.

The Hoboken International Film Festival turns on the kliegs at the Cedar Lane Cinemas where tickets are still available for film-lovers hankering for fresh popcorn, independent films and some Hollywood glam. And for one week only, Teaneck’s got the hottest tickets in town.

The Hoboken International Film Festival runs from June 4 through June 10. For ticket information and a list of the films and screening times, go to www.hobokeninternationalfilmfestival.com.

 

Cedar Lane Cinemas

503 Cedar Lane

Teaneck, NJ

201-836-3334

 

 

The post Indie Cover Story -Indie Filmmakers Head to the ‘Burbs first appeared on River View Observer.

Hoboken police  have confirmed that Lange apparently stabbed himself nine times last Saturday morning leaving knife wounds to his stomach at his luxury condo in Hoboken, New Jersey. A reason has not been given for Mr. Lange stabbing himself, but according to neighbors; Lange, has had some problems that has resulted in some stays at Rehab clinics.

Mr. Lange has also spoken about many of his demons in his best selling book “Too Fat to Fish” which was released in November of last year. In Chapter 8, called “Pig in Shit” -Mr. Lange states in detail his experiences with drugs for many years and how it all began.

Bleeding, unconscious but alive; Lange, was found by his own mother who called 911 last Saturday morning, when  paramedics did arrive they found the comedian / actor star of the hijinx movie “Beer League” conscious and rushed him to Jersey City’s Medical Center.

Hoboken resident Nara Desmond who said  she often sees Lange in Hoboken said “I think he is very funny, and yet I see that connection with other comedians like John Belushi, and Chris Farley, and  I hope that Artie Lange doesn’t wind up the same way as they did. It would be another terrible loss of talent.”

Hudson County has been Lange’s home for some time, and many of his neighbors have a tremendous amount of love and respect for Howard Stern’s morning sidekick and  wish him well.

We  too wish him well.

photo source wikipedia

The post Hudson County’s Artie Lange Stabs Self According to Hoboken Police Department first appeared on River View Observer.

In a concert at the Loew’s Theater to benefit the Jersey City Police Foundation & Jersey City Firefighters Distress Fund.
Come to the concert and help us give thanks to the men and women who risk their lives everyday for the people of Jersey City!

Musical Guest Mark Byrnes “Mark from Jersey City” on Sirius Radio’s Miserable Men Show

VIP After Party starting at 10 pm at Michael Anthony’s 502 Washington Boulevard – Hudson River – Jersey City

HOSTED by HBO Sopranos Star VINCENT PASTORE

Tickets exclusively online at Ticketweb.com

For more information, visit www.catcharisingstar.com

More Mike stories –Mike’s Pilot

The post MIKE MARINO – Jersey City’s Own Bad Boy of Comedy Live Comedy from Loew’s – Journal Square – Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.

Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling appeard at Bayonneâ€s Art Factory on Friday, August 28th and brought a barrage of laughter. Well-known for his work as head writer and cast member for the top-rated morning-drive radio program, The Howard Stern Show, Martling is moving fast and making his own headlines all over the country.

A radio personality, stand-up comedian, comedy writer, singer-songwriter, author and actor this “cunning comedic personality” is rocking his blend of comedy in comedy clubs everywhere. Equipped with quick lighting humor and jokes that leave no stone unturned “sexual or otherwise”, Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling is virtually unstoppable!

Jokes have always come easy to Martling, who began telling them as early as the third grade, and now years later there isnâ€t a joke he doesnâ€t know. In his many comedic performances Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling challenges the audience to stump him with jokes, the result a room full of uncontrollable laughter as Martling surprises the audience with the jokes ending.

This fast thinking comicâ€s talents go way beyond his swift jokes, he is also a very talented songwriter, singer and guitar player. Many of his songs are visible on his numerous CDâ€s, some are solely music while others are full of laugh till you drop jokes. At present Martling has a catalog of about 30 CDâ€s to his credit, various joke videoâ€s and joke by-products. All of his CDs are distributed by Oglio Records of Hermosa Beach, California and are available on his website at www.Jokeland.com.

Gifted and talented, Martling has also taken New York by storm; appearing on Broadway in “Jokeland on Broadway” at the Iridium Jazz Club, with his good friend Frank Vignola and the Frank Vignola Trio. Together the two showcased shows on Wednesday nights which are inclusive of fun filled nights, full of jokes, songs, stories and of course the one and only “Stump The Joke Man”.

Recently Martlingâ€s long-running joke line, “Use Your Finger! (516) 922-WINE!,” celebrated its 30th year, an accomplishment in itself. When asked what is the secret to his success he explained, “I love to make people laugh. I love doing it and Iâ€m glad people enjoy a good laugh.”

At present you can listen to Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling on Tuesday nights from 7:00-8:00 pm, as he currently hosts Jackie’s Joke Hunt on Howard 101 on Sirius Satellite Radio. The radio show is a weekly hour of fun and is co-hosted by Jackie’s pal, Ian “McKean” Karr, together with producer Jim “Jirish” McClure and engineered by Mike “Snark” Farese, it makes for a very entertaining radio show. Just ask Martling, his response to his great crew was, “I have a great co-host and the best producer and engineer around, together we are a great team!”

As the summer of 2009 rolls out, Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling has created a brand new DVD entitled, “A Safe Distance From Genius” which features 140 minutes of great joke fun and is available on www.Jokeland.com and most currently he is hard at work on a new CD entitled, “Snart” that is due out in October. The “Jackie Button” which is also featured on the Jokeland website has recently been updated and has become available on iTunes. It features 13 new Jackie Noises under the category “Pot Luck” this feature has received rave reviews within the Apple App Store.

A radio show, a very popular website, a long-running joke line, DVDâ€s, CDâ€s, Jackie “The Joke Man” products, Broadway, iTunes and a published joke book, one would think there is nothing else for this talented comedian to do next, will guess what thereâ€s more. Look for Martlingâ€s  acting performance in the late fall on the TNT popular drama “Leverage”. The popular drama stars Academy Award winning actor Timothy Hutton and is directed by well-known “Godzilla: The Series” director Dean Devlin. Martling will play an evidence officer in the segment entitled the “Maltese Falcon Job”.

Talented and funny it seems that Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling just keeps them laughing. If thereâ€s a joke or a song to be told “dirty or otherwise” you can always count on “The Joke Man” to know them all. If you really want to experience a night youâ€ll never forget, joined him at the Arts Factory on August 28th at 8:00 pm , for tickets log on to www.arts-factory.com or call (201) 436-6700.  Interested in getting a few good laughs, log on to www.jokeland.com, but enter with caution this site is sure to make you laugh till you drop.

The post Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling-The Jokeman Cometh to the Bayonne Arts Factory first appeared on River View Observer.