‘Standing Ovation,’ Movie Filmed Locally to Premier July 16

WILDWOOD — It could be the summer movie hit for teens and most of “Standing Ovation,” was filmed here in Cape May County.
A local premiere is scheduled for July 16 at the Rio Theatres in Rio Grande including a red carpet celebration and an after party put together by Joanne Reagan Dance Studios, which had a major, role in the film.
“Standing Ovation,” has a cast of 50 with 10 original songs and 13 choreographed dance routines. In 2008 and 2009, the crew filmed on the Wildwood Boardwalk, Lower Cape May Regional High School, Beach Avenue in Cape May and a rented storefront in the Acme shopping center in North Cape.
The cast is packed with South Jersey teens described as a “triple-threat” because they sing, dance and act with equal ability.
Writer/Director Stewart Raffill has a long resume of family-friendly films. His screen credits include Mannequin 2, The Philadelphia Experiment, Mac and Me, The New Swiss Family Robinson and the screenplay for Passenger 57. His 1972 film, Napoleon and Samantha, introduced the world to Jodie Foster and a young Michael Douglass.
“If you liked “Glee” and “High School Musical,” then you need to see “Standing Ovation,” which is a junior high school musical with way more excitement and many more songs and dances,” said Diane Kirman, producer and co-writer of “Standing Ovation.”
The youngest cast member, nine-year old Alanna Palombo of Ocean City, plays Alanna Wannabe, a feisty singer/dancer who is determined to join a girl group with members older than her. She became the focus of the movie after initial editing for her on-screen presence that is both precocious and a bit “Shirley Temple.”
Kirman said the Alanna Wannabe character was not in the original script. She said Palombo was not the right age and there wasn’t a part for her but her teacher Sal Dupree insisted they see her.
Dupree had worked with winners on “Star Search,” “America’s Got Talent,” and runner ups on “American Idol.”
“We saw her and she is magical, she was made to be a star,” said Kirman. “She had so much vibrancy and brightness about her.”
Raffill wrote Palombo a small part in the film which became bigger as time progressed. Kirman said test marketing of the film has proven the audience loves Palombo.
Local dance studio owner and choreographer Joanne Reagan was a comedic scene-stealer in a dance number set in a retirement home. Her dancers are all over the film.
Joanne and Anne Reagan choreographed the film with Krystal Tini, a Philadelphia 76ers dancer.
Kirman said she and Rafill went to a Joanne Reagan recital before filming started and were overwhelmed by the talent. Reagan was soon contacted to choreograph the film.
The film follows competition between two rival singing groups entering a music video contest offering a $1 million prize and recording contract.
Kirman said she took the musical talents of Dupree and family film skills of Raffill and put them together.
“It’s a very wholesome family film with lots of music and dance,” she said. “It was my passion to do something for younger kids that are forgotten.”
“I wanted to do a real musical with real kids,” she continued.
Kirman said the movie is sort of a dream come true because cast members were Jersey kids studying dance and music and a film comes to their hometown without them having to audition in New York or Los Angeles.
She said a sequel to Standing Ovation is being written which will feature more of the Alanna Wannabe character. Shooting is scheduled for the summer of 2011.
Standing Ovation will open in over 3,000 theaters, said Kirman. A soundtrack album will be released including downloads on iTunes.
Kirman who is a “Jersey Girl” brings a long resume of producing and casting television shows and movies including Rocky V. She said wanted to make the film here because South Jersey has a great pool of talent and is extremely picturesque along the shore.
Kirman’s parents are Cape May residents.
“The film is just stunningly beautiful, it could be a pictorial of Cape May, the shots on the beach are just breathtaking, ” she said.
The movie was shot on high definition video with a “Red One Camera.”