New Jersey Comic And Award Winning Writer-Producer Cook Up Fresh Short Film Set In Garden State

Online, March 10, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Standup comic Mike Marino, known to his legion of fans as New Jersey's Bad Boy of comedy, and Sarit Catz, a longtime writer/producer with numerous credits and three prestigious Writers Guild of America Awards, are bringing their Hollywood success back home with "Marino's," a short film that serves up the unique flavor, characters and humor of New Jersey. Catz quips, "People think Jersey is just 'The Sopranos' but America needs to know we've got more than just wiseguys. We've got people who know wiseguys."

"The studios and TV networks sent me to see dozens of comics but I never wanted to develop for anyone until I saw Mike's act," explains Sarit Catz, whose credits include "Full House" and "Coach," as well as numerous feature screenplays and short films. "He's relatable, he's got a clear point of view, and he's downright hilarious," adds Catz who is herself known on the stand-up comedy circuit as the Princess of Comedy.

"Marino's," is a short film about an Italian-American family running a traditional Deli in Hoboken. Once a predominately Italian-American working class town, Hoboken has been discovered by upscale professionals and now boasts trendy restaurants and boutiques alongside the butcher shops and delis. "Anybody can walk in the door of Marino's," says Catz, "which is what makes it such a great setting for a film." Mike Marino adds, "Even though the family is Italian, it could be any family. I mean, who doesn't have crazy relatives?" And, undaunted by the challenge of attracting an audience to a short film, Marino laughs, "Hey, I'm from Jersey. I'm not scared of anything."

An actor trained at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Marino has appeared in television series such "Becker," "Party of Five," and "Frasier." According to Catz, "You don't come across too many stand-ups with acting chops. But Mike's got 'em." Marino has appeared in dozens of commercials, as well as being a regular member of Jay Leno's sketch players on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Last summer, Mike was a smash hit when he headlined the celebrated Montreal Comedy Festival.

Catz has surrounded Marino with an ensemble cast that includes stage and screen veterans Concetta Tomei and Joe Grifasi along with fresh faces that really bring the film to life. Though the Garden State Film Festival marks "Marino's" New Jersey premiere, the film has already won awards at the L.A. Reel Film Festival, The Indie Fest, and the Accolade Awards.

The New Jersey Premiere Screening will be held as part of the Garden State Film Festival at 12:15 PM on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at Syanxis, 660 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ.

About Mike Marino:

Mike Marino has performed in every major comedy club from New York to Los Angeles including: The MGM Grand, The Riviera, Catch a Rising Star, The Comic Strip, Stand Up NY, The Improv, Rascals and The Icehouse. A top headliner at both the world-famous Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store in Hollywood, where he can be seen nightly, Mike has proudly entertained the troops on several USO Comedy Tours. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Mike attended the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts and has appeared in hundreds of national television commercials and television shows including "Becker," "Nikki," "Frasier," "Party of Five," and more. Mike's feature film credits include "Errors, Freaks & Oddities," "Walking on the Sky," and "Pizza with Bullets." A regular sketch player on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Mike has hosted award shows including The Beverly Hills Film Awards, and has performed for numerous charities such as Aids Project - LA, Haven House, Team Earthworks, The City of Hope, and the Eric Davis Cancer Fund. For more information, visit www.MikeMarino.net.

About Sarit Catz:

A recognized comedy expert, Sarit Catz is a writer/producer with television credits that include "Coach," "Full House," "Soul Man," "Talk to Me," "The Crew," "Cafe Americain," and "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." Her indie TV pilot, "What She's Having," screened at both the New York Television Festival and the Big Apple Film Festival. Her most recent short film, "Comic Belief," screened as part of the NewFilmmakers Spring 2009 Screening Series at Anthology Film Archives in Manhattan and won the prestigious Windsor Prize for Arts in Film. In the feature film arena, Sarit wrote and sold options on two original screenplays currently being marketed to studios by producers and another that was a semi-finalist at the Slamdance Film Festival. She has won three (3) Writers' Guild of America Awards, been named a semi-finalist in the ScriptapaloozaTV screenwriting contest, and teaches sitcom writing at Columbia University's Graduate Film School and at the People's Improv Theater in New York City. When Sarit's children were born, so was her stand-up comedy career. Not only do the kids drive Sarit crazy enough to run screaming from the house and into the clubs, they also provide her with plenty of material. She has played numerous comedy clubs including The Comic Strip, Stand-Up New York, Gotham Comedy Club, Comedy Cellar, New York Comedy Club, Boston Comedy Club, Rascals Montclair and West Orange, Jenkinson's, Uncle Floyd's, and many more. She is a three time winner of "Clash of the Comics" and a semi-finalist in "The Great Canadian Laugh-Off" - and she's not even Canadian! For more information, visit www.PrincessOfComedy.com.