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Posted by nastypup at pcp04985504pcs.benslm01.pa.comcast.net on March 11, 2004 at 12:09:46:


Something right out of the movies: Paulsboro shines at 'Jersey Girl' premiere

Thursday, March 11, 2004


By Theresa Katalinas
tkatalinas@sjnewsco.com

PAULSBORO -- Sam Vergoglini arrived to Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl" premiere in style, climbing out of a sleek, shiny white limousine onto the plush red carpet.

Once inside the Paulsboro High School auditorium -- converted Wednesday night to an authentic-looking movie theater -- Vergoglini, 13, of Marlton, and her friends bubbled over in excitement about scoring tickets to the 700-seat advance screening.


"I felt so special," Vergoglini said while waiting for the film, which stars Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, George Carlin and Raquel Castro, to begin. "There were little kids chasing us in the limo ... I felt like one of the Hilton sisters."

A reporter pointed out that the clan's flashy arrival made many click cameras in hopes of capturing a glimpse of the star of the evening, director Kevin Smith.

"Who's Kevin Smith?," Vergoglini asked blankly, her face scrunching up.

Clearly, her sentiments weren't shared by the cheering crowd who welcomed Smith back to the home of the Red Raiders with deafening applause.

"Does Paulsboro love me in the biblical sense?," Smith asked the crowd as he walked onto the stage wearing jean shorts and a red-and-black baseball jersey.

"A lot's changed. The last time I was here, we had to get a ... crow bar to pry Ben off Jen," Smith said, raising his voice for emphasis. "Not anymore."

With premieres out of the way, "Jersey Girl" -- which was filmed largely in Paulsboro and Philadelphia during 2002 -- will hit theaters March 26.

Paulsboro Borough Councilman John Giovannitti, who doubles as Paulsboro High School assistant principal, said it meant a lot to this "blue collar community" for Smith to keep his promise.

"He said he was going to have the premiere here," Giovannitti said. "Your word and a handshake is what we live by."

Throughout the showing, the audience applauded in unison at recognizing familiar local fixtures, including the high school, a borough home and a bar.

Ronald Colna, of Paulsboro, sat anxiously waiting to see the brush strokes he put on the pale yellow Thompson Avenue home featured in the film.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Colna said, smiling broadly from his balcony seat. "I'll go see it again no doubt."

As she munched on popcorn, Paulsboro resident Tracey Presser said she's been a die-hard Smith fan since seeing "Chasing Amy."

"This is an amazing opportunity -- probably the closest you'll ever get to Kevin," Presser said. "I had to be here. Not being here was not an option."

Moments before introducing the movie, Mayor John Burzichelli said he had confidence in the success of "Jersey Girl."

"America's going to fall in love with 'Jersey Girl,' just like my father fell in love with a Jersey girl 52 years ago," Burzichelli said.

AnnMarie Cook of Washington Township gave the film a thumbs up.

"I thought is was really good -- emotional," Cook said, noting it veers from typical Smith movies. "It's pretty much what I had heard."

If he had to do it again, Smith said he would definitely shoot in Paulsboro.

"This town means more to me than my hometown because you guys were far more accommodating than Highland," Smith said. "We could buy children in Paulsboro."





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