Dina Engle and Sherry McCracken are filming a pilot episode of an Atlantic City based TV series, “48 Blocks.” Here, they receive three awards for their previous feature film, “American Gothic.” The film is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
VENTNOR – The beaches, playgrounds, neighborhoods, restaurants, Boardwalk and casinos of Atlantic City provides the ideal setting for the independent television pilot, “48 BLOCKS,” scheduled for production in Atlantic City in September.
“Atlantic City is in my blood,” producer Dina Engel said.
Originally from Philadelphia, Engel grew up spending her summers at Ocean Side Cottage, a guesthouse owned by her family on the beach block of Little Rock Avenue in Ventnor City.
“When Sherry (McCracken) and I moved to the area in 2014 we quickly realized that the complexities of the city – wealth and poverty, powerful and powerless, development and decay – created an ideal setting for a Hollywood-styled production,” Engle said.
48 BLOCKS, a drama set in current-day Atlantic City, follows ex-NBA star Vernon “King” Carver, a philanthropist and real estate magnate under pressure. Enemies deep in his past are out to expose King’s long buried secrets and bring him down.
McCracken, the show’s creator, has been developing the project with her partner Engel for the past two years through Ventnor-based Little Rock Films and Studios.
“In many ways, the city itself functions as a central character,” said McCracken, a photographer and cinematographer. Engel, also an actor, has a lead role in the series.
Engel and McCracken collaborated with writers Daniel Putkowski and Stuart Connelly to develop the script. Connelly has also signed on to direct the show.
“You feel the influence of Atlantic City’s origin story and energy in the behaviors and decision making of every central character,” Connelly said. “The power of the place is strong and I really wanted to work with that.”
In an attempt to draw more filmmakers to the area, New Jersey implemented a new film tax incentive to support the growing arts community and boost revenue and tourism. While Engel and McCracken plan to participate in the tax credit program, they’re also looking to the local community for support.
“The response from the community has been amazing. People are offering their help with all sorts of things that we really need – locations, catering, housing – it’s been really great,” McCracken said.
The producers are currently filling key crew positions and will start auditioning principal roles in the middle of June. They plan to use local actors to fill the day player and background roles.
With a completed pilot in hand, Engel and McCracken will share the Atlantic City story with television networks and streaming services in order to secure an order for a six-episode first season for 48 BLOCKS.
For more information, contact Dina Engel or Sherry McCracken at the following email addresses: dina@littlerockfilmsandstudios.com or sherry@littlerockfilmsandstudios.com.
