BRHS Teacher's Music Video To Premiere At Garden State Film Festival

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater-Raritan High School teacher and filmmaker Rob Thorp will have one of his music videos premiere at the upcoming Garden State Film Festival.

"Having attended the Garden State Film Festival in the past, both as a guest and a filmmaker, seeing something we created, selected and screening there, is huge for us," said Thorp to Patch.

The music video Ethical Man directed by Neptune resident, Thorp and Wall resident, Bill Schlavis, will be screened at this year’s festival.

"Bill (co-creator, Bill Schlavis) and I put this project together on a shoe-string and filmed it over the course of one day, not thinking anyone would ever see it. Now, in less than a month it will be played in one of the premiere festivals in the country - it's a total trip," said Thorp. "We are really happy that film festivals like this exist and show the grittier side of the filmmaking coin."

Thorp has been teaching English and Film Studies at Bridgewater-Raritan High School for 11 years. He also mentors students in filmmaking.

Ethical Man is: A day and night in the life of a man at the end of his rope, as he wanders the streets of Asbury Park.

"The music video features a jaunty folk-rock tune that felt right to pair with a day-in-the-life story set in Asbury Park. Both of us are Jersey shore guys and wanted to set the action in the gritty city by the sea. We tried to capture the loneliness that sometimes comes with life in winter. We also chose a 16mm format to allow for a bit of a rougher feel to the final product," said Thorp and Schlavis.

Ethical Man will screen on March 23 at The Jersey Shore Arts Center (66 South Main Street Ocean Grove) at 9 p.m.

"We are extremely proud to present Ethical Man as part of our 22nd Annual Film Festival, and to share this work with our global audience," said Lauren Concar Sheehy, the festival’s Executive Director.

This year marks the Garden State Film Festival's 22nd anniversary. The festival will be held from March 21 through March 24.

"The upcoming 2024 Festival returns to experience 200 films from over 14 countries over four days in 8 venues hosting parties, professional panels, events, special honors and more," said Sheehy.

The Garden State Film Festival offers several categories for films and filmmakers of all kinds. Among the selection include feature length and short films, documentaries, comedies, children’s, thrillers, pilots, student films and "Home-Grown" films shot in NJ.

"Since New Jersey has seen record production numbers in recent years, thanks in no small part to Governor Murphy’s competitive financial incentives and the film-friendly environment created here in the state, including the efforts of the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, we’re seeing an increase in the number of projects that qualify for this category. It is wonderful to see our filmmakers live where they work, and to fulfill their creative dreams," said Sheehy. "And since New Jersey offers so many different kinds of locations and settings; mountains, beaches, cities, farms and more, we see Jersey appearing in so many different kinds of films."

For tickets and more information about the Garden State Film Festival, visit www.gsff.org.

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