Historic Mansion Comes to Life in Short Film

Over a three-day weekend in February, actors, crew members and River Dell students spent long hours working in the Blauvelt Mansion to bringStarline Films project "Bluefield" to life. The 15-minute short film was recently screened at the historic mansion.

"Growing up in Woodcliff Lake, I was always intrigued and enamored by the mansion and the mystique of it," director Jon Doscher said. "I wanted to work on a film that involved children and do something loosely based on the mansion. We filmed over three days and I see this as a concept piece; a glorified screen trailer of what a feature film could be that we could use to garner interest in."

Written by Fran Ganguzza and Doscher, the “twilight zonesque” story follows James H. Demarest as he enters the mansion and finds his way transported to New Years Eve 1928. While his sister and friends follow him later on, young James finds his destiny with the mansion and Hiram Blauvelt.

"It was great filming here," cast member Victoria Tahhan said. "It was wonderful to be in such a historic building. Jon had a vision and he pulls great performances out of you.

The film also served an added role of raising awareness of the Mansion's history and providing valuable experience to many River Dell students who are interested in filmmaking, acting and the entertainment industry.

"I was just overwhelmed by this great experience," River Dell senior Jason Fleckenstein said. "I worked as a produdction assistanst so I was moving lighting equipment around, helping work on shots."

Ganguzza stated that the company hopes to return to the Mansion and finish filming at a later date. But when that would be is undetermined as Starline Films has secured Jude Law to star in "Old Stoneface" a biopic piece directed by Jim Sheridan about Lester Piggott, who is considered the greatest flat Jockey in England’s history.

To view the Bluefield trailer, visit the Blauvelt Mansion project website.

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