News
Shoot, edit, score, win!
The Asbury Park Reporter
by Brenda Hamlet - August 8, 2024
The Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) 3 Week Film Challenge is now underway from August 5 – 26. The AP’N3 Film Challenge is the only film making event in Asbury Park and is open to the entire community. Contestants who accept the challenge are required to create a 3-minute movie, with an original script, shoot it, edit, and score it in three weeks.
Michael Sodano, Board President for APAC says, “It is still not too late to enter the challenge. All you need is a $30 entry fee, discounted for students and non-profits. So far, we have thirty-five people taking part in the challenge.”
APAC provides each contestant with a production package available to download from August 5th at 10 a.m. (See link below). The production package includes a theme, line of dialogue, a prop, and a scene-specific Asbury Park location. The film must be shot entirely in Asbury Park and uploaded to the website no later than Monday, August 26th at 6 p.m.
“This is a challenge that stretches our imagination and those of the participants,” says Sodano. “Most of the participants are first time film makers, so once they have a film under their belt, they can use it whatever way they want. Last year the Second Prize winners went on to enter their short with the Jersey Shore Film Festival and it won Best Comedy Short. Another filmmaker entered their short into the Garden State Film Festival and it won Best Short.”
The top ten winning entries will be screened at the Premier Event taking place at the Jersey Shore Arts Center on Sunday, November 3, 2024. A selection of AP’N3 entries will also be screened on APTV, the local cable channel, and on the YouTube channel of the Asbury Park Arts Council.
Sodano says the judging panel is made up of experts and cinephiles. “We have teachers, professional filmmakers, others involved in film who evaluate the films on a number of standpoints.”
APAC is a 501(c) nonprofit organization established under the guiding promise that the arts have been — and will continue to be — critical to the overall health and development of our community. The board members include: Carrie Turner, Michael Sodano, Jenn Hampton, Bob Ellis, and Paul McEvily. This year they have hosted Asbury Park’s Got Talent, Filmmakers Meetup, Connor Kane Photography Show, Asbury Park Panel and Mural Tour, a Black History Month art event at Asbury Park Library, Music Mondays pop-up at Springwood Park, Sewer Plant Mural Project, Lake Street Light Pole Beautification, and For Artist’s Sake Lectures.
Filmmakers Invited to Register for Annual Film Challenge
The Coaster
by the Coaster Editorial Staff
The Asbury Park Arts Council is hosting the third annual AP’N3 Film Challenge.
This is a competition where participants create three-minute films shot in Asbury Park over the course of three weeks from Aug. 5 to Aug. 26.
The “challenge” lies not only in the short time frame but that each film must include a required theme. As in the past, APAC will manage the challenge through the FilmFreeway web portal where entrants register and submit their final films.
Each film will be judged by a panel of industry professionals and the top-rated entries will screen at an event, scheduled for Nov. 3. The top three films and an audience favorite film will receive cash prizes.
Nancy Sabino, executive director of the event said, “We are so pleased to give everyone a chance to showcase our city in film. You cannot believe the creativity that can happen in three minutes, and we are always pushing the envelope to offer help and community to those with talent and determination.. The Challenge is the only film-making event in Asbury Park. Everyone starts somewhere.”
Carrie Turner, APAC executive director, said, “AP’N3 is meant to be a fun exercise, open to the whole community, that invites people who live in or visit Asbury Park to share a story. We were excited by the increase in entries from 2022 to 2023 and believe we are developing a valuable avenue for creative expression in our city.”
Framing Asbury Park within the AP'N3 Film Challenge
Monmouth Arts
By Darian Scalamoni / July 17, 2024
For the people who may be unaware, please let us know a little bit about the AP’N3 film challenge.
It started back in 2022 and is based on a film challenge that we [Michael and Nancy] did when we ran the Showroom Cinema. You have three weeks to shoot a three-minute film that’s shot entirely in Asbury Park. You can’t start early because you first have to get four requirements into the film, so everybody’s playing on a level field. We give you a theme, a line of dialogue, a prop, and a location. Then you’re on your own to shoot what you think, how you think it. You can use any genre you like. Last year, we had animation, live action, and music videos. It’s always surprising to us how many different ways people choose to use what we give them to create something original.
How did you and Mike come up with the concept for AP’N3?
We were looking to get more filmmaking in Asbury Park. There are a lot of film festivals that go on, but there’s really no filmmaker platform. We thought there was a lot of opportunity for this kind of art to appear in Asbury Park. And we thought this was a good way to encourage young people. It would bring people to the streets for filming, which is always so exciting, and then have a platform where everyone can see the films on a big screen because we choose 10 finalists. Our team picks the top three, and the audience chooses the Audience Award winner. It’s a great opportunity, and you’re seeing your film with a group of your peers and other filmmakers.
Why did you decide on a three-minute short film as the template for submission?
We thought that three minutes gives everybody a really good opportunity to show a short, concise story. There are a lot of film festivals. Even short films can run as long as 25 minutes. But 25 minutes is a long time, and you can’t really get in a lot of different choices or different entries. We thought the shorter, the better. If you could do it in 25 minutes, you should be able to do it in three minutes. We wanted to keep it short and sweet.
How does this film challenge help local filmmakers?
There isn’t much of an opportunity for people who are looking to make a film to get that first foot in the door. Film festivals are very challenging. Making a film is overwhelming. We thought a short film with a very low bar and a low threshold for entering would be a good opportunity for anyone to try it out. It’s $25 to enter and it’s three weeks of your time. It’s a very short commitment. Everyone who’s taken the challenge really feels that it helps them get that first film done.
This will be your third annual AP’N3 film challenge. What’s different about this year?
Every year, we tweak it a little bit to make it more responsive or reactive to what we hear from the audience. We are always looking to expand the view of the theme and the locations and the props so that we get a broader sense of the town. The first year we did the festival we got a lot of “boardwalk.” We’re looking to make it a little deeper in terms of what people can try their hand at so that we don’t end up with the same material every year.
This year we’re also looking to have a VIP party so everyone can talk to each other – it’s an opportunity for networking. Everyone wants to talk to each other about what kind of camera they use and how did they get that one particular shot. So, it’s a great opportunity to bring the film community together so that people learn from each other, and then they have a bigger community of people to connect with when they’re looking for more work.
In your eyes, what makes Asbury Park so special that it deserves a light shined on it by filmmakers in this challenge?
Asbury Park is both a city and a shore town. You have diversity here. You have the challenges that come with the city. You have growth. It has a vibe to it and name recognition, thanks to Bruce Springsteen. Looking at Asbury Park in different ways, I think, is good for perception. Whether you have a good perception of Asbury or a bad perception or an artistic perception, there’s so many facets that our film challenge allows people to see through new eyes.
In your two years of running AP’N3, what have been your biggest takeaways?
I don’t think we realized how happy it makes people to put a film together and collaborate with friends and families and to really run it themselves. Everyone comes away with more confidence than they started with. We know that people have taken these films and entered them into other competitions and have placed. So that means the film was not only good enough for our challenge, but it was a standalone piece that could go other places. Three minutes is a great calling card for a filmmaker. Anybody can take three minutes to watch your film.
Finally, what advice would you give to someone who is on the fence about doing the challenge?
Take the plunge! Nobody’s going to know what you had planned, or that what you came out with is something different. Only you know where you failed and where you succeeded. So, try it out. The biggest thing when it comes to production is you have to go through with it. You have to be able to adapt when a situation goes awry. As a director, as a producer, as a writer, as an actor, you have to roll with the punches. And I think just taking the plunge and trying it out for the first time is a good experience for anyone.
Asbury Park Arts Council Launches Third Annual AP’N3 Film Challenge
TAPintoAsbury Park
Your Neighborhood News Online - By Alissa Deleo
By Matt Doherty - Published July 9, 2024 at 12:00 PM
Showcasing films from top finalists, and entries from two community groups nurturing Asbury Park's future filmmakers
ASBURY PARK, NJ — The Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) has announced the much-anticipated return of the AP’N3 Film Challenge, inviting filmmakers of all skill levels to create short films celebrating the vibrant culture of Asbury Park. Now in its third year, this creative competition challenges participants to produce 3-minute films shot exclusively within Asbury Park over a three-week period, from August 5th to August 26th.
Each film must incorporate a required theme, location, prop, and line of dialogue, which are revealed at the start of the competition. Entries will be submitted through the FilmFreeway web portal, with judging conducted by a panel of industry professionals. The top-rated films will earn the chance to be screened at the prestigious Premier Event scheduled for November 3rd, where cash prizes await the top three films and an audience favorite chosen by Premier attendees.
Nancy Sabino, Executive Director of the AP’N3, expressed enthusiasm for this year’s challenge, stating, “We are so pleased to give everyone a chance to showcase our city in film. You cannot believe the creativity that can happen in three minutes, and we are always pushing the envelope to offer help and community to those with talent and determination.”
The AP’N3 Film Challenge has become a hallmark event in Asbury Park, drawing participation from diverse groups including local organizations fostering young talent. In 2023, films from youth-serving organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County and Inspire Life Inc. were showcased at the Premier, highlighting the city’s emerging filmmakers.
Carrie Turner, APAC Executive Director, emphasized the community spirit of the challenge, saying, “AP’N3 is meant to be a fun exercise, open to the whole community, that invites people who live in or visit Asbury Park to share a story. We were excited by the increase in entries and Premier attendance from 2022 to 2023 and believe we are developing a valuable avenue for creative expression in our city.”
Reflecting on her experience winning first place in 2023, filmmaker Chloe Evangelista, who entered an animated film, remarked, “The AP’N3 is an opportunity to show people your unique view of Asbury Park.” Her film and others from past challenges are available for viewing on APAC’s website.
Registration for the 2024 AP’N3 Film Challenge is currently open through the official FilmFreeway page, welcoming aspiring filmmakers to join this celebration of creativity and community in Asbury Park.
Siren Arts Celebrates 8th Year
Martin Cid Magazine: News About Art, Entertainment, Culture
By Molly Se-kyung - June 10, 2024
Siren Arts Celebrates 8th Year: Transformer Unveils New Exhibition Space in Asbury Park
ASBURY PARK, NJ – The ever-evolving landscape of contemporary art takes a vibrant turn this summer as Transformer proudly presents its 8th annual Siren Arts summer artist residency program and performance art series. This year, the celebratory season kicks off with the grand opening of a much-anticipated new exhibition space on June 13.
Located at Asbury Ocean Club’s corner space at 4th Ave & Kingsley St, the brand new art haven is set to become the pulsating heart of transformative art culture in Asbury Park, NJ. Fueled by the magnanimity of Starfield Companies, Transformer seeks to amplify its mission of championing emerging artists and fostering an inclusive and engaging community through its innovative Siren Arts program.
The grand opening, slated for June 13, 6-8pm, will treat audiences to a summer-long exhibition featuring Siren Arts performance photography by local talent Sara Stadtmiller, new paintings from Zach Storm, and an array of evolving artwork from Transformer’s FlatFile program. The new space will also be utilized by this summer’s Siren Arts deepwater artists-in-residence, as they create new works to be presented in public performance art events Thursday evenings July 11 through August 15 on Asbury Park’s 2nd Avenue Beach.
Initiated in 2017, Siren Arts has established itself as a vital summer artist residency program & performance art series that primarily supports underserved BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ artists within mid-Atlantic urban spaces. This year’s lineup of Siren Arts: deepwater artists-in-residence boasts thought-provoking names like Tai Tai, tasha dougé, and Jordan Deal among others, set to tantalize aesthetic interpretations and interactions.
Through endeavors that bridge the gap between the environment and art, this year’s artists will explore oceanic themed creations while sparking dialogues on intersectional implications of climate change. With the thriving artistic community of Asbury Park as their canvas, a new wave of contemporary art is set to make a splash this summer.
This year’s Siren Arts: deepwater artists-in-residence include:
July 8 – 12 / Tai Tai (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles)
July 15 – 19 / tasha dougé (Bronx, NY)
July 22 – 26 /Jordan Deal (Philadelphia, PA)
July 29 – Aug 2 / Erin Ellen Kelly (New York, NY)
August 5 – 9 / Laura Bernstein, with Patty Gone, and Perrin Ireland (New York, NY)
Aug 12 – 16 / Kelindah Schuster (Brooklyn, NY)
How Asbury Stays Ahead of the Conformist Curve
Asbury Park SewagePlant
Next phase in sewage plant mural project - TriCity News February 15, 2024
ASBURY PARK — This newspaper has long prepared for the economic boom that we knew would one day hit our beloved little city.
We planned for it during our early years building up everything here that was creative, artistic and alternative — starting when the city was largely abandoned.
The inevitable economic boom would bring enormous pressures for conformity. That’s what happens when a place becomes hot. Our strategy was to build up artistic and cultural leaders and traditions that could withstand the onslaught — and be around to attract new types and forms of creativity.
The DIY and punk days of 20-25 years ago, when the few artists here could pretty much do whatever they wanted on an empty Cookman Avenue, are over. What’s replaced them in the creative tradition are people like Parlor gallery owner Jenn Hampton — the foremost arts leader in Asbury today with her influence all over — and powerhouse creatives like renowned music photographer Danny Clinch and his Transparent Gallery, which has also become an important music venue. (Hampton was here in the early days 20 years ago.)
The up-and-coming young creatives are still here in numbers actually much larger than 20 years ago. And more continue to arrive. They now live in Asbury Park or any of the interesting towns in the triCity region of eastern Monmouth a short ride away.
Still, Asbury Park is the driving force and engine in our region for the arts and culture (with Red Bank a strong second).
We give you that long-winded introduction to report about the latest on the mural project at the Asbury Park sewage treatment plant on the ocean. Yes, murals on our sewage plant! And what’s gone on there is a perfect example of why our city — stranded out here in a suburban region — stays ahead of the conformist curve. Where else is a sewage plant transformed into an arts icon?
Asbury arts leaders like Jenn Hampton, Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn, Asbury Park Arts Council Executive Director Carrie Turner and others put together a mural program for the panels on the treatment plant. The murals that have been stalled, as Amy Quinn says, are “phenomenal.”
The south and east sides of the treatment plant already have multiple murals. The last phase is ready to go. Request for proposals (RFPs) for the north face of the plant, which faces the senior citizen high rise tower, are now available for artists to return to the city. Quinn said that the city has approximately $5,000-6,000 to pay the muralist.
And demonstrating that Asbury Park’s commitment to the arts is all-ages, the impetus to do the north side of the plant came from seniors in the Asbury Towers high rise next door.
“Every year, upon completion, we ask the artists to give us feedback about the project as well as how it is, being an artist working in town on this project,” said Hampton. “Last year, the artists all shared that some of the seniors would show up and watch them painting and had asked when ‘their wall’ would get done.”
“This was heartwarming for me, knowing that they care and are interested in seeing art too. In fact, with Wooden Walls Project (the mural project Hampton curates on the boardwalk), I am hoping to acquire a golf cart to do a mural tour for seniors, in case they have not been able to see them all because of physical limitations,” Hampton said.
Both Quinn and Hampton are on the city’s Public Arts Commission, which approves public murals in the city. The commission is sponsoring this next phase of the mural project at the sewage treatment plant, with the Asbury Park Arts Council helping to coordinate.
Unlike the other sides of the plant with multiple mural panels, the north side will have one mural concept for the six panels there, Quinn said. New artists who have not painted other murals on the plant will be given priority. In addition, residents of the senior tower will be given input on the final choice of the mural.
Mural Project - Next Phase
Asbury Park SewagePlant
Next phase in sewage plant mural project - TriCity News February 15, 2024
TriCityNews
Local weekly paper covering regional news and events, by Dan Jacobson
ASBURY PARK — This newspaper has long prepared for the economic boom that we knew would one day hit our beloved little city.
We planned for it during our early years building up everything here that was creative, artistic and alternative — starting when the city was largely abandoned.
The inevitable economic boom would bring enormous pressures for conformity. That’s what happens when a place becomes hot. Our strategy was to build up artistic and cultural leaders and traditions that could withstand the onslaught — and be around to attract new types and forms of creativity.
The DIY and punk days of 20-25 years ago, when the few artists here could pretty much do whatever they wanted on an empty Cookman Avenue, are over. What’s replaced them in the creative tradition are people like Parlor gallery owner Jenn Hampton — the foremost arts leader in Asbury today with her influence all over — and powerhouse creatives like renowned music photographer Danny Clinch and his Transparent Gallery, which has also become an important music venue. (Hampton was here in the early days 20 years ago.)
The up-and-coming young creatives are still here in numbers actually much larger than 20 years ago. And more continue to arrive. They now live in Asbury Park or any of the interesting towns in the triCity region of eastern Monmouth a short ride away.
Still, Asbury Park is the driving force and engine in our region for the arts and culture (with Red Bank a strong second).
We give you that long-winded introduction to report about the latest on the mural project at the Asbury Park sewage treatment plant on the ocean. Yes, murals on our sewage plant! And what’s gone on there is a perfect example of why our city — stranded out here in a suburban region — stays ahead of the conformist curve. Where else is a sewage plant transformed into an arts icon?
Asbury arts leaders like Jenn Hampton, Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn, Asbury Park Arts Council Executive Director Carrie Turner and others put together a mural program for the panels on the treatment plant. The murals that have been stalled, as Amy Quinn says, are “phenomenal.”
The south and east sides of the treatment plant already have multiple murals. The last phase is ready to go. Request for proposals (RFPs) for the north face of the plant, which faces the senior citizen high rise tower, are now available for artists to return to the city. Quinn said that the city has approximately $5,000-6,000 to pay the muralist.
And demonstrating that Asbury Park’s commitment to the arts is all-ages, the impetus to do the north side of the plant came from seniors in the Asbury Towers high rise next door.
“Every year, upon completion, we ask the artists to give us feedback about the project as well as how it is, being an artist working in town on this project,” said Hampton. “Last year, the artists all shared that some of the seniors would show up and watch them painting and had asked when ‘their wall’ would get done.”
“This was heartwarming for me, knowing that they care and are interested in seeing art too. In fact, with Wooden Walls Project (the mural project Hampton curates on the boardwalk), I am hoping to acquire a golf cart to do a mural tour for seniors, in case they have not been able to see them all because of physical limitations,” Hampton said.
Both Quinn and Hampton are on the city’s Public Arts Commission, which approves public murals in the city. The commission is sponsoring this next phase of the mural project at the sewage treatment plant, with the Asbury Park Arts Council helping to coordinate.
Unlike the other sides of the plant with multiple mural panels, the north side will have one mural concept for the six panels there, Quinn said. New artists who have not painted other murals on the plant will be given priority. In addition, residents of the senior tower will be given input on the final choice of the mural.
Isaiah Thomas
triCityNews
Local weekly paper covering regional news and events gets an interview with artist Isaiah Thomas. by Tara Collins AKA Twisted T
I met Isaiah back in July at the Parlor Gallery. He walked in and filled the entire gallery space immediately with his infectious positive energy! Isaiah dresses “to the nines” for no good reason other than, he enjoys dressing in suits and looking sharp. He was in wild awe of the artwork. When you see a young person so turned on to art, you stop what you are working on and give them all the time and attention to feed that inspirational fire. Isaiah is a caring, intelligent and driven model, photographer and conceptual artist living in Asbury Park.
Tell me about your art background? Art School or Self-Taught?
I am a self-taught artist with many inspirations around me. When I was young, my brother Fredrick Maldonado, used to draw and paint. Seeing what he created inspired me to follow in his footsteps. I was not as talented as him but drawing was always a great outlet for my emotions. I didn’t know how to process my emotions vocally. I would go into a dark place mentally and just sit in that dark place until I was ready to get out…but drawing was a source of light for me. I never went out my way to learn the details and tricks of artistry because drawing wasn’t a passion for me, it was more therapeutic. I loved how I felt when I created because prior to that, I didn’t feel anything at all.
What brought you to create the art that you make?
It started with drawing to express my emotions. Hell, I even started making my own poems when I was younger to see if I enjoyed that version of expression. I never thought I would do anything more than that so to say that now I am a model, creative director, stylist, photographer, and videographer…..is absolutely insane to me! It all started with my brother, Joseph Bivins. He sent me a casting for a runway show that I completely forgot about. I never walked a runway a day in my life, so I didn’t expect much out of this casting. After meeting the organizers of the fashion show and demonstrating my walk…I got casted!
I am a creator that expresses feelings for people. Or make you think things that you never thought you would think of and giving you different perspectives using the visual arts. As a child, I used art to express my emotions and what I was feeling. In my family, we didn’t talk about feelings or talk about things, so I used visual art, painting and drawing, for that and I still do. I was passionate. It wasn’t so much that I was passionate about drawing, I was passionate about creating. At the end of the day, art is expression no matter what form it is, it’s expression. I spent a lot of time trying to do things that other people liked, but now I do things that for myself. It’s so much more freeing to do what I like! If people don’t like it, if they hate it, that makes me happy because it’s like, “Good, it made you feel something!” Being able to create that conversation is truly cool to me. Then I like to think, “What am I gaining from this for myself?” “What did I learn from this? and What can I learn for the future?
What inspires you?
I have a lot of peers that inspire me, my closest friends, family, Josh Spio, Bella Durante, Kashaun Covin, Justin Pack, Joseph Bivins, Freddy Maldonado, and so many more. But what inspires me the most is my pain. I know that sounds pretty dark but it’s the honest truth. I have created concepts throughout my career. But the ones that are most deep to me are the ones that I created at my lowest. Life has a funny way of telling you that you are gifted. Instead of sitting in my despair, I woud much rather see what I can create within it.
If or when you get lost in an “art funk” (like writer’s block for artists), what helps you get back to creating?
Whenever I get into a Art Funk, normally I explore my world. I take a walk throughout Asbury Park, see the art out there. I’ll take a trip to NYC and get inspired with the energy there. Sometimes, I’ll even connect with my peers and see if I can get a spark from that. But one thing I’ll never do is stay content. Stillness is okay, but it must be done with purpose. Without purpose there is no drive. So, I try my best to stay driven with my passion even when I get into a funk. I may be low today, but I hope I’m not low tomorrow.
How do you think the community can better support their artists?
More communication of the Arts of Asbury Park. There are a lot of great opportunities in Asbury Park, but a lot of new artists simply do not know about those opportunities. Also, a lot of artists sometimes confuse their financial situations with opportunities. They block off the thought of being an artist because they feel like they can’t afford it and that’s simply not true. I feel like if we made that message clear within the community it can really help bring more artists together. Lastly, those that are connected in the community could speak up more. There is a lot of knowledge in our minds and if we share that knowledge amongst others, we can all succeed together.
Check out Isaiah on IG: @ISAIAHT722 and on TikTok: @isaiahet722 (at the time of our chat, he had 383,000 Followers on TikTok)
Venue Change Announced
TAPintoAsbury Park
Your Neighborhood News Online - By Alissa Deleo
Venue change announced for the APin3 Film Challenge premier event to the Jersey Shore Arts Center
Showcasing films from top finalists, and entries from two community groups nurturing Asbury Park's future filmmakers
ASBURY PARK, NJ – The Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) is pleased to present the APin3 Premier Screening Event on Sunday, October 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, 66 S. Main St. Ocean Grove.
This Premier Screening Event will showcase the finalists of this year’s APin3 Film Challenge, as well as entries from two community groups nurturing Asbury Park’s future filmmakers – the Boys and Girls Club and Inspire Life, Inc. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Filmmakers submitted three-minute films shot in Asbury Park over the course of three weeks this summer with the hopes of winning the top three awards and the acknowledgment of their peers.
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The audience at the screening participates in the night’s ceremony by nominating their favorite film for a special Audience Award.
Filmmakers in the finalist category, in alphabetical order, include Alissa Deleo, Tom Cavanaugh, Kevin Clark, Chloe Evangelista and Noah Falco, Patrick Greene, Mat Hale, Elden Harris, Paul Kaplan, Thomas Louis, Jennifer Suwak and Caryn Whitman.
Mike Sodano, Board President of APAC and filmmaker, said about this year’s event, “As the only filmMAKING event held in Asbury Park, we are excited about the creativity of this year’s entries. Filmmaking is flourishing in our city, and this Challenge supports our local talent and celebrates film as an art form in Asbury Park.”
Nancy Sabino, Executive Director of the APin3, commented, “Asbury Park is the star in these films, and the variety of the submissions always serves to humble us as we rate the finished films for the event. These filmmakers are creative, and their work is evocative, and we are pleased to acknowledge their efforts on the big screen.”
Carrie Turner, Executive Director, APAC, offered the big picture, “APAC works to help pave the way for more art and culture to grow in the city.
The recently adopted Asbury Park Arts and Culture Plan has identified that the community wants more opportunities
for artistic engagement, and we are doing our best to act as champions for that request.”
Filmmakers, their fans and the public are invited to this free event.
Tickets can be reserved online at AsburyParkArtsCouncil.org. Whatever tickets are not pre-reserved
will be offered on a first-come, first served basis at the door that night.
Donations can be made to APAC online and at the event so that even more events like this can be
produced in the future.
This year’s APin3 Film Challenge is made possible by support from Monmouth County, Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation and the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce.
The Asbury Park Arts Council is a 501c3 group formed to advocate for and promote arts and culture initiatives in the City.
A Love Letter to Asbury Park
Discover Jersey Arts - A Love Letter to Asbury Park: The APin3 Film Challenge
Asbury Park, NJ, a modest-sized, historic city of sixteen thousand with a rich tapestry of history, “punches above its weight” artistically and culturally. Founded as a premier seaside resort destination and connected to New York City (and the world) by rail, it drew countless visitors to its boardwalk and beaches even before the age of the automobile. The city faced significant economic challenges during the latter half of the 20th century, leading to urban decline and disinvestment. But, the resilient spirit of its community has been evident in its recent revival, as major efforts have been made to rejuvenate its cultural attractions, restore historic sites, and foster economic development, all while navigating the complexities of gentrification and maintaining the city’s unique character.
Sponsored by the Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC), the APin3 Film Challenge is not so much a “film festival” as a community filmmaking challenge in which budding directors and filmmaking teams create a 3-minute short film highlighting aspects of, and shot entirely within, the city of Asbury Park. The challenge asks filmmakers to include a supplied theme and line of dialogue, a prop native to Asbury Park, and one specific location within the city – the prompt keeps all the contestants on a level playing field. With its rich history and coastal allure, the city provides ample material for gripping narratives and documentaries. In essence, the APin3 Film Challenge aligns perfectly with Asbury Park’s artistic legacy and the potential for cultural celebrations that use the film short in unforgettable ways.
APAC president Mike Sodano said: “Last year was our first year, and we set up the auditorium for about, oh, 40-50 chairs. We got close to 100 people to attend! The reception was overwhelming. It was so much fun and very heartwarming. When the filmmakers get up and give their one-minute pitch as to why they did what they did, it’s an insight into the filmmaking process that audiences don’t really get a chance to hear very often. Each story becomes a different kind of love letter to Asbury Park. It’s a different perspective on the city. Filmmakers manage to find locations in the city and document them on film – places that a lot of people never even knew existed. You go ‘gee whiz! Where is that? I’ve never seen that from that angle.’ It’s a unique interpretation of the city. Seeing Asbury as illustrated in a 3-minute film really opens the eyes of the audience. It’s incredibly enjoyable.
“The goal of the challenge is really to elevate filmmaking in Asbury Park. The city is known obviously for music. Bruce Springsteen, and all the groups that came out of it, and it’s known for other visual arts. But we’re trying to give the art of filmmaking in Asbury Park a focus and a spotlight. We give the filmmakers a theme, a line of dialogue, a prop that must be included in the film. The film has to be no more than 3 minutes long and shot over the course of the three-week challenge.”
We asked APin3 organizer Nancy Sabino what makes the perfect APin3 entry: “I think it’s a combination of addressing the theme, getting in all the elements, and doing it in the most clever way possible,” she said. “It’s the use of the techniques and filmmaking that really sings to me personally. The use of exceptional editing techniques and a variety of storytelling- that’s how you get your 3-minute story across. I think it’s a great opportunity for filmmakers who never tried their hand at making a film to venture into this world and team together and play with film.
“Everybody who we’ve talked to who’s entered past or present has said it’s a lot of fun, and they really enjoy doing it. We think it’s a great match between our love of Asbury Park and filmmaking. Filmmakers who may not have experienced that yet get to put the city they love on screen. It’s a combination of texture, community and opportunity,” continued Sabino. “It’s an incredibly welcoming city. You’re able to walk the streets and go into shops and just start talking to people. You get an incredible sense of community. If you have an idea, Asbury Park is a great place for growing that idea because you get immediate feedback, whether it’s good, bad, or indifferent! It’s an incredible breeding ground for creativity and opportunity.
“The judging is sort of like a casting session. You know you know it when you see it, and it hits you over the head as being one of the best. This year, we were very fortunate, and we got a lot of great selections that were really clever and creative. For us, that’s humbling. To know that so many people could get it right and do it differently because each selection has a different slant to it.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the entire community into this event. Everyone can come. It’s a free event, and tickets will be available soon. Come meet the storytellers of the future and those that are applying their trade currently. It’s a wonderful thing to see Asbury Park interpreted in so many different ways on the big screen, and we hope to continue the challenge with the support of our amazing community.”
The films will be screened at the House of Independents on October 22. The event is free, but reservations are required. The top three winners, and an audience favorite entry chosen by the assembled audience on the premier night, will be given prizes. It will also be a networking event for local filmmakers, a test of creative skill, and a source of feedback for filmmakers. If you’re a filmmaker, sound tech, actor, director, or simply love film, don’t miss it.