From Sparta to Hollywood and back to NJ

SHS grad about to debut second film at Garden State Festival, By Glynnis Jones SPARTA — Film Director and Sparta native Mike Doto returns to the Garden State in March with his second film premier. “The Legacy” will make its worldwide debut at the eighth annual Garden State Film Festival on March 27. If the accolades he has received and the urging to create a full-length feature of this film is any indication, investors might be getting onboard. So how does a kid from Jersey make it in L.A.? Sparta High School did not have the equipment or formal class for filmmaking. But with a camcorder and friends, he began shooting footage and experimenting until he had something. He debuted his first short film at the Teen Arts Festival for Sussex County and went on to represent Sparta High at the State Festival. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in film production he and a few fellow graduates ventured to Los Angeles. It took a year before he got a break as production assistant on the television show “3rd Rock From The Sun.” Then he worked on a number of different shows, including “That 70s Show” — a job that would connect him to Kurtwood Smith. Smith was featured in Doto’s first film in 2006. “Peace” was shown at over 30 film festivals, received worldwide distribution, and is now available through iTunes. “Peace” is a humourous tale of a cantankerous retiree who makes a promise to control his temperament for a day. Doto’s new film, “The Legacy,” is a 12-minute short. In it, a man has a close call with Hollywood stardom in a never-completed superhero film, and his son believes his dad might be a real superhero. Doto wrote the script for “The Legacy” in one sitting. He is a writer and producer, but the role of director is what he loves the most and where he thinks his talent shines. He has assembled a team of producers, editors, casting directors, and collaborators that bring their own artistry to the table. Trailers for both films, reviews, links to his Facebook and IMDb pages can be found at www.seasidepictures.com. His advice to the next generation of aspiring filmmakers — “Pick up a camera and shoot! If you have an idea, just go ahead and shoot it.” Cameras and film editing programs that were not available three years ago now allow him to shoot and produce without the need or cost of a big studio. “The Legacy” was shot in HD and mixed in surround sound with much of the post-production done in a basement using a home studio set-up. Doto is thrilled that his home state is the first stop on the festival circuit. And the visit home will include a stop at Sparta Pizza. “They just don’t make it like home,” he said. He finds comfort in the small town atmosphere of Sparta, being able to recognize neighbors at restaurants, and stopping by mom and pop shops that are owned by members of the community. And if he could take something back with him to California, it would be weather. “It’s always great to see the snow. When it’s 70 degrees and sunny, it just doesn’t feel like Christmas.” While he has other projects in the works, Doto intends to create his first full-length feature film based on “The Legacy” and is preparing for that challenge. While he admires directors John Hughes, Steven Speilberg, and Rob Reiner, this Sparta native is not following in anybody’s footsteps — he’s making his own, doing what he loves. The Garden State Film Festival takes place March 25 to 28, at several venues in Asbury Park. “The Legacy” will run at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Showroom located at 708 Cookman Ave. For tickets or additional information call 732-502-0472 or the Garden State Film Festival at 877-908-7050.