The justice in John Charles Hunt's New Jersey comes in the form of a psyched-out soccer mom with a shotgun. The character's name is Polly, and she wants to crack some heads. That is the B-movie world of Jersey Justice, a revenge thriller shot in and around Bucks County. It is the first stab at filmmaking for a Buckingham resident whose day job is delivering packages for Federal Express. Last month, Hunt, 49, got the chance to sit in a local theater and hear the applause for his movie as the credits started to roll. "It's heaven sitting there, hearing the laughs when you want them, or the gasps when someone gets shot," Hunt said. "You know you've achieved what you wanted." Family, friends and cast members had crowded into the County Theater in Doylestown for the movie's debut screening. The making of the tongue-in-cheek film is what Hunt calls a "reawakening" at mid-life. "Some guys buy sports cars," Hunt said. "I decided to make a movie." The first-time director managed to snag Emmy Award winner Blanche Baker, 1970s Walking Tall icon Bo Svenson, and local actor Christopher Mann (The Wire). Baker plays Polly O'Bannon, the mother of a young man who is kidnapped and murdered in Iraq. Months later, her husband is killed in a Philadelphia shooting, and Polly O'Bannon sets out for revenge. Hunt was inspired to start the project after a family tragedy. Hunt's nephew and godson, Derick Hunt, committed suicide. Stuck in the airport while traveling back from the funeral, family members began bickering and arguing. Hunt tried to cope with his feelings by writing about the incident, but he couldn't. He switched gears, and Jersey Justice is the result. Parts of the plot were inspired by the hostage-taking and death in Iraq of Nick Berg, a contractor from West Chester. Filmmaking was something Hunt had long wanted to do, but wasn't sure how. He had grown up in Old Bridge, N.J., and was fascinated by movies. As a little boy in the theaters, Hunt said, "I would turn around and look at the flicker coming from the projector, and I would say, 'It's coming out of there?' " He went on to serve in the Army. He tried getting into New York University, the alma mater of a film hero, Martin Scorsese. When that didn't happen, Hunt went to work. "I was so caught up in trying to achieve the American dream - a house, a car, a job," Hunt said. He put aside his hopes to make movies and satisfied the urge by doing bit parts in films shot locally. Kathlyn Hunt encouraged her husband to go further. John Charles Hunt began talking with members of the local film community, and eventually decided he could pull it off. "I didn't see this as his mid-life crisis, but as John becoming self-aware," Kathlyn Hunt said. "This was something that gave him joy." The couple scrounged together the film's budget with help from family and friends, their credit cards, and a loan. Nabbing Baker was easier than expected. She had taken off for more than a decade to raise a family, and was looking to get back into the business. "I was just thrilled to have the work at first, but then it became a wonderful experience," Baker said. "John is like a savant when it comes to films." Shooting started in October 2005. Hunt felt his way through. He was open to the suggestions of experienced members of the cast and crew, Mann said. Hunt said he often relied on them. Independent films "are a crapshoot," Mann said. "Sometimes the budget isn't there, and they try anyway, and things can fall apart." Hunt kept his production together, even on days when he had to leave the set to deliver packages. He came close to quitting only once. That was the day he was shooting at the Shore and left the camera batteries at home, four hours away. Kathlyn drove home to get them. The film was edited by Christopher Tully, a multimedia teacher at Middle Bucks Institute of Technology in Jamison, who also has his own company, Tulstar Productions. Jersey Justice was Tully's first experience editing a movie. So far, the movie has had packed showings in Doylestown, Asbury Park, N.J., and East Greenville. Another showing is scheduled for the Puck music club in Doylestown on Aug. 5. The Hunts are shopping the movie to film festivals and planning their next film.
"This project is a dream project for a lot of people," Hunt said. "Actors are getting other roles and [Screen Actors Guild] cards because of it. The joy is in the connection and knowing that people are going to do better."
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Revenge is Sweet
Or, at least, making a film about revenge proves sweet for director John Hunt.
Three years ago, making a movie was just one of those things Federal Express truck driver John Hunt had always wanted to do. Though he had acted in local films, he hadn't put serious thought into the director's chair — that is until a family tragedy changed his perspective in 2004.
At that point, Mr. Hunt decided he didn't want to go through life regretting that he never did the one thing he wanted to do most. He sat down to write a script, was shooting a year later and is about to screen his completed film, Jersey Justice, for the first time at the County Theater in Doylestown, Pa., June 27.
Working with feelings of frustration and the concept of revenge, Mr. Hunt wrote about a man whose son dies in Iraq. Afterward, the man's wife is shot and killed on the street in Philadelphia, sending him on a revenge kick.
Such is the meat of what Mr. Hunt calls his "genre" movie. "Being a first-time director, I wanted to do something marketable, like a comedy, horror film or thriller," he says.
He did end up switching the genders of the characters. Suburban mom Polly O'Bannon loses her son and then her husband, after which she seeks revenge. "I thought it would be more quirky if a woman was the one to buy the shotgun," Mr. Hunt says.
The script was finished in February of 2004, before the murder epidemic in Philadelphia started making headlines. "You're making the movie and it becomes timely," Mr. Hunt says. In fact, he felt that references to President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the Iraq War would be out of date when the movie was finally finished and shown. He says they're now more relevant than ever.
Once the script was finished, Mr. Hunt and his wife, Kathlyn, started the company that would produce the film — Browntown Films. They hired friends, recruited a few sponsors and soon enough, they had a slew of interested folks and enough money to make a low-budget picture.
"The resources are here," Mr. Hunt says, "you just have to plan a little more." He credits director M. Night Shyamalan, who he says, along with the efforts of the Philadelphia Film Office, has brought Philadelphia up as a place to make movies.
"The Philadelphia Film Office is the most important aspect," he says. "All you have to do is call them, and they provide contacts."
Mr. Hunt placed casting calls in New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York. He also relied on producer Tammy Lynn Howell, who came aboard in May of 2005 during pre-production. She had worked with Gervase Peterson, formerly of Survivor fame, and recruited him for a corporate slime ball role.
"I figured he's probably dealt with people like that in the TV business," Mr. Hunt says of the film's highest profile actor.
Blanche Baker, who acted in Sixteen Candles (John Hughes, 1984) and Raw Deal (John Irvin, 1986), fills the starring role of Polly. The daughter of 1960s starlet Carroll Baker, Blanche has been out of the business for 15 years raising her family and is re-entering the field with Jersey Justice.
"When we first turned on the camera, I knew we had something special," Mr. Hunt says of Ms. Baker. "She's such a special talent; she gives you more than what you want."
Other cast members include Jerry Lyden of Ewing as Detective Vic Bell and Christopher McMullin of Philadelphia as Detective Timothy Carroll. Many others are local actors Mr. Hunt had worked with before. He also put friends, family members and the entire crew in front of the camera.
The movie was shot in 2005 on location in New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania. Among other Doylestown locations used, the Bucks County Courthouse parking garage is Atlantic City and the exterior of the courthouse is Trenton. "The reason we used Doylestown is because it's close to (my) house, which was the meeting place," Mr. Hunt says. He also filmed in nearby Lansdale and Souderton.
At the County, Mr. Hunt will introduce Jersey Justice and field questions afterward, along with Ms. Baker, Ms. Howe, director of photography Abe Holtz and Ms. Hunt.
Two other summer screenings are planned, one at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park and one at the Grand Theater in East Greenville, Pa. Mr. Hunt plans to enter the film in festivals in Philadelphia and Toronto, and a distributor in Los Angeles has already expressed interest.
"I'm basically taking baby steps," Mr. Hunt says. "We've been very fortunate that a lot of people are interested. These three showings are to get the word out that (the film) is finished and we want viewers' opinions."
Jersey Justice will be screened at the County Theater, 20 E. State St., Doylestown, Pa., June 27, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $8.50, $6.50 for seniors and students, free for members; (215) 345-6789; www.countytheater.org. Browntown Films on the Web: www.browntownfilms.net
At that point, Mr. Hunt decided he didn't want to go through life regretting that he never did the one thing he wanted to do most. He sat down to write a script, was shooting a year later and is about to screen his completed film, Jersey Justice, for the first time at the County Theater in Doylestown, Pa., June 27.
Working with feelings of frustration and the concept of revenge, Mr. Hunt wrote about a man whose son dies in Iraq. Afterward, the man's wife is shot and killed on the street in Philadelphia, sending him on a revenge kick.
Such is the meat of what Mr. Hunt calls his "genre" movie. "Being a first-time director, I wanted to do something marketable, like a comedy, horror film or thriller," he says.
He did end up switching the genders of the characters. Suburban mom Polly O'Bannon loses her son and then her husband, after which she seeks revenge. "I thought it would be more quirky if a woman was the one to buy the shotgun," Mr. Hunt says.
The script was finished in February of 2004, before the murder epidemic in Philadelphia started making headlines. "You're making the movie and it becomes timely," Mr. Hunt says. In fact, he felt that references to President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the Iraq War would be out of date when the movie was finally finished and shown. He says they're now more relevant than ever.
Once the script was finished, Mr. Hunt and his wife, Kathlyn, started the company that would produce the film — Browntown Films. They hired friends, recruited a few sponsors and soon enough, they had a slew of interested folks and enough money to make a low-budget picture.
"The resources are here," Mr. Hunt says, "you just have to plan a little more." He credits director M. Night Shyamalan, who he says, along with the efforts of the Philadelphia Film Office, has brought Philadelphia up as a place to make movies.
"The Philadelphia Film Office is the most important aspect," he says. "All you have to do is call them, and they provide contacts."
Mr. Hunt placed casting calls in New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York. He also relied on producer Tammy Lynn Howell, who came aboard in May of 2005 during pre-production. She had worked with Gervase Peterson, formerly of Survivor fame, and recruited him for a corporate slime ball role.
"I figured he's probably dealt with people like that in the TV business," Mr. Hunt says of the film's highest profile actor.
Blanche Baker, who acted in Sixteen Candles (John Hughes, 1984) and Raw Deal (John Irvin, 1986), fills the starring role of Polly. The daughter of 1960s starlet Carroll Baker, Blanche has been out of the business for 15 years raising her family and is re-entering the field with Jersey Justice.
"When we first turned on the camera, I knew we had something special," Mr. Hunt says of Ms. Baker. "She's such a special talent; she gives you more than what you want."
Other cast members include Jerry Lyden of Ewing as Detective Vic Bell and Christopher McMullin of Philadelphia as Detective Timothy Carroll. Many others are local actors Mr. Hunt had worked with before. He also put friends, family members and the entire crew in front of the camera.
The movie was shot in 2005 on location in New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania. Among other Doylestown locations used, the Bucks County Courthouse parking garage is Atlantic City and the exterior of the courthouse is Trenton. "The reason we used Doylestown is because it's close to (my) house, which was the meeting place," Mr. Hunt says. He also filmed in nearby Lansdale and Souderton.
At the County, Mr. Hunt will introduce Jersey Justice and field questions afterward, along with Ms. Baker, Ms. Howe, director of photography Abe Holtz and Ms. Hunt.
Two other summer screenings are planned, one at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park and one at the Grand Theater in East Greenville, Pa. Mr. Hunt plans to enter the film in festivals in Philadelphia and Toronto, and a distributor in Los Angeles has already expressed interest.
"I'm basically taking baby steps," Mr. Hunt says. "We've been very fortunate that a lot of people are interested. These three showings are to get the word out that (the film) is finished and we want viewers' opinions."
Jersey Justice will be screened at the County Theater, 20 E. State St., Doylestown, Pa., June 27, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $8.50, $6.50 for seniors and students, free for members; (215) 345-6789; www.countytheater.org. Browntown Films on the Web: www.browntownfilms.net
