HBO Treme’s Jon Seda Accepts Fort Lee Film Commission 2011 Lewis J. Selznick Award

Actor Jon Seda introduced the June 4, 2011 final screening of HBO’s The Pacific, at the Jack Alter  Fort Lee Community Center.  This 5-week Cliffhanger Spring Film Festival was sponsored by the Fort Lee Film Commission and the Fort Lee VFW.  The purpose of this festival was to spotlight the life of New Jersey born hero John Basilone.   World War II US Marine Sergeant John Basilone was the hero of the battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific.   President Franklin Delano Roosevelt  awarded John Basilone the Medal of Honor for his actions in  Guadalcanal.   When given the opportunity to stay out of harms way for the rest of the war, Sergeant Basilone decided to go back to fight with the Marines and he was killed in action on Iwo Jima.  Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks produced the acclaimed HBO series THE PACIFIC in 2010 and Jon Seda delivered a powerful performance as Sergeant Basilone. 

Jon Seda  grew up in nearby Clifton, NJ and as a young man trained as a boxer at the Lou Costello Gym in Paterson and he was a Golden Glove winner.  A few years later Jon pursued a career in acting where he has had much success.  Currently he stars in the award winning HBO series Treme.

Jon graciously accepted the Fort Lee Film Commission 2011 Lewis J. Selznick  Award.  This award is presented each year in the name of studio pioneer Lewis J. Selznick who operated World Pictured  Corporation in Fort Lee in 1914 and later Peerless Studio in Fort Lee with his son David O. Selznick who later went on to fame as the producer of the legendary film GONE WITH THE WIND.  In accepting the award, Jon Seda spoke of the bravery of the Fort Lee VFW members who were in attendance for the screening that night and also of the bravery of John Basilone.  Jon spent time that evening speaking with the veterans and their families.  The next night, June 5, he was at the New Jersey Hall of Fame induction ceremony at NJPAC and he spoke during the induction of Sergeant Basilone.

Also present in Fort Lee on June 4 was Sergeant Basilone’s niece Diane Hawkins.  Diane worked closely with Fort Lee VFW Commander James Viola to lead a petition drive to get Sergeant Basilone on the ballot and inducted into the NJ Hall of Fame.  Commander Viola and the  members of his VFW Post also preserved Sergeant Basilone’s memory in a wonderful plaque on the exterior of the Fort Lee VFW Post wall in Veteran’s Square on Center Avenue and Main Street.

Diane Hawkins will be in Fort Lee on July 2^nd during the first Fort Lee Film Commission Movies and Music Under the Stars program this season on the outdoor stage of the Fort Lee Community Center.  We kick off the 4^th of July weekend that night with the big band music of the Jumpers Orchestra followed by the screening of a trailer to a documentary on Sergeant John Basilone produced by Diane Hawkins.  This will be followed by a screening of Sands of Iwo Jima starring John Wayne. 

For further info visit www.fortleefilm.org or call (201) 693-2763