Woman’s Club To Host "CLAWS" Local Movie Premiere In Point Beach

POINT PLEASANT BEACH – The Woman’s Club of Point Pleasant (WCPP) is inviting the community to the first public showing of “Claws,” a film by local amateur moviemaker Tom Tokar, who wrote, produced and directed the movie.

It is an environmental science fiction story about crabs that are exposed to toxic waste and grow large, eventually attacking people, according to a statement from the club.

The 90-minute film was shot mostly locally with actors who are friends and family of the director. While not Tokar’s first foray into filmmaking, it is his first experience with using green screen and doing digital editing. The director will be available after the film to provide some insight into the filmmaking process, and to answer questions from the audience.

Before retiring to Tom’s River in 2015, Tokar was a science teacher with the Bayonne School system for over 25 years. Throughout his career he taught grades PreK through 12, mostly environmental science, but also biology, chemistry, marine science, and astronomy.

Filmmaking has always been a hobby, with two previous full-length films under his belt, as well as many other smaller projects. This film, in the making for four years, is his most ambitious endeavor, according to the statement.

He is married to Woman’s Club of Point Pleasant President Mary Kay Tokar. Mrs. Tokar has a small part in the film, as well as serving as Assistant Director, Makeup Artist, Cameraperson, and any other jobs that came up. “It awes me, while watching the film, to see a scene I know was shot in my living room, and yet on-screen it appears to be someplace entirely different,” says MaryKay.

The film will be shown on Thursday, January 9th at 12:30pm. The clubhouse, at 513 St. Louis Ave., will be open at 11:30am. Hot Dogs, Snacks, and Beverages will be for sale. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 per person. The Woman’s Club hopes this will be the first in a series planned monthly films.

All proceeds will be used to support the Woman’s Club and its charitable causes.

The WCPP is a local community service organization, with membership open to any woman over age 18. Current members came from the Beach, the Boro, Bay Head, Brick, Lavallette, Ortley, Toms River, and more. The club, which has served the community for over 93 years, meets monthly on the 4th Thursday of the month at its St. Louis Ave. clubhouse, at noon.

Those who can’t make daytime meetings can attended bi-monthly evening meetings on the 2nd Thursday at 7 p.m.

Further information can be found on either the club website http://wcofpointpleasant.webs.com, or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pointpleasantwc, or by calling Club President Mary Kay Tokar at 201-320-8403.

The WCPP is a member of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (NJSFWC) of GFWC, which was founded in 1894 and is now celebrating 125 years of volunteer community service. Since 1966, the State Federation has been headquartered on the Douglass Residential Campus, formerly Douglass College in New Brunswick, and is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, the oldest and largest nonpartisan, nondenominational women’s volunteer service organization in the world.

Opportunities are provided to women in education, leadership training and community service through participation in local clubs, enabling members to make a difference in the lives of others. To learn about the NJSFWC, visit the Federation website at www.njsfwc.orgor call (732) 249-5474/5485.