Wash. Twp. filmmaker tells story of 'Township'

By Martin C. Bricketto
mbricketto@sjnewsco.com

WASHINGTON TWP. -- After months of work, the countdown has begun for local filmmaker Michael Licisyn and his crew of production assistants and actors.

"Township," his feature-length movie set in this sprawling, 50,000 person community, is on the verge of completion and three weeks away from a premier at the Commerce Bank Arts Centre on Aug. 17.

"The move is for people to come out and have a good time and some laughs," said Licisyn, a 21-year-old product of Washington Township High School's telecommunication's program set to start his senior year at Rowan University.

Licisyn has made several films, but he said this was his biggest project by far. The script, written by Licisyn, focuses on a budding writer who returns home to Washington Township from Philadelphia to overcome a creative rut.

Old friends and a love interest eventually get the main character back on his feet.

As backdrops for his romatic comedy, Licisyn incorporated several township landmarks, including the Five Points Diner, the high school, Washington Lake Park and more.

Filming was a chance for some of the cast members to familiarize themselves with the biggest municipality in Gloucester County, according to Carmen Marino, a West Deptford resident and Rowan University student who played the main character's goofy best friend.

"I learned all the back roads of Washington Township," said Marino, 22. "I didn't realize how big Washington Township was until I started doing this. It definitely brightened my eyes to what the area is."

Licisyn said he managed to secure the Commerce Bank Arts Centre as a venue for the premier because he used to work at the facility and is close with its staff.

"As the saying goes, it's not what you know, it's who you know," Licisyn said.

If anything, "Township" is an accessible movie, according to Licisyn. It's slap-stick comedy and dry humor should give audience members a chance to enjoy themselves, he said.

"It's not a movie that will put you into deep thought," he said.

Licisyn -- whose father is board of education member Thomas Licisyn -- already plans to make another film next summer. He hopes to use revenue from this summer's movie to fund a dark, more dramatic project which he described as a 180-degree turnaround "Township."

As Licisyn views it, his chances in the industry may hinge on the success of "Township" and his next project.

"I would love to jump right in and start directing and writing," Licisyn said. "If someone sees (the movies) and likes them enough, maybe I'll get that shot."