Greater Media radio personality Keith Roth, the host of WRAT-FM’s (95.9) Electric Ballroom for 18 years, is achieving recognition in another medium – film.
Roth, a Tinton Falls resident, makes his screen debut as the star of William DeVizia’s feature film “Let Me Down Hard.”
The storyline follows one-hit wonder Jack Ainsley as he returns home to Asbury Park with all of his other options exhausted, according to a statement prepared by Frances Kirschner of Frantasy Enterprises.
Although the film is set in the music scene in Asbury Park and features such standout clubs as The Saint, The Stone Pony, The Wonder Bar and The Brighton Bar in Long Branch, the focus of the film is about the choices people make in life and where those choices take us, according to Kirschner.
According to DeVizia, his feature film was shot with no budget over the course of five years in Asbury Park, and features a cast of all local, first-time screen actors.
“No actors or crew got paid, no locations got paid. It was a filmmaking exercise on what you can accomplish with talent, pooled resources and good will,” he said.
The soundtrack to the film features all local bands, such as Monster Magnet, The Ribeye Brothers, Acid, Mark Ribler and F3K.
The film, released by the Red Bank Film Factory, was just awarded Best Homegrown Feature at The 2016 Garden State Music Festival in Atlantic City and was shown at the Garden State Film Festival and the Asbury Park Film Festival.
Roth is the host to The Electric Ballroom 8-10 p.m. Sundays on 95.9 The WRAT. The Electric Ballroom features the glam-rock days of the ’70s and ’80s with Rock ‘n Rolls’ greatest artists.
For the film trailer, visit www.letmedownhard.com or vimeo.com/154224384