The following films will be shown at the ShowRoom in Asbury Park (clockwise from top left) “Stardust Memories,” “Welcome to the DollHouse,” “Clerks” and “Atlantic City.”
By ED SALVAS
The ShowRoom Cinema at 707 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park is launching a new series of films that have one thing in common: they were all made in New Jersey.
The “Made in Jersey” series is the creation of Royce Meier, the curator of programs at the Showroom Cinema which is struggling to survive with new owners and the pandemic.
“Made in Jersey” opens Tues., Jan. 16 and will run on four consecutive Tuesdays, starting with “Stardust Memories” Jan. 16, “Welcome to The Doll House” Jan. 23, “Clerks” Jan. 30 and “Atlantic City” Feb. 6. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and all seats are $15.
“Stardust Memories” directed by and starring Woody Allen, was filmed in 1980 in and around Ocean Grove and “Clerks,” now a cult film classic, is celebrating it’s 30th Anniversary and was filmed in the Leonardo section of Middletown Township.
Coming up at the ShowRoom in February are the “Oscar Shorts,” the popular series of short films nominated for this year’s Academy Awards in the Documentary, Live Action and Animation categories. The Oscar Shorts will run Friday through Sunday for three weeks, starting Feb. 16. The Oscar Shorts were an annual feature at the ShowRoom for many years under the original owners and founders, Mike Sodano and Nancy Sabino.
Meier has been working to create film events with a variety of themes rather than chase after first run movies that generally go to the big multiplex theaters first. But he adds he has been talking with distributors and may be able to show some new movies as well.
In December he organized a fundraiser for The Center in Asbury Park that sold out all three theaters at The Showroom for the Holiday Classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
The Showroom will celebrate “Women’s History Month” in March with a series featuring female filmmakers.
Meier says he loves films and brings a box office background to the ShowRoom. A nine year resident of Asbury Park, he was formerly box office manager of The Town Hall in New York City where his mother was the general manager. To contact The ShowRoom by email go to https://showroomcinemas.com/.
