By Mary Ann Bourbeau
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – Fred and Mickey Rast appreciate what Atlantic Cinemas means to the Borough of Atlantic Highlands. When they purchased the theater from longtime owner Len Edwards, they vowed to keep the same hometown feel customers have enjoyed for decades.
“We’re not a big conglomerate,” said Mickey Rast. “We’re a community theater. My husband actually worked here as an usher when he was 16.”
Of course there have been updates since the venue opened in the 1920s. Today Atlantic Cinemas boasts five screens, all equipped with digital projection. They can be rented for special occasions, including film premieres.
“We want to do whatever we can to promote local filmmakers,” said Rast. “Atlantic Highlands is like a big family and we’re thankful for our loyal customers.”
Area filmmakers often take advantage of the opportunity to host their event or film premiere at Atlantic Cinemas so friends and family can attend. Singer/ songwriter and former Sea Bright resident Linda Chorney premiered her film, “When I Sing,” last year, followed by a Q&A and a musical performance. Highlands native Kevin Smith, who came to prominence with his 1994 film, “Clerks,” has rented the theater for special events.
Photo by Mores Media
“He’s a local boy who made good,” said Rast. “I like to promote local entrepreneurs.”
The next filmmaker to host a premiere at Atlantic Cinemas is Lee Esposito of Aberdeen, whose horror film, “Lillith,” will be screened Sept. 13 to 20. There will also be a special Q&A that first night with Esposito, assistant director Chris Hammarberg of Asbury Park and cinematographer Vincent Caffarello of Hamilton. The three now run a commercial videography business called Ritterhaus Productions.
“Lillith” tells the story of a girl named Jenna Collins who seeks revenge after catching her longtime boyfriend cheating on her. Her vengeance comes when she summons a lust demon named Lillith who leaves a path of carnage wherever she goes. The film is Rated R for its explicit content.
“Lillith is a project that began as something completely dif ferent than what it eventually became,” said Esposito. “I like self-awareness in movies, like ‘Scream,’ ‘Teeth’ and ‘Pumpkinhead.’ I wanted to make something with a shlocky lust demon, but it evolved into something that wasn’t shlocky anymore. It became something that actually has a lot of heart to it.”
Growing up, Esposito was not a fan of horror films.
“My father always loved them but I was terrified,” he said. “I refused to watch them. Then when I was in high school, my friends and I watched ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ and I loved it. After that, I watched every horror movie under the sun.”
Esposito, 25, was greatly influenced by ‘90s horror films and went on to study film at Brookdale Community College and William Paterson University. He thanks his friends and family for believing in his script and helping him finance ‘Lillith,’ his first feature length film, which will also be screened at the Hot Springs International Horror Festival in Arkansas.
As for the actors, Esposito said he couldn’t have asked for a better group.
“They really sold what I was going for,” he said.
Most of the film was shot in New Jersey, in locations that include Aberdeen, Hamilton, Cranford and Middlesex County College.
“We shot for 34 days straight,” Esposito said. “Watching it all come together was so wild. It was such a weird, unique and awesome thing to see. I’m dying for people to see this and to have my friends actually coming out is really cool. That’s the dream.”
For more information, visit atlanticcinemas.com.
Arts and entertainment reporter Mary Ann Bourbeau can be reached at mbourbeau@tworivertimes.com.
