OCEAN CITY The Tourism
Commission discussed the "Ping
Pong Summer" movie on Monday,
days ahead of its weekend premiere
at a noted film festival.
In early December, it was an-
nounced "Ping Pong Summer" will
be heading to the big screen this
weekend at the Sundance Film Fes-
tival."Ping Pong Summer" was written
and directed by Maryland native
Michael Tully. The film is billed as a
coming-of-age story set in the sum-
mer of 1985 about a ping pong-ob-
sessed teenage boy on a family va-
cation 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. He is from Mt. Airy, Md., and
vacationed regularly with his family
in Ocean City growing up.
"Ping Pong Summer" shot in
Ocean City in 2012 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 dur-
ing the storm.
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 char-
acter's love interest. Shockley will
be among the local group headed to
Sundance this weekend.
Sundance Film Festival takes
place through Jan. 26 in Park Place,
Utah. "Ping Pong Summer" will pre-
miere Saturday, Jan. 18, at 11:30
a.m. Also, recently it was announced
"Ping Pong Summer" was rated
11th out 15 Most Buzzworthy Films
of Sundance 2014 by Sundance
Channel. The movie will premiere
next at the International Film Fes-
tival in Rotterdam on Jan. 26.
Tourism Director Donna Abbott
asked the commission if there were
any ideas on how to promote "Ping
Pong Summer" when or if it hits the-
atres.According to Commission Chair
Councilwoman Mary Knight, Ocean
City's advertising agency suggested
using free social media outlets and
the town's website, OCocean.com,
prior to dedicating funding toward
advertising the film before it is
known if the film will be distributed.
"The buzz is already out there
with it being premiered at a nation-
ally known film festival," Greater
Ocean City Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director Melanie Pursel
said.Abbott added there had been talk
with producers in holding a pre-
miere in Ocean City and in promot-
ing that event the film will be adver-
tised."It could be a couple of years
before it is even released. We don't
want to burn it out," Mayor Rick
Meehan said.
Ping Pong Summer
Hitting Sundance
Page 4
January 17, 2014
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
By JOANNE SHRINER
STAFF WRITER
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