December 6, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 9 ‘Ping Pong Summer’ Premiere Announced By JOANNE SHRINER STAFF WRITER OCEAN CITY – George Rush, the producer of “Ping Pong Summer,” announced on Wednesday the movie filmed in Ocean City will be heading to the big screen to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 18. This year’s festival will mark the world premiere of “Ping Pong Summer,” written and directed by Maryland native Michael Tully. The film is a coming-of-age story set in the summer of 1985, about a ping pongobsessed teenage boy on a family vacation to Ocean City. Tully first started writing the script his senior year in high school and has been working on it for over 20 years now. He is from Mt. Air, Md., and vacationed regularly with his family in Ocean City growing up. “Ping Pong Summer” shot in Ocean City last fall and wrapped production on Oct. 26, 2012, one day before Hurricane Sandy hit. The last shot was filmed on the iconic Ocean City Fishing Pier, which was severely damaged during the storm. “Ping Pong Summer” drew heavily from the local experience and features famous Ocean City spots like the Boardwalk, Trimper’s, Paul Revere Smorgasbord, Anthony’s, Phillips Seafood, King’s Arms Motel, Old Pro Golf, the Greene Turtle and Hooper’s Crabhouse, among many others. Locals were also included in the film, many of whom played extras while native Ocean City resident and Worcester Prep student Emmi Shockley featured into the story more prominently as the main character’s love interest. Since last fall, the film has been in post-production in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin. The help of hundreds of people from the Delmarva region made the movie possible, which is the first motion picture in more than 25 years to feature Ocean City so prominently. “As a proud Marylander and someone who grew up going to Ocean City every summer, my 20plus year dream of shooting ‘Ping Pong Summer’ in Ocean City and presenting the finished film to the world is about to come true,” said Tully. “I couldn’t be more grateful for the support we received from the local community, and I couldn’t be more excited for this year’s Sundance.” At the premiere, the film’s cast and supporters will converge to celebrate the culmination of their hard work. “Ping Pong Summer” stars Susan Sarandon, John Hannah, Lea Thompson, Amy Sedaris, Robert Longstreet and Judah Friedlander. The cast also includes young actors Marcello Conte and Andy Riddle, Marylanders Myles Massey, Joseph McCaughtry, Helena Seabrook, Maddie Howard and Shockley. SEE PAGE 34 OPEN DAILY 11 A.M.-2 A.M. $15 ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT RIBS AND SHRIMP EVERY SATURDAY BUY ONE SHIRT, GET ONE FREE With This Coupon • Equal Or Lesser Value • Good Thru Dec. 23, 2013 • MCD GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF 28TH ST. AND COASTAL HWY. 410-289-2020WWW.PITANDPUB.COM