Lights, Camera, Jersey: Filming for Bruce Springsteen Biopic Underway Down the Shore

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As a dedicated fan of Bruce Springsteen and a lifelong resident of Jersey, I couldn’t be more thrilled about the filming of “Deliver Me From Nowhere” in my beloved home state! Growing up, I remember listening to Nebraska on repeat and dreaming of one day seeing The Boss perform live. Little did I know that decades later, I would witness the making of a movie about the creation of that very album right here in our backyard.

It’s surreal to see the transformation of Asbury Park into an 80s time capsule, with all the iconic locations brought back to life. The Carousel House, Stone Pony, and Frank’s Deli are places I’ve been countless times, but seeing them recreated for this film has added a whole new layer of appreciation for these historic spots.

I was even more excited when I found out that the production would be filming at John’s Midtown Tavern in Bayonne and my old stomping grounds in Freehold! It feels like I’m living in a Bruce Springsteen music video, and it’s pure magic.

The fact that the talented Jeremy Allen White is playing Springsteen in this biopic gives me hope for an authentic portrayal of one of the greatest musicians of our time. I can’t wait to see how they bring Nebraska to life on the big screen, and I’ll be there opening night to cheer them on!

To top it all off, Springsteen’s upcoming tour and milestones for his iconic albums have me counting down the days until 2025. It’s a dream come true to be part of this exciting time in Jersey’s history, and I can’t help but feel a little starstruck every time I walk past a film set!

And as a bonus, I’d like to share my favorite joke about Bruce Springsteen: Why did the E Street Band cross the road? To get to the other side…of the River! (groan)

In the final stretch of 2024, Bruce Springsteen concluded a fruitful period, working on-site in New Jersey. This phase encompassed visits to the film set for the biopic titled “Deliver Me from Nowhere.

As a die-hard fan, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be part of the cinematic journey behind Springsteen’s iconic 1982 album, “Nebraska”. The film, produced by 20th Century Studios, will feature Jeremy Allen White, who’s making waves with his role in “The Bear”. Filming kicked off in November and we’ve got more Jersey location shoots lined up for January. These include some electrifying concert scenes in East Rutherford. With our sights set on a 2025 release date, I can hardly wait to witness the magic unfold!

A significant portion of the filming has been done in Asbury Park, featuring locations like Frank’s Deli and Restaurant on Main Street, the Stone Pony, Convention Hall, Carousel House, and, you guessed it, the beach. The city has been brought back to its 1980s era, complete with vintage cars lining Main Street. Inside the Carousel House, they’ve rebuilt the classic carousel, as well as other popular rides from the Asbury Park boardwalk of that time.

In the scenes set at the Stone Pony, White meticulously filmed various takes of Springsteen performing “Lucille” by Little Richard. To recreate the ambiance of the early ’80s, the marquee outside was designed to mirror its original appearance. The headlining band for that night was Cats on a Smooth Surface, a group consisting of Bobby Bandiera (who later joined Bon Jovi as their guitarist), Ray Anderson (who toured with Meatloaf), and Glen Burtnik, who would eventually become a member of Styx.

Filming occurred not only at John’s Midtown Tavern in Bayonne but also nearby, where a parking lot was transformed into a used car dealership from the early ’80s. Additionally, some scenes were shot at the library in Montclair.

Initially, filming was planned for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s birthplace, Freehold, where Main Street would be made to look like stores from the early 1950s. But a health problem with one of the crew members halted shooting in December, and it is anticipated that they will resume filming in January.

2024 marked a series of achievements for Bruce Springsteen. His tour from 2023 to 2024 sold an impressive 4 million tickets, culminating in a victorious hometown performance at the Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park during the previous summer. This significant journey was captured in the recent documentary, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, now streaming on Hulu and Disney+. In the spring, Sony Music unveiled a comprehensive two-album collection, Best of Bruce Springsteen. Moreover, they commemorated the 40th anniversary of Born in the U.S.A. during the summer with a special limited-edition vinyl set.

In 2025, The Boss will travel back to Europe to play 16 shows alongside The E Street Band in six different countries. This tour is set to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the iconic “Born to Run” album. Additionally, significant anniversaries are approaching for “The River” (45 years old), “The Ghost of Tom Joad” (30 years old), and “Devils & Dust” (20 years old). Furthermore, there are plans for a retrospective release showcasing previously unreleased material, but more specifics about this project have yet to be disclosed.

The movie “Deliver Me From Nowhere” is the creation of director Scott Cooper, based on the 2023 book by Warren Zanes titled “Deliver Me From Nowhere: Behind the Scenes of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska“.

In the upcoming film, Jeremy Strong from “Succession” will portray Jon Landau, Bruce Springsteen’s long-standing music manager. Additionally, Paul Walter Hauser from “Cobra Kai” is set to appear as Mike Batlan, Springsteen’s guitar technician; Stephen Graham will play Douglas “Dutch” Springsteen, Springsteen’s father; Johnny Cannizzaro will take on the role of Steven Van Zandt, a member of the E Street Band; and Odessa Young will be cast as Faye, who is described as a significant romantic interest in the story.

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2025-01-04 20:56