By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
MARLBORO – Filmmakers who work on a feature film dream of having a theatrical release to showcase their creative efforts. Director Joseph Pernice of Marlboro will realize that dream in June.
Pernice, a Marlboro native who now lives in Manhattan, will see his first feature film, “Chasing Yesterday,” debut at the Cinema Village, 22 E. 12th St., New York, with five showings each day from June 3-9. Members of the cast and crew will be in attendance to answer questions from audience members.
Pernice is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He began his career in the development office of Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Productions, where he worked on projects for HBO Films, Universal Pictures and pilots for CBS.
The Cinema Village is on the campus of New York University and Pernice said he passed it every day on his way to class. Private screenings of “Chasing Yesterday” were presented at the theater before the film was shown at numerous festivals.
“Chasing Yesterday” was filmed in Monmouth County two years ago and features scenes at the Manalapan Diner, the Golden Seas Restaurant in Marlboro, Marlboro High School, the Marlboro Public Library, Bella Vista Country Club in Marlboro, and Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, where Pernice went to high school.
“Our cast has been so involved in the film,” he said.
Pernice said the lead actors, Eric Nelson and Courtney Baxter, were producers on the film and he said that had a significant impact on the creation of the movie.
“When you work with certain talent, they show up and do their job and leave,” Pernice said. “Courtney has been on board since day one and Eric came on before the script was completed. They called their actor friends and had them audition for roles and helped secure the finances for the film.”
Pernice said “Chasing Yesterday” was completed for under $100,000.
“It is unheard of to make a feature film at that price,” he said. “My actors worked for about $100 a day, but they believed in the script and the film, and I promised them this film would get out there.”
“Chasing Yesterday” has been shown and earned awards at film festivals. The film won the “Rising Star” award at the 2015 Canada International Film Festival, was named “Best Home Grown Feature” at the 2015 Garden State Film Festival and gained Pernice the “Director’s Award” at the 2015 North Carolina Film Awards.
In addition to his work in film and television, Pernice has produced and directed commercials and content work. He has directed television spots for PNC Bank and the Chicago Bears, and said he is about to film a new commercial campaign for the Bears. He has also worked with Louis Vuitton, Pinnacle Foods and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
He has directed public service announcements for “Champions Against Bullying”, which won the Association of Independent Commercial Producers Award in 2015, and for “Water Is Life,” which was nominated for a gold award at the Andy Awards and is being honored with a Bronze Pencil at The One Show Awards this month.
Pernice is developing his next feature film and said he is working on several television pilots.
In 2015, Pernice was inducted into SHOOT Magazine’s New Directors Showcase, being honored as one of the year’s best up-and-coming directors.
On June 10, “Chasing Yesterday” will be made available for purchase on Amazon and iTunes. The rental price for the movie on iTunes is $4.99. To follow Pernice and “Chasing Yesterday,” visit www.facebook.com/chasingyesterdaythemovie
