Director Reflects On Gloucester Twp. Roots Ahead Of Film Premiere

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Joe Raffa discovered his love for storytelling when he was seven years old. That’s when the then-Erial Elementary School student got his first computer.

“I would write stories, and explore why I feel the way that I do,” Raffa said. “When someone finally put a camera in my hands, that was it.”

Raffa was on his way to creating films, the most recent of which will debut later this month at the Garden State Film Festival.

“Downeast” sees Emma Maddox, played by Dylan Silver, return to her hometown in Maine years after her brother mysteriously died.

As she reconnects with his best friend Tommy (Greg Finley), Emma begins to uncover the web of lies the town has been keeping and must ultimately decide if she will fall victim to the town’s unsettling ways.

Raffa, who was inspired to make movies after first seeing “Rebel Without A Cause,” combines crime, revenge, and ultimately, the hope for a new life, in the movie. He describes it as a film about people who feel trapped.

“I’m drawn to stories with moral ambiguity,” Raffa said. “I like to follow stories with an anti-hero. The Sopranos had a heavy influence on me.”

Raffa was born in Philadelphia, and lived in the Sicklerville section of Gloucester Township until he was 23. His parents own Pop’s Water Ice, and he went to Erial, Ann A. Mullen Middle School, and Timber Creek Regional High School.

He said growing up in South Jersey had an influence on his filmmaking style, and his first film, “You’ll Know My Name,” was set there. The film, which he wrote, edited, directed and starred in, includes scenes that took place on a football field behind the ShopRite on Cross Keys Road, and at an old Wawa on Erial Road.

“I wanted to make a movie about teenage angst,” Raffa said. “It was ‘Rebel Without A Cause’ with cell phones. I have a lot of love for the township.”

Raffa would soon move on to bigger and better things. In 2013, he left home and drove across the country to live in Los Angeles.

“It was eye-opening,” Raffa said of his journey. He said he built a lot of relationships along the way, and that he already had a built-in community when he arrived in North Hollywood. “LA is beautiful, and I’m surrounded by the film industry.”

He said he would take the Hoboken Ferry to New York a lot when he was younger. He enjoyed the weather in Los Angeles more, and figured he would just take a shot and go to Los Angeles.

Raffa is still there today, with his 8-year-old son and his girlfriend. There are things he misses about South Jersey, though.

“I miss the food. South Jersey has a lot of Italian spots,” Raffa said. “Los Angeles has great food, but it’s different. There’s a homemade feel to food in South Jersey and Philadelphia. I miss Sunday dinners, and going to my friend’s house for barbecues.”

Raffa said he’s in Los Angeles for the long haul, and he’s seen his share of success. His movie, “Dark Habor” starring Joel McHale, has won dozens of awards, including “Best Feature” at the Black Hills Film Fest and “Best Thriller” at the Garden State Film Festival, among others.

On the television front, Raffa created the anthology digital series, “Spades,” which originally premiered on Amazon Prime and is currently available on YouTube.

The 2019 documentary feature Raffa wrote and produced, “Alice is Still Dead,” offers an intimate and unflinching look into the story of a murdered loved one from the family’s perspective.

It was while he was working on this movie that he first visited and fell in love with Portland, Maine, which is now one of his favorite cities. When Greg Finley came to Raffa with a story he wrote that took place in Maine, Raffa agreed to direct “Downeast.” The movie, which stars Finley, debuts at the Garden State Film Festival at 1:30 p.m. March 27, Raffa said.

In addition to Dylan Silver, “Downeast” stars Judson Mills (“Walker, Texas Ranger”), Kirk Fox (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), and Gareth Williams (“Dawson’s Creek”).

The debut will be a virtual viewing amid the coronavirus pandemic. While he can’t celebrate with friends and family in person, Raffa will have some sort of virtual party after.

On a positive note, he can invite as many friends and family members to the virtual premiere as he wants.

“There’s nothing like sitting in the theater with a bunch of people, but now, anyone can see the film from anywhere,” Raffa said. “We’ll have people watching from all over.”

Anyone interested in watching the film and the other festival selects can purchase a Virtual Multi-Pass at https://www.gsff.org/tickets/ OR the TM32-Screening Event ticket for the Downeast screening only by selecting the Individual Screening Block | VIRTUAL ONLY option.

While the last two Garden State film festivals and the movie industry as a whole, have been impacted by the quarantine-aspect of the coronavirus pandemic, Raffa said the future of filmmaking itself is impacted by the social awakening the pandemic has brought with it.

“Movies help push the dialogue, especially when it comes to inclusion and diversity,” Raffa said.
He said the pandemic will impact his own films in the future, but isn’t sure how just yet. He isn’t forgetting what’s inspired him to this point, though.

“I’d like to say thank you to South Jersey for being essential to my development,” Raffa said.