A home-grown independent film is set to make its debut at the Garden State Film Festival next month.

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The film titled West End is generating lots of buzz on the internet, and you'll be able to catch its very first screening in Asbury Park during the first week of April.

We first told you about the film last year when the cameras were about to roll. Now, it's complete and ready for the highly competitive festival circuit. The drama was shot in many shore locations including Long Branch and Seaside Heights. The film is described as a modern day Hamlet and Mafia drama.

Holmdel native Joe Basile, who is 47-years old came back from Hollywood to shoot it at the shore. He is elated about the project and is very passionate about what he does.

Born in Red Bank, Basile moved to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming an actor. The highly competitive world of movies and television gave him lots of chances to work on sets. Some of his early credits include a production assistant on Halloween H20, guest bit parts on shows like NYPD Blue and lots of other things.

Basile had something cooking as well - a script and an idea to make his own feature length film.

It's been 16 years since Basile started putting pen to paper on ideas for a mafia drama. It was originally intended to be a vehicle to get him more work as an actor.

"I modeled myself after Sylvester Stallone and his Rocky story," Basile said. "Everything changed quickly as this movie evolved. I am a very hands on producer and we shot it on a shoe-string budget. I have had an enormous amount of support."

The movie follows a character by the name of Vic Trevi and the relationship with his family. When he leaves town after his mob-boss father is sent to prison, he doesn't look back. When his father is murdered years later, Vic returns. Little does his family know that he's now an FBI agent.

"It's about family, trust and betrayal, very juicy stuff."

Basile has some advice for up and coming filmmakers.

"It all starts with the story. The movie is nothing without that. And hard work and persistence will pay off."

The film stars Neal Beldsoe of NBC's Smash with a supporting role from award-winning actor Eric Roberts.

The movie will premiere Saturday, April 6th at 10:15 p.m. in the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park. For more information on the film, visit the official website.

For tickets to the screening and more about the 11th Annual Garden State Film Festival, check them out online.

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