Hello, the link was broken to this article. It was originally published 12/16/2008 in The Scranton Times-Tribune. Thanks to my pal, Ed Pikulski for sending it to me!
NEPA natives hope to ‘Cruise’ to big screen
Tim Gavern left Scranton for the West Coast nearly 20 years ago. But he’s only now venturing into the film industry. Tim, an East Mountain native and 1979 Scranton Central High School graduate, is hard at work on his first feature film, “Cruise Night,” which he’s co-producing with his cousin, Clarks Summit resident Philip Gavern.
Described by Tim as a 1970s version of “American Graffiti,” “Cruise Night” revolves around a car-savvy Southern California teen who uses a cruise night as a diversion to take on his rival in an illegal street race. Along the way, he endures a series of challenges and setbacks as he gets his car ready for the big race.
Now three years into the project, Tim, who has worked as an editor, graphic designer and photographer for more than 50 car and truck magazines since moving to Los Angeles in 1989, recently shot a big-budget trailer to drum up interest for the film, which he hopes to begin shooting in early 2010. The trailer, which can be viewed at the project’s Web site, www.cruisenight.com, features a souped-up Camaro Tim built in less than a month from an empty shell.
“The trailer was shot in two days and nights around Los Angeles,” Tim said. “The final cost of producing the trailer was a little over $900 per second, but it has opened many doors for us.”
Throughout the next year, Tim and Philip will be buying and building period-correct vehicles, including street machines, custom vans, choppers and Sting-Ray bicycles. And, for marketing purposes, they’ll be pursuing partnerships with performance automotive companies and showing off the movie’s cars at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Marketing Association show in Las Vegas.
If all goes to plan, they’ll have a finished film by Christmas 2010.
Courtesy The Scranton Times-Tribune Copyright 2008
