Audiences don’t underestimate Jersey Shore

The Locally-made film, “Greetings From The Shore,” has opened to national distribution and has been held over for its third week at theaters throughout the state.
Sunday at the Frank Theater in Egg Harbor, stars Paul Sorvino and Kim Shaw, along with screenwriter Gabrielle Berberich met audiences as they emerged from a matinée screening.
Offering my opinion that the film put me in the same frame of mind as previous works such as “Dirty Dancing” and “Mystique Pizza,” Shaw gleamed.
“That’s great! That’s the kind of reaction we wanted,” she told me.
Filmed in the Ocean County resort town of Lavallette, “Greetings From The Shore” was written by Berberich and directed by Greg Chwerchak, both New Jersey natives.
“People have the wrong idea about New Jersey; this is really a beautiful state.” said Sorvino, well known for his roles in such films as “Goodfellas” and as Henry Kissinger in “Nixon.”
Shaw and Sorvino signed movie posters for the audience, answering questions and engaging in conversation—mainly about the characterizations.
“You broke my heart,” one woman told Shaw.
“I’ve known guys like that,” another told Sorvino, who plays a crusty, old mechanic who lives on his boat.
“This is what we dreamed of,” Berberich said, as she greeted the crowd. “We wanted the chance to get this little independent film to a national audience.”
It may be the setting at the Jersey Shore, or it may be the highly-developed characters, or it may be the quality of the performances, or it just may be the quality of the screenplay and direction that makes this little film enjoyable.
Or it may be that we simply need more movies like this.