By DON STINE
The first-ever Asbury Park Music in Film Festival is bringing both local and national film-makers and entertainers to the city next weekend and will benefit various music programs in the city.
The festival, which will hold events at venues throughout the city, is being held from Friday, April 10 through Sunday, April 12. Venues include Convention Hall’s Grand Arcade, the Paramount Theatre, the Saint, the Stone Pony, the Wonder Bar, Asbury Lanes and other city nightclubs and restaurants.
The Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation and the Asbury Park Press are presenting the festival.
Film Festival Executive Director Matt Hockenjos said the film festival offers people a special, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see filmmakers and musicians on stage together in unique settings.
“It is a unique synergy and combination between film and music that has never been done in the city on this scale before. It brings all facets of the arts together. You can see a film, followed by music in a unique place or art gallery- so it is something special and everything ties in together,” he said.
Twenty-three-year-old Hockenjos, who has been playing music in Asbury Park for 10 years, said the primary goal of the festival is to help fund music education programs for young people throughout the city.
“Music and film are both very artistic endeavors that work well together and, because of the strength of the music scene in Asbury Park, we wanted to make sure we incorporated an educational component,” he said.
“Ticket sales have been good so far and I think it will be a great turnout,” he said.
All profits from the film festival will go to the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation which will, in turn, give the money to various music programs it helps sponsor in the city.
A music program has been created at the Hope Charter Academy and a Hip Hop Institute at the local Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County.
“All of the music programs are in association with the Lakehouse Music Academy in Asbury Park,” said Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation President Tom Gilmour.
The new film festival is intended to replace the Garden State Film Festival, which moved to Atlantic City after more than a decade in Asbury Park.
“So, together (with the Asbury Park Press), we created the Asbury Park Music in Film Festival and the response we have already gotten, from not only the city but from across the United States, has been unbelievable. This is going to be one amazing weekend” Gilmore said.
Metallic band member Robert Trujillo’s film “JACO,” about legendary bass player Jaco Pastorius, will be shown 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 at the Paramount. The film will be followed by a question-and-answer session with Trujillo, film director Paul Marchand and Jaco’s son, Johnny Pastorius.
Former Doors band member Robby Krieger, will also appear at the Stone Pony on
Friday, April 10 in celebration of the Doors’ 50th anniversary.
On Saturday, the Stone Pony welcomes Bernie Worrell, the Long Branch-born Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who helped shape Parliament-Funkadelic music.
Other events include multiple short films from Danny Clinch, a Toms River resident and photographer who has taken pictures of famous personalities from Bruce Springsteen to Kanye West. Darryl McDaniels, DMC of the legendary Run-DMC, will show a short film and perform with his son, Dson.
There will also be more than 50 films shown by local, national, and international filmmakers.
A screenwriting competition will also be judged by Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue, writers from the Amazon Studios show “Transparent.”
Visit www.apmff.com to purchase tickets or for more information.
