Indie TV Pilot Wows Audiences

ASBURY PARK, N.J., March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- New Jersey's unique personalities, locales and talent are the ingredients for indie TV pilot "Marino's," honored as Outstanding Home Grown Pilot by the Garden State Film Festival at the gala awards dinner on Sunday, March 28, 2010.  Out of hundreds of submissions, "Marino's" was the only pilot honored by the festival.

"I am so proud and grateful to the entire team," said Sarit Catz, "Marino's" writer and executive producer who has numerous produced credits and has won three prestigious Writers Guild of America Awards.  "I hope the industry takes notice," Catz continued.  "People think Jersey is just 'The Sopranos' but America needs to know we've got more than just wiseguys. We've got people who know wiseguys."

Directed, photographed and edited by Ryan Wick, an award-winning filmmaker currently attached to direct two feature films in development, "Marino's" is about an Italian-American family running a traditional Deli in Hoboken.  Once a predominately Italian-American working class town, Hoboken has been discovered by upscale professionals and now boasts trendy restaurants and boutiques alongside the butcher shops and delis.  "Anybody can walk in the door of Marino's," says Wick, "which is what makes it such a great setting for a TV series."  

The pilot stars comedian Mike Marino alongside veterans Concetta Tomei and Joe Grifasi.  According to Marino, "Even though the family is Italian, it could be any family.  I mean, who doesn't have crazy relatives?" And, undaunted by the profusion of reality shows and crime dramas pushing sitcoms off the schedule, Marino laughs, "Hey, I'm from Jersey.  I'm not scared of anything."

When it screened at the Garden State Film Festival, "Marino's" was received with unprecedented praise, scoring a unanimous 5 out of 5 rating, "Excellent," from every member of the audience on the comment cards.

According to audience member Stephanie Kayafas, "Hilarious!  I'm not Italian but I totally get it.  I would watch that show every week."  

"Marino's" stars Mike Marino, Concetta Tomei, Joe Grifasi, David Brown, Carolyn Morrison, Kevin Kash and Carman Lacivita and co-stars Bridget Megan Clark and Carman LoPorto.  Written and Executive Produced by Sarit Catz;  Directed, Photographed and Edited by Ryan Wick.

SOURCE Garden State Film Festival

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