By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – A teenage filmmaker from Freehold Township is planning to create his newest movie in Philadelphia.
Avery Cohen, a senior at Freehold Township High School, is beginning work on the film “Unsighted,” which he intends to start shooting in Philadelphia in late July or early August.
According to Avery, the film is about Leonard Dawkins, a blind man who frequently visits the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
“Experiencing art and life through sense of touch and smell, Dawkins’ relationship with the art he spends most of his time around transcends mere visuals,” Avery said. “Dawkins is accustomed to life in the dark, until Dr. Ian Samuels, a practicing ophthalmologist surgeon who works in the area, stumbles upon one of Dawkins’ tours and is captivated.
“Feeling obligated to give Leonard his sight back, Dr. Samuels fast-tracks Dawkins for an experimental surgery that will give him vision,” Avery said. “At first, Dawkins is entranced by having sight, but it soon manifests into what it truly means to step out of the dark.”
An online fundraiser is seeking $2,000 to help cover the costs of making the movie. The online fundraiser can be found at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/85849666/short-film-to-be-created-in-philadelphia-during-th
In March, Avery’s short film “Burnt Ashes” was screened at the Brightside Tavern Film Festival in Jersey City.
The young man’s interest in filmmaking originated from an early fascination with moving images. After receiving a flip camera as a gift, his passion for filming grew.
“One step after another, I would soon learn to appreciate and love filming things,” Avery said. “This led me to creating my own shorts, which evolved into what they are today.”
He cited renowned filmmakers Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino as being among his influences.
“Watching tons of classic films gave me an underlying appreciation for the little things film gives to us in our everyday lives,” he said.
Avery said his inspiration to create “Unsighted” came from his brother, Josh, who wrote the screenplay.
“Josh has always been a fantastic writer,” the young man said said. “I can’t even begin to delve in on all the half-written screenplays he’s made and eventually threw out. He understands filmmaking like I do and in an attempt to collaborate and start a piece we could both be a part of, he began writing ‘Unsighted’, which passed the ultimate test in his eyes.”
With his high school graduation coming up in a few weeks, Avery intends to continue to pursue a career as a filmmaker.
“Filmmaking and storytelling seems to run in the blood of Cohens,” Avery said. “No matter how many funds we receive or approvals from businesses allowing us to film, Josh and myself are the type of people who will dedicate ourselves to something and fight to create it until our last breaths.
“I will be attending Montclair State University in the fall to pursue my passion of filmmaking, while Josh will be taking on internships at one of the top business schools in the country,” he said. “Personally, I have never seen him as dedicated to a project as this one and I truly look forward to our achievements and success on the film.”