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County Executive Jim Tedesco, state Assemblyman Joe Lagana and Closter Mayor John Glidden were among those who listened to the story of 23-year-old Closter native Brad Rosenberg, who lost several friends to heroin overdoses.
The film is being commissioned by the Northern Valley Coalition and produced by actor Michael Sorvino — son of actor Paul Sorvino. He first heard about the film from The Barn's Ted Sollod.
"He told me he knew this young writer who has this interesting story to tell," Sorvino told Daily Voice.
Sorvino read the script and saw its potential but needed money for rewrites and development costs.
The fundraiser Monday evening aimed to raise $50,000 to cover those expenses.
Tedesco, Lagana and Glidden all spoke at the event and Sorvino read a scene from the script for the crowd of about 30.
If the film reaches production, Sorvino imagines a story that is a hybrid "Trainspotting," "Traffic" and "Kids."
"This is a really gritty powerful story," Sorvino said, adding that he hopes the film can raise awareness.
"I know too many people who have been harmed by drugs," Sorvino told Daily Voice. "The fact that drug abuse is so widespread makes me even more passionate to try and tell a cautionary tale in an entertaining and dramatic kind of way."
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