Pre-production on Townies

Philadelphia area production company films feature digital production in and around the Berks County area READING, PA (Wednesday, April 10, 2002) : Shillington-based multimedia company Neo-Pangea announces the beginning of production on their latest digital video production "Townies." "Townies" is a two-hour comedy about Jake Slate, a pizza delivery boy/seven year college student who has come to a crossroads in his life. Down one path lies the same friends, the same parties, and the same feelings of inadequacy. Down the other, a promising internship with a Fortune 500 company, a desk, a 401K plan, and a corporate handbook. In the end, does true happiness come from having what you want, or from wanting what you have?

Though the movie is comedic on the surface, the underlying plot is of serious intent. Universal themes of loyalty, belonging, ambition, and personal growth are all dealt with in "Townies" on different levels.

When asked about filming in the town he grew up in, "Townies" Production Manager Bob Trate said, "Bringing the character and feel of Reading and Berks County to an outside audience is thrilling for a Reading Phillies fan like me." Neo-Pangea Founder and "Townies" Writer/Producer/Director Brett Bagenstose states, "We're very excited to get started on this project. We've got an experienced group of crew and actors, and we're looking forward to returning to Reading to film."

Bagenstose's Neo-Pangea is made up of co-conspirators and collaborators from both his public access days on Berks Cable and his professional career. Recently Neo-Pangea's comedic animation, "The Big Fun Show," was featured in Playboy Magazine after winning an honorable mention in its "Comix and Animation Contest." The Neo-Pangea production "Gabriel 6" was screened in such diverse areas as the Netherlands, the Atlantic City Film Festival, and the Museum of Photography in Tokyo, Japan. Bagenstose also has two Philadelphia Addy Awards and a Macromedia Site of the Day Award under his belt.

When asked about the difficulties of working outside of the Hollywood system Bagenstose said, "It's ironic that we're referred to as "independent" filmmakers considering how dependant we are on the community for support."

All of the cast and crew positions have already been filled by professionals from the Reading, New York, Philadelphia, and the Washington D.C. areas.