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Wildwood Boardwalk trams to make Hollywood film debut

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By TRUDI GILFILLIAN Staff Writer | Posted: Monday, October 19, 2009 | 5 comments

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This tram car, the first to be built in 44 years, made its debut on the Wildwood Boardwalk on July 27, 2007. The city is sending two tram engines and three tram trailers to South Haven, Mich., for the filming of 'What’s Wrong with Virginia?' a movie starring Jennifer Connelly.

Photo by: Dale Gerhard

WILDWOOD - Next year's hot new Boardwalk attraction is already in the making - the tram car Hollywood actress Jennifer Connelly drove.

The popular tram cars - part of countless Wildwoods vacations since June 1949 - have been tapped to appear in "What's Wrong with Virginia?" a movie starring Connelly that is being filmed in Michigan.

"This is the first time the tram cars are hitting the big screen," said Patrick Rosenello, executive director of the Wildwoods Boardwalk Special Improvement District. But, he added, "They did have a role in a 'Sex in the City' episode about 10 years ago."

Two tram engines and three tram trailers (the trams'seating compartments) will make the trip to South Haven, Mich., this week via tractor trailer along with two improvement district employees. The movie production company is paying all the expenses, Rosenello said.

Rosenello said he got a call this summer from a movie production company looking to film in Wildwood. A crew came during the annual New Jersey State Firemen's Convention and filmed background scenes, but Connelly didn't take part.

Instead, the tram she will drive is being sent to her.

Rosenello said he spoke with the director, Lance Black, who recalled spending childhood summers at the shore.

"He literally wrote the tram car into the script," Rosenello said, adding that the famous warning "Watch the tram car, please" is also expected to be part of the movie.

The improvement district, which has been operating the trams since the summer of 2004, didn't charge for the use of the trams, Rosenello said.

"This is a significant piece of marketing and advertising," he said of the trams' movie debut.

After all, who wouldn't want to ride the tram car Jennifer Connelly drove.

Contact Trudi Gilfillian:

609-463-6716

TGilfillian@pressofac.com

Posted in Cape_may, Breaking on Monday, October 19, 2009 6:40 pm Updated: 10:47 pm.

/news/press/cape_may

5 comments:

  • avatar myinfo (99) posts 9:11 am

    How ridiculous....if you want the tram cars in your movie, then come to Wildwood...whe in the world is Jennifer Connelly?????

  • avatar JerseyDevil (393) posts 6:17 am

    "What's Wrong with Virginia?" sounds interesting to me.Another movie having it's background shot in Wildwood.The Movie production company is paying all the expense for the tram cars.Any movie shot in South Jersey has a good chance of being a hit.Who knows. There is only one small thing that the Tram Cars did have a role in a "Sex In the City" episode about ten years ago. The "Sex" episode was made at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City and the camera panned out on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and the Wildwood Tram Cars were there saying"Watch The Tram Cars,Please" .Somebody goofed up someplace. I know because I was a extra in the "Sex" episode.

  • avatar mia chia (1) posts 2:46 am

    So Patrick has decided not to charge for the use of the tram cars. Question for Patrick...who is footing the bill for the 2 improvement district employees driving the cars out there, for the tractor trailer rental, for the gas, for the employee's accomdations etc, etc? Significant marketing and advertisement? What is this costing us so you can have a picture taken with an unknown actress in a movie that could very well bomb?

  • avatar njbourne (38) posts 9:15 pm

    Never heard of her.... ::crickets::

  • avatar RandomX856 (61) posts 7:50 pm

    Jennifer Connelly? Who's she?

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