GLOUCESTER COUNTY TIMES - February 2005
By Martin C. Bricketto
mbricketto@sjnewsco.com WASHINGTON TWP. A budding filmmaker is focusing his camera on his hometown. Michael Licisyn, a 21-year-old Rowan University student and product of Washington Township High School’s telecommunications program, has made several short films that have appeared at venues from Ocean City to Princeton. Now, he wants to make a feature-length film incorporating the qualities and quirks of Washington Township and is searching for actors from the area to star in it. On Saturday, Feb. 26, Licisyn is holding auditions at Washington Township High School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the film’s male and female leads. Those interested must be between the ages of 18 and 24. “I’m trying to draw local talent who are interested in the community and getting experience on a feature film,” he said. Licisyn said the script is already written. In it, the main character writes a novel that a major publishing company picks up while he is still in high school. Living in Philadelphia a few years later, he is stuck in a creative rut with writer’s block and decides to move back to Washington Township to get his bearings. He eventually finds himself with the help of old friends and, like any good coming of age story, a love interest. Picking this area as the backdrop for his movie was easy, according to Licisyn. “It’s super suburbia,” he said. “It’s not like a typical town.” The movie promises to be all things Washington Township. Licisyn wants to the story to unfold around local landmarks, including the high school, Ott’s, the Five Points Diner and Washington Lake Park. Even the film’s working title, “Township,” calls to mind a local habit of referring to this municipality as if it were the only real township in South Jersey. “It’s a melting pot of ideas and inspiration,” Licisyn said of his movie’s setting. Licisyn hopes to finish the film by August and have it premiere at the Commerce Bank Performing Arts Center. Until then, don’t be surprised if you see a camera crew hanging out at one of the Egg Harbor Road’s Wawas. “(This movie) is an attempt to put the township on the map,” Licisyn said. |
