Jersey Birdies POST-PRODUCTION CAMPAIGN
Old Bridge, New Jersey | Film Feature
Drama, Comedy
We're SO close! We wrapped production in July 2024, but need a little help in order to complete post-production and be able to release in 2025!
Jersey Birdies POST-PRODUCTION CAMPAIGN
Old Bridge, New Jersey | Film Feature
Drama, Comedy
2 Campaigns | New Jersey, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $32,709 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
137 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
We're SO close! We wrapped production in July 2024, but need a little help in order to complete post-production and be able to release in 2025!
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
 (1000 × 400 px) (1000 × 201 px) (1000 × 300 px) (1000 × 250 px) (1000 × 200 px) (1000 × 100 px) (1000 × 300 px) (940.png)
When the Jersey Birdies women's softball team faces elimination from the league,
Maria must balance her own life-struggles to save the team founded by her late sister.
Starring Samantha Simone
(Full cast & crew list available in "The Team" tab above)
 (1000 × 400 px) (1000 × 201 px) (1000 × 300 px) (1000 × 250 px) (1000 × 200 px) (1000 × 100 px) (1000 x 150 px) (5).png)
We filmed over 11 days in July 2024...in where else? JERSEY, baby! And during a major heat wave! Our cast and crew were troopers!
Softball fields were provided by the South Brunswick Athletic Association.
Did you know? Our Birdies went through several weeks of softball practice and training, and a few players had real-life softball experience.
Our opposing teams all included experienced players as well.
We did not play full games, just bits and pieces. We'll be using VFX to create accuracy of softball play.
We spent an evening at Designer Greetings, Inc in Edison. for corporate office interiors/exteriors.
We shot on location at an Italian restaurant. In the film, Maria's family owns Gabagool's, "best sauce in NJ" and the team's favorite hangout. Lots of fun was had and fake cocktails created!
 (1000 × 400 px) (1000 × 201 px) (1000 × 300 px) (1000 × 250 px) (1000 × 200 px) (1000 × 100 px) (1000 × 300 px) (1).png)
We spent our final two days shooting at a home located in Madison.
 (1000 × 400 px) (1000 × 201 px) (1000 × 300 px) (1000 × 250 px) (1000 × 200 px) (1000 × 100 px) (1000 × 300 px).png)
In addition to serving as the Romanelli's house, this location was used for five OTHER locations. That's the magic of movie-making!
 (1000 × 400 px) (1000 × 201 px) (1000 × 300 px) (1000 × 250 px) (1000 × 200 px) (1000 × 100 px) (1000 x 150 px) (4).png)
The editing process has begun, but we need additional funds in order to finish our film.
Raising $35,000 will allow us to complete post-production and release Jersey Birdies this year.
Here's a nifty PIE chart outlining where the funds raised in this campaign will go:
Every dollar pledged will go toward this production. Every dollar pledged will be seen in the quality of that final picture that you watch. We're working with a low budget and can assure you that no contribution will be wasted...and every pledge is deeply appreciated.
 (1000 × 400 px) (1000 × 201 px) (1000 × 300 px) (1000 × 250 px) (1000 × 200 px) (1000 × 100 px) (1000 x 150 px) (7).png)
MAKE A MONETARY PLEDGE
Contributors may choose any amount to pledge. Be sure to check out our fun incentives at certain levels!
SPREAD THE WORD AND FOLLOW/SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN Don't have the funds yourself but would love to support us? No Problem! Please follow this campaign. Seed and Spark unlocks certain perks for our production when we reach different tier levels of campaign followers. Also, please follow us on social media (links at top of page).
With Gratitude,
Rori, Matt, Michelle
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editing
Costs $7,500
Editing is a core piece to the post production process for every film you watch. We need help putting the pieces together.
Sound Mixing
Costs $3,000
Another important aspect to post-production, Sound Mixing allows the audience to hear the story they are watching.
Music
Costs $2,500
Music allows the audience to go with you on the emotional rollercoaster of the movie. Music makes the story come alive.
Coloring & Finishing
Costs $5,000
Coloring is the silent hero of the film. Without it, the images appear faded and dull. It takes a colorist to make the image pop.
Visual Effects (VFX)
Costs $2,500
This is not a huge VFX film, but this one, like most films, requires some VFX components
Distribution & Marketing
Costs $6,500
All the other components don't mean a whole lot unless you get people to see your film. We make films for an audience.
Reshoots
Costs $8,000
Reshoots are very common in the industry. Often times, you don't really know what you have until you get into the editing room.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MATTHEW RUF is a producer, an actor, and a writer from New Jersey with over 20 years of experience within the world of storytelling—whether it be on stage or in front of camera. With a director for a father, this is an industry and art form that he knows very well. While many kids were singing their nursery rhymes around school, Matthew was singing tunes from Big River, Jekyll & Hyde, or Sweeney Todd. In high school—like many—he first stepped onto the stage as an actor. However, it wasn’t until his later years, in college, that he began to hone his craft further. He went on to study his undergraduate at Kean University, and then his graduate degree at The New York Film Academy. It was there that Matthew received his MFA in Acting for Film—culminating in a final short-film, “Hello” which he wrote, produced, and in which he performed. “Hello” went on to numerous festivals, receiving awards for its originality and voice. Matthew began RufCut Pictures with Rori in April of 2022 and chose Jersey Birdies to be its first feature film production. To find out more information about the company, visit rufcutpictures.com
RORI RUF is a producer and actor with almost 20 years experience on stage, in front of the camera and behind the scenes. She is passionate about the world of beauty and works as a freelance makeup artist serving New Jersey for over 15 years in theater, film and the wedding industry. Her love for the arts came at an early age, while seeing Broadway shows with her family. Although she didn’t start acting until the end of high school, she was a dancer throughout her childhood, leading her to choreograph musicals for various theater groups in New Jersey. Rori is excited about her most recent endeavor starting RufCut Pictures with Matthew. Jersey Birdies will be their first feature film as a company.
MICHELLE BERGAMO is a New Jersey-based writer who enjoys exploring human stories featuring complex female protagonists. A graduate of Rutgers University, Michelle spent 12 years working at the prestigious George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick before leaving to pursue a full-time writing career. She's completed three full-length stage plays (Baby Steps, Turned On, Buying Time), which had staged readings throughout the state. Turned On was selected to be part of Fringe NYC (The NY International Fringe Festival) and had five performances in Manhattan in October 2018. Jersey Birdies is her first film script. She recently completed another screenplay, Lake Girls, which is in the top 7% of discoverable projects on Coverfly. In addition to her solo scripts, Michelle also writes holiday family-friendly feature film scripts with partner Michele Giannusa. Their script Miss Christmas Daisy was a finalist in the 2017 PAGE Awards, an Official Selection for the 2016 International Family Film Festival and a Semi-Finalist in Screencraft's 2017 Family-Friendly Screenplay Contest. Michelle currently works part-time as a greeting card writer and editor for Designer Greetings in Edison, NJ and has recently taken up poetry. In the fall of 2024, Michelle began working with A Rebel Collective and recently finshed her seventh class with acclaimed actor/writer/director/mentor Jennifer Esposito.
CAST & CREW
Matthew Ruf- Executive Producer/Director
Rori Ruf- Executive Producer/Production Designer
Michelle Bergamo- Writer/Producer/Script Supervisor
Samuel Moskowitz- Director of Photography
Nick Venuti- Assistant Director
Kristyna Saja- 1st Assistant Camera
Kelly Meagher- 2nd Assistant Camera/DIT
Federico Perez- Production Sound Mixer
Ethan Troike- Boom Operator
Jalpan Nanavati- Gaffer/Key Grip
John Galascio- Best Boy Electric
Mitchell Ruf- Characterization Coach
Felicia DiGiacomo- Casting/Background Coordinator
Marissa Lane- Assistant Script Supervisor
Jason Jackson- Assistant Production Designer
Erica Koehler- Assistant Wardrobe Coordinator
Rachel England- 1st Assistant Makeup
Eileen Ruf- Set Operations Manager
Robin Beja- Production Assistant
Rachel Kaufman- Production Assistant
Rose Rella- Production Assistant
Nicole Shaw- Production Assistant
Jesse Einhorn- Production Assistant
Max Steiger- Production Assistant
Rhaya Lau- Production Assistant
Jean Delao- Production Assistant
Gabby Williams- Production Assistant
Trinity Babino- Production Assistant
Desiree Bounds- Production Assistant
Matt McDonald- Production Assistant
Lana Kalapodakis- Production Assistant
CAST
Samantha Simone- Maria Romanelli
Katie Mestres- Lily Romanelli-King
Raider Hyrcyk- "Little Pat" Romanelli-King
Sebastian Berry- Leaf Romanelli-King
Lena Josephine Marano- Skye Romanelli-King
Laara B Christtiane- Valentina Romanelli
Joe Fortunato- Pasquale Romanelli
Jonathan De Angelis- Pat Romanelli
Justin Schilling- Brandon Garcia
Cathryn Danielle Grochowski- Jessica Lynch
Alicia McDonald- Agnes Silverstein
Serena Marie Smith- Kim Owens
Jaime Marcinczyk- Sue Lee
Samantha Carlisle- Carmen Rios
Lori Buckheit- Linda Torren
Emily Gulden- Ashley Sabato
Nicole Gorhan- Faith Vanderbilt
Eric Pertgen- Joey Edman
Ray Russell- Lara Shaw
Featured Background Talent
Sara Purdon
Catherine Peña
Rebecca Lopkin
Ryan O'Regan
Marcel London
Lisa DiTuro
Desiree Bounds
Laura Wieczezak
Matthew Ruf
Melissa Dorsky
Jackie Korang
Gabby Williams
Rhaya Lau
Jamie Staub
Trinity Babino
Harper Kamins
Alexis Hoffman
Michelle Patricko
Kellly Bosworth
Sierra Brown
Christina Yudelson
Fiona Doherty
Deanna DuBois
Ray Russell
Madison Dwyer
Gwen Lavish
Anthony Finnen
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
When the Jersey Birdies women's softball team faces elimination from the league,
Maria must balance her own life-struggles to save the team founded by her late sister.
Starring Samantha Simone
(Full cast & crew list available in "The Team" tab above)
We filmed over 11 days in July 2024...in where else? JERSEY, baby! And during a major heat wave! Our cast and crew were troopers!
Softball fields were provided by the South Brunswick Athletic Association.
Did you know? Our Birdies went through several weeks of softball practice and training, and a few players had real-life softball experience.
Our opposing teams all included experienced players as well.
We did not play full games, just bits and pieces. We'll be using VFX to create accuracy of softball play.
We spent an evening at Designer Greetings, Inc in Edison. for corporate office interiors/exteriors.
We shot on location at an Italian restaurant. In the film, Maria's family owns Gabagool's, "best sauce in NJ" and the team's favorite hangout. Lots of fun was had and fake cocktails created!
We spent our final two days shooting at a home located in Madison.
In addition to serving as the Romanelli's house, this location was used for five OTHER locations. That's the magic of movie-making!
The editing process has begun, but we need additional funds in order to finish our film.
Raising $35,000 will allow us to complete post-production and release Jersey Birdies this year.
Here's a nifty PIE chart outlining where the funds raised in this campaign will go:
Every dollar pledged will go toward this production. Every dollar pledged will be seen in the quality of that final picture that you watch. We're working with a low budget and can assure you that no contribution will be wasted...and every pledge is deeply appreciated.
MAKE A MONETARY PLEDGE
Contributors may choose any amount to pledge. Be sure to check out our fun incentives at certain levels!
SPREAD THE WORD AND FOLLOW/SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN Don't have the funds yourself but would love to support us? No Problem! Please follow this campaign. Seed and Spark unlocks certain perks for our production when we reach different tier levels of campaign followers. Also, please follow us on social media (links at top of page).
With Gratitude,
Rori, Matt, Michelle
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editing
Costs $7,500
Editing is a core piece to the post production process for every film you watch. We need help putting the pieces together.
Sound Mixing
Costs $3,000
Another important aspect to post-production, Sound Mixing allows the audience to hear the story they are watching.
Music
Costs $2,500
Music allows the audience to go with you on the emotional rollercoaster of the movie. Music makes the story come alive.
Coloring & Finishing
Costs $5,000
Coloring is the silent hero of the film. Without it, the images appear faded and dull. It takes a colorist to make the image pop.
Visual Effects (VFX)
Costs $2,500
This is not a huge VFX film, but this one, like most films, requires some VFX components
Distribution & Marketing
Costs $6,500
All the other components don't mean a whole lot unless you get people to see your film. We make films for an audience.
Reshoots
Costs $8,000
Reshoots are very common in the industry. Often times, you don't really know what you have until you get into the editing room.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MATTHEW RUF is a producer, an actor, and a writer from New Jersey with over 20 years of experience within the world of storytelling—whether it be on stage or in front of camera. With a director for a father, this is an industry and art form that he knows very well. While many kids were singing their nursery rhymes around school, Matthew was singing tunes from Big River, Jekyll & Hyde, or Sweeney Todd. In high school—like many—he first stepped onto the stage as an actor. However, it wasn’t until his later years, in college, that he began to hone his craft further. He went on to study his undergraduate at Kean University, and then his graduate degree at The New York Film Academy. It was there that Matthew received his MFA in Acting for Film—culminating in a final short-film, “Hello” which he wrote, produced, and in which he performed. “Hello” went on to numerous festivals, receiving awards for its originality and voice. Matthew began RufCut Pictures with Rori in April of 2022 and chose Jersey Birdies to be its first feature film production. To find out more information about the company, visit rufcutpictures.com
RORI RUF is a producer and actor with almost 20 years experience on stage, in front of the camera and behind the scenes. She is passionate about the world of beauty and works as a freelance makeup artist serving New Jersey for over 15 years in theater, film and the wedding industry. Her love for the arts came at an early age, while seeing Broadway shows with her family. Although she didn’t start acting until the end of high school, she was a dancer throughout her childhood, leading her to choreograph musicals for various theater groups in New Jersey. Rori is excited about her most recent endeavor starting RufCut Pictures with Matthew. Jersey Birdies will be their first feature film as a company.
MICHELLE BERGAMO is a New Jersey-based writer who enjoys exploring human stories featuring complex female protagonists. A graduate of Rutgers University, Michelle spent 12 years working at the prestigious George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick before leaving to pursue a full-time writing career. She's completed three full-length stage plays (Baby Steps, Turned On, Buying Time), which had staged readings throughout the state. Turned On was selected to be part of Fringe NYC (The NY International Fringe Festival) and had five performances in Manhattan in October 2018. Jersey Birdies is her first film script. She recently completed another screenplay, Lake Girls, which is in the top 7% of discoverable projects on Coverfly. In addition to her solo scripts, Michelle also writes holiday family-friendly feature film scripts with partner Michele Giannusa. Their script Miss Christmas Daisy was a finalist in the 2017 PAGE Awards, an Official Selection for the 2016 International Family Film Festival and a Semi-Finalist in Screencraft's 2017 Family-Friendly Screenplay Contest. Michelle currently works part-time as a greeting card writer and editor for Designer Greetings in Edison, NJ and has recently taken up poetry. In the fall of 2024, Michelle began working with A Rebel Collective and recently finshed her seventh class with acclaimed actor/writer/director/mentor Jennifer Esposito.
CAST & CREW
Matthew Ruf- Executive Producer/Director
Rori Ruf- Executive Producer/Production Designer
Michelle Bergamo- Writer/Producer/Script Supervisor
Samuel Moskowitz- Director of Photography
Nick Venuti- Assistant Director
Kristyna Saja- 1st Assistant Camera
Kelly Meagher- 2nd Assistant Camera/DIT
Federico Perez- Production Sound Mixer
Ethan Troike- Boom Operator
Jalpan Nanavati- Gaffer/Key Grip
John Galascio- Best Boy Electric
Mitchell Ruf- Characterization Coach
Felicia DiGiacomo- Casting/Background Coordinator
Marissa Lane- Assistant Script Supervisor
Jason Jackson- Assistant Production Designer
Erica Koehler- Assistant Wardrobe Coordinator
Rachel England- 1st Assistant Makeup
Eileen Ruf- Set Operations Manager
Robin Beja- Production Assistant
Rachel Kaufman- Production Assistant
Rose Rella- Production Assistant
Nicole Shaw- Production Assistant
Jesse Einhorn- Production Assistant
Max Steiger- Production Assistant
Rhaya Lau- Production Assistant
Jean Delao- Production Assistant
Gabby Williams- Production Assistant
Trinity Babino- Production Assistant
Desiree Bounds- Production Assistant
Matt McDonald- Production Assistant
Lana Kalapodakis- Production Assistant
CAST
Samantha Simone- Maria Romanelli
Katie Mestres- Lily Romanelli-King
Raider Hyrcyk- "Little Pat" Romanelli-King
Sebastian Berry- Leaf Romanelli-King
Lena Josephine Marano- Skye Romanelli-King
Laara B Christtiane- Valentina Romanelli
Joe Fortunato- Pasquale Romanelli
Jonathan De Angelis- Pat Romanelli
Justin Schilling- Brandon Garcia
Cathryn Danielle Grochowski- Jessica Lynch
Alicia McDonald- Agnes Silverstein
Serena Marie Smith- Kim Owens
Jaime Marcinczyk- Sue Lee
Samantha Carlisle- Carmen Rios
Lori Buckheit- Linda Torren
Emily Gulden- Ashley Sabato
Nicole Gorhan- Faith Vanderbilt
Eric Pertgen- Joey Edman
Ray Russell- Lara Shaw
Featured Background Talent
Sara Purdon
Catherine Peña
Rebecca Lopkin
Ryan O'Regan
Marcel London
Lisa DiTuro
Desiree Bounds
Laura Wieczezak
Matthew Ruf
Melissa Dorsky
Jackie Korang
Gabby Williams
Rhaya Lau
Jamie Staub
Trinity Babino
Harper Kamins
Alexis Hoffman
Michelle Patricko
Kellly Bosworth
Sierra Brown
Christina Yudelson
Fiona Doherty
Deanna DuBois
Ray Russell
Madison Dwyer
Gwen Lavish
Anthony Finnen