BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Film is truly a passion for Rob Thorp who has been teaching English and Film Studies at Bridgewater-Raritan High School for 10 years. Along with mentoring students, Thorp also is a filmmaker.
For the past 8 years, he has been working alongside his producing partner Bill Schlavis — a teacher from Metuchen High School — making music videos and feature films under their production company Rucksack Films.
Their most recent project, “Shark River,” is a drama that blends elements of thriller and classic 1970s road movies. (Watch the trailer below)
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“A young couple goes off the grid to elope. While there the grid goes down and everything unhinges and society collapses,” said Thorp of the film. “They have to come back to New Jersey to Shark River if they have a chance to survive.”
Much of the filming was done locally as well in Asbury Park, Wall, Ocean, and Belmar.
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Thorp began writing the film in 2016 and filming in 2019. However, the COVID pandemic delayed filming. The film was finally released this spring.
What is unique about this film says Thorp is that it also connects back to his teaching. Several of the key crew positions on the film were held by Bridgewater-Rartian graduates who have gone on to work on commercials, films, and other related industries in the creative world.
“It was definitely a cool experience,” said Thorp.
Thorp said the film has begun to pick up some awards both locally (Northeast Film Festival & Aphrodite Film Festival) and aboard (Sea of Art in Sweden) where it won awards for music, acting, writing and best picture.
The film will be shown at a few more festivals before they wrap up the season and put the film on streaming.
See below for the trailer for Shark River:
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For more information on the film visit www.rucksackfilms.com or follow on social media @rucksack_films.
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