a.k.a Jersey is a 2007 Independent Film written and directed by Billy Tooma. Starring Benjamin L. Newmark as Zach Foley and Karlo Tooma as Chris Ashton, it follows four best friends & their favorite rock band over the course of one night in the Garden State. a.k.a Jersey was the first feature-film produced by Tooma's Icon Independent Films. It features an original soundtrack by New Jersey-based Independent Bands.

Plot

On a Friday night in New Jersey Chris Ashton and best friend Dave McKenna await the arrival of their other two friends, Josh Trumbull and Trisha Vitale, at the Schuyler Diner. Upon the arrival of the couple the four sit and vent their frustrations of not being able to have purchased tickets to a concert featuring their favorite band Tornado Torrent. After watching an interview with the band on the diner's television set Chris surprises his friends with tickets. Dave, upon seeing the reactions of the others, quips "This is gonna be one crazy night." The concert hall is buzzing with the sounds of the sold-out capacity. During the second to last song Trisha yells to Josh that she wants to get closer to the stage. The two make their way down passed security and find themselves eye-to-eye with the band's lead singer & bassist, Zach Foley. Before Foley brings the show to a close he makes a call for the two biggest Tornado Torrent fans to help perform the final song. To their surprise Foley brings Josh & Trisha on stage. Josh takes Foley's bass and Trisha sings the final song, a duet, with Foley.

In the aftermath of the concert Foley invites the couple back with him, guitarist Roofie Davis, and drummer Scott Vallow, back to their mansion to party the night away. Upon arriving at the Foley Estate the group's night commences. Through the drinking and heavy drug use Josh & Trisha watch as their favorite band begins to fall apart in front of their eyes. Vallow, tired of Foley's childish antics, approaches their manager Vinnie Ponte threatening to leave the band if Foley's games are allowed to continue. Vinnie promises to speak with his lead singer but as Vallow takes his leave of his office Vinnie makes it clear he has no such intentions. Elsewhere in the house Roofie has donned a purple pimp outfit and is partying it up with the ladies. Eventually Foley, with Josh & Trisha following, joins up with the guitarist and the four begin a drunken rampage throughout the house. Foley's true intentions are revealed as he orders Roofie to ready Trisha for him. After drinking Acid-laced alcohol Trisha passes out cold and Josh begins tripping through the mansion's second-floor. Foley pounces upon an incapacitated Trisha while Josh stumbles into Vallow's bedroom. After helping revive Josh Vallow leads him to where Foley and Trisha are. What ensues is a brawl between the three men plus Roofie after the fight empties out into the halls. Josh & Trisha are thrown out by Vallow who allows an enraged Foley to be struck by an equally enraged Josh. Once Vinnie is made aware of the confrontation he chastises his boys telling them to behave the rest of the night. Ignoring their manager's words Foley and Roofie go off to party even harder than before. Vallow, realizing nothing will ever change, packs a bag to take his leave of the place.

Chris & Dave, after taking their leave of the concert hall, decide to grab a quick drink then catch their train back home. As they sit at the bar a girl, Vikkie, buys them another round. The three get to talking and Dave makes it clear he is attracted to Vikkie, but they are interrupted by her brother Eddie. The friends find out that Eddie & Vikkie's father own the bar and that Eddie and his friends are currently engaged in a poker game down in the basement. Eddie, sensing Dave's attraction to his sister, makes the two come downstairs to join the game. Vikkie makes her feelings clear to Dave who instructs Chris to stay in the game no matter what. Chris, the level-headed of the two, predicts that their situation won't end well. During the poker game Vikkie signals to Dave to meet her back upstairs. They each leave nonchantly and Chris is stuck with Eddie and his friends: Jack, Petey, and Zig. Dave & Vikkie begin hooking up in the bathroom and Eddie becomes suspicious. He instructs his friends to watch Chris as he checks up on his sister. What ensues is a ass-kicking for Dave & Chris at the hands of Eddie and his friends. The two friens are thrown out of the bar. They seek refuge at a liqour store where Chris purchases ice for Dave's swollen crotch (Eddie had taken a baseball bat swing to it). As the two sit behind the store a police officer mistakes them for hustlers and proceeds to handcuff Chris. Before the officer can get all of their information her attention switches to a shoplifter running out of the store. Against his better judgment Chris (still cuffed) escapes custody with Dave. The two proceed to break into a mechanic's garage where Dave breaks Chris' handcuffs. The two have a heated argument where Chris scolds Dave for his behavior. When they're done exchanging words they take their leave of the place and hop on the train.

The morning after at the mansion Vinnie discovers Vallow has left and cancels that night's concert when he finds Foley completely passed out atop a toliet. Josh, Trisha, Chris, and Dave arrive back at the diner. The four sit in silence before briefly discussing the crazy night they all experienced.

Cast

Benjamin L. Newmark as Zach Foley

Karlo Tooma as Chris Ashton

Rosa Gileta as Trisha Vitale

Nick Mazzolla as Roofie Davis

Brett Gossman as Scott Vallow

Billy Kapp as Dave McKenna

Tom Courtney as Josh Trumbull

Cameo Appearance by Deana Demko

DVD Release

Released on December 26th, 2007 the DVD contains the film plus two special features: The Teaser Trailer & Official Music Video.

Soundtrack

{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Track || Song || Band
|-
| 1 || On Your Own || New Risk
|-
| 2 || Spinning Around || New Risk
|-
| 3 || It's All Right (To Be Alone Again) || New Risk
|-
| 4 || Out In The Streets || New Risk
|-
| 5 || Sequence || New Risk
|-
| 6 || Your Attention Please || Action Squad
|-
| 7 || You've Really Lost Your Mind || Action Squad
|-
| 8 || Hello || B.I.T.E.
|-
| 9 || Breakout || B.I.T.E.
|-
| 10 || Here It Comes Now || B.I.T.E.
|-
| 11 || Follow || B.I.T.E.
|-
| 12 || Boring Day || B.I.T.E.
|-
| 13 || Ska Bathroom || The Miasmics
|-
| 14 || Hell Froze Over || The Miasmics
|-
| 15 || Slow Down || The Miasmics
|-
| 16 || The Verge || Somatic Habit
|-
| 17 || Gross Generation || Somatic Habit
|-
| 18 || Alarmed || Somatic Habit
|-
| 19 || Take Me Down || Zodiac
|-
| 20 || Split || Zodiac
|-
| 21 || Sweet Lady || Zodiac
|}

External links

http://www.iconindependentfilms.com (Production Company's Official Website)

http://imdb.com/name/nm2749847/ (Director's IMDb Website)