By clare MARie celano
Staff Writer
George Taglianetti (second from right), Freehold, held a second meeting of the Entertainment Network Jan. 29 at the American Hotel, Freehold. The Entertainment Network is an effort by Taglianetti to bring together area talent and develop an East Coast film industry.
What New Jersey resident wouldn’t want to see the landscapes and scenery of their fair state on the silver screen?
How about sandy beaches, ocean sunrises, beautiful seashore cottages and stately mansions that line the Jersey shoreline as a backdrop for a film?
New Jersey residents may get an opportunity to experience just that if one man’s vision becomes a reality.
The vision? To bring the film industry to New Jersey.
The man? George Taglianetti.
Taglianetti, a native New Yorker, is an independent writer, producer and director. He opened an office in Freehold three years ago to market his dream. He said he sees Monmouth and Ocean counties as the "Hollywood East" of the film industry.
Taglianetti, who operates New Generation Pictures, is now sponsoring events which will bring people in the entertainment industry together under one roof. He calls his idea the Entertainment Network and it is open to actors, directors, producers, musicians and cameramen; anyone and everyone connected with the making of a film.
"We want to bring all the talent in New Jersey all together in order to develop the product and distribute it entirely right here in the state," Taglianetti explained.
"There is so much talent in this state and it has nowhere to go," he said, adding that the talent on the east coast is the "best in the world."
Taglianetti believes he can help New Jersey develop a full-scale film industry.
Toward that end, he brought people together at the second meeting of the Entertainment Network, held Jan. 29 at the American Hotel, Freehold. Taglianetti reported that more than 200 of his friends and colleagues turned up to support the endeavor.
"Getting all the talent together in one forum will give us a voice and we can kick up some real dust and move forward with the arts," the producer explained.
Some notables attending the January event included Brian O’Halloran, who starred in Kevin Smith’s film Clerks. Based in Red Bank, Smith operates one of only a few movie production companies in the state, according to Taglianetti. Another such company is Independent International Pictures in Old Bridge, guided by Samuel Sherman.
"This is the only other company that has had products done in entirety in this state," Taglianetti said.
Both O’Halloran and Sherman showed their support of Taglianetti’s vision when they made an appearance at the event.
Taglianetti, who studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, had several stints on television and was the lead singer of a band he’d formed, but his heart knew there was something else he needed to be doing.
After working in the garment industry in New York, Taglianetti decided to switch careers and make movies. For 10 years, he worked in every facet of the film industry — writing, directing and producing.
He wrote, directed and produced The Right Way in 1996. The movie which starred Joseph Campanella, Joe Santos and Cesar Romero in his final film role had a limited release in New York and New Jersey in 1997. The plot centered on a native son who returns to his old neighborhood, only to find it beset with crime and corruption. The plot focused on the young man’s efforts to put things right.
Taglianetti is making an effort to make movies "the way they used to be made." Movies that "make you feel good, movies that entertain you, not scare the heck out of you."
"We want to touch people’s lives with our movies, not involve sex and violence. This is a better direction for young people to go. It is their future," he said. "We want people to leave the theater with a positive message."
But, according to Taglianetti, the question is not what to make, but where to make it.
"We need a place for our actors to develop their craft," the producer explained. "We’re inviting casting directors, agents, producers. If more people in the state will come to join us, we can help to develop our different talents here and interconnect everyone. This is what the Entertainment Network will do."
The next Entertainment Network event will be held on Feb. 14 at the Colts Neck Inn, Route 537, Colts Neck, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission is $15.
For information, call (732) 780-9179.