Puffin Hosts Final Screening of Jersey Shore Film

More than 50 people attended the outdoor screening of "Greetings from the Shore" at the Puffin Cultural Forum Sunday night.

A comfortable temperature, overcast skies and free popcorn greeted visitors as they took their seats – some even bringing their own beach chairs to the event. The only things missing were the boardwalk, the sounds of the ocean and the sand beneath everyone's feet. Fortunately, there was enough of that in the film.

Before the movie started, director Greg Chwerchak and writer Gabrielle Berberich, who are both from New Jersey, and actor Andrew Schaifer, who played Flip Dooley in the film, welcomed the crowd. 

"Greetings from the Shore" draws on actual events in Berberich's life, as well as a fictitious storyline that involves high-stakes gambling and a budding romance. It was shot in 28 days on the shore-city of Lavallette. Picturesque sunsets and breathtaking beach views appeared throughout the entire movie to the delight of the audience.

"No one in L.A. thought Jersey was beautiful, so we wanted to show them otherwise," said Chwerchak to joyous applause. "We're ambassadors for New Jersey."

Chwerchak and Berberich said they've done about 25 screenings all along the Jersey Shore. Their stop Sunday in Teaneck—their only non-shore screening--was their final destination.

One movie-goer who only gave her first name, Antonia, of Westwood, was impressed by the 25-foot movie screen provided by New Wave Cinemas in Ramsey. 

"It was like being at the drive-in," she said. "It was great."

Besides Schaifer, the movie stars Paul Sorvino ("Goodfellas"), who lived in Tenafly for 15 years; Kim Shaw ("The Good Wife"); David Fumero ("One Life to Live") and Jay O Sanders ("The Day After Tomorrow").

Chwerchak and Berberich are joining forces again for a movie called "Lucky Mucker," which will take place in western New Jersey and is slated for release in 2011. "It's a farcical twist on 'Romeo & Juliet,' drawing on a lot of Jersey history and mythologies (the Jersey Devil, the missing Lindbergh baby, etc). It's a really fun story," Chwerchak said.

"Greetings from the Shore" is out on DVD and can be purchased at GreetingsFromTheShore.com.