OCEAN CITY- George Rush, the producer of “Ping Pong Summer,” announced on Wednesday the movie filmed in Ocean City will be heading to the big screen to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18.
This year’s festival will mark the world premiere of “Ping Pong Summer,” written and directed by Maryland native Michael Tully. The film is a coming-of-age story set in the summer of 1985, about a ping pong-obsessed teenage boy on a family vacation to Ocean City.
Tully first started writing the script his senior year in high school and has been working on it for over 20 years now. He is from Mt. Air, Md., and vacationed regularly with his family in Ocean City growing up.
“Ping Pong Summer” shot in Ocean City last fall and wrapped production on October 26, 2012, one day before Hurricane Sandy hit. The last shot was filmed on the iconic Ocean City Fishing Pier, which was severely damaged during the storm.
“Ping Pong Summer” drew heavily from the local experience and features famous Ocean City spots like the Boardwalk, Trimper’s, Paul Revere Smorgasbord, Anthony’s, Phillips Seafood, King’s Arms Motel, Old Pro Golf, the Greene Turtle and Hooper’s Crabhouse, among many others. Locals were also included in the film, many of whom played extras while native Ocean City resident and Worcester Prep student Emmi Shockley featured into the story more prominently as the main character’s love interest.
Since last fall, the film has been in post-production in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin. The help of hundreds of people from the Delmarva region made the movie possible, which is the first motion picture in more than 25 years to feature Ocean City so prominently.
“As a proud Marylander and someone who grew up going to Ocean City every summer, my 20-plus year dream of shooting ‘Ping Pong Summer’ in Ocean City and presenting the finished film to the world is about to come true,” said Tully. “I couldn’t be more grateful for the support we received from the local community, and I couldn’t be more excited for this year’s Sundance.”
At the premiere, the film’s cast and supporters will converge to celebrate the culmination of their hard work. “Ping Pong Summer” stars Susan Sarandon, John Hannah, Lea Thompson, Amy Sedaris, Robert Longstreet and Judah Friedlander. The cast also includes young actors Marcello Conte and Andy Riddle, Marylanders Myles Massey, Joseph McCaughtry, Helena Seabrook, Maddie Howard and Shockley.
The project’s financing was secured by the producers through private equity, as well as generous support from the Town of Ocean City, Worcester County and the state of Maryland.
In August of 2012 both Worcester County and Ocean City agreed to contribute $100,000 each towards the production in the belief that the movie would be a boon for attracting visitors to the area.
Sundance Film Festival takes place from January 16-26, 2014 in Park Place, Utah. “Ping Pong Summer” will premiere Saturday, January 18, at 11:30 a.m. The film’s team will be hosting a party on the evening of the 18th.
“Even though Sundance takes place at a Utah ski resort, we anticipate a big group from the Eastern Shore will attend the film’s premiere,” said Rush. “Our hope is to turn Park City into Ocean City.”
Ocean City Tourism Director Donna Abbott said on Thursday it is too soon to tell who will be attending the film on behalf of the Town of Ocean City.
“We are excited ‘Ping Pong Summer’ is going to premiere at Sundance Film Festival,” she said. “That is fantastic news. There is a lot of visibility with the film festival from around the world. I would love to make a road trip. If I’m not there in person, I will definitely be there in spirit.”
Tickets are available at www.sundance.org/festival/tickets/ and lodging options can be found at www.sundance.org/festival/tickets/. The Sundance Film Festival is the country’s most prestigious showcase for independent films. Sundance is also the premiere marketplace for independent films. All the film distributors targeted will be attending, so Ping Pong’s producers want as many friendly faces in the audience as possible to create the right energy.
The festival, founded by Robert Redford in 1978, is held in Park City every January, attracting celebrities, industry insiders, and film enthusiasts from around the world.
Beyond Sundance, “Ping Pong Summer” will have its international premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival and have engaged a foreign sales agent to sell the film to overseas territories. For more information on Rotterdam Film Festival visit www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/.