KINNELON - Film festival's end will bring chants of 'RUDY! RUDY! (by taff Writer - August 13, 2008)
KINNELON - What better way to kick off the football season than with a community-wide viewing of the inspirational movie "Rudy," which is the last film that will be shown as part of the borough’s summer movie festival on Friday, Aug. 15.
"Rudy," which is rated PG, will be shown on an 18-foot screen at the recreation field adjacent to Borough Hall. A DJ will start the festival off with music at 7 p.m. and the movie will get underway at about 9 p.m.
Rudy tells the story of a boy born in a steel mill town to a blue-collar family. He’s a sub-par student but never gives up on his dream of playing football for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
Councilman James Freda, who chairs the council’s recreation committee, said the Friday night showing of "Rudy" is being billed as a spirit night with youngsters encouraged to wear sports jerseys from local teams. Freda said Recreation Department Football Commissioner Andy San Filippo is asking youth football players to remain after practice to watch the movie as a preseason team building activity.
Freda said there will be giveaways of items such as plastic footballs and glow sticks.
The youth football boosters club will man the concession stand at the field to sell hot dogs, popcorn, snacks and beverages. Freda said the three-movie festival has been successful and its participation is growing. For the first movie, "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” about 150 people showed up on July 17. For the July 31 presentation of "The Transformers" in excess of 200 came out, he said.
"I’m very happy with it. I’ve heard from parents, who felt it sparked great camaraderie and got the whole community together, which is exactly what I wanted. We have separate communities within town and this was an opportunity to enjoy something as one community," said Freda.
Freda said the festival has gone so well that a parent’s suggestion to show a scary movie around Halloween is under consideration.
An avid sports fan and supporter of local athletic programs, Freda recognized the Recreation Department’s need to provide diversified recreational activities for residents. Freda got the idea for a movie night while down the shore in Point Pleasant. One night he observed groups of kids dressed in pirates’ costumes. Freda found out they were headed to movie night where "Pirates of the Caribbean" was playing on a large screen.
Freda placed a call to municipal officials and learned Point Pleasant had purchased its own equipment to show movies. While attending a New Jersey League of Municipalities convention, Freda met with a company that provided the service but felt the cost was too steep.
Freda made more calls and located a more reasonable vendor to show movies on a large screen. The Recreation Department agreed to sponsor two movie nights and the local Police Benevolence Association agreed to sponsor the third night. In the future Freda said the borough will consider taking on corporate sponsors for the movie nights. In exchange for their participation, companies would be able to have their names flash across the big screen.