Break-up does not dampen outlook for J.Lo film
By Theresa Katalinas
PAULSBORO — Tasha Frisby has crossed her fingers for the upcoming release of “Jersey Girl,” which was filmed in large part in her hometown.
Unlike other borough residents, Frisby has different hopes for the film which stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. Instead of merely wishing for box office success with its planned March 19 release, Frisby longs to share the spotlight with Affleck, her favorite actor.

“I hope they pick me,” Frisby, 26, said excitedly of her role as an extra in the movie.
Despite the rumored break-up of Affleck and Lopez just days ago, Mayor John Burzichelli, a co-owner of Hill Studio on Broad Street, said he doesn’t think Paulsboro will lose its 15 minutes of red carpet fame.
“In the motion picture industry, any publicity is good publicity,” Burzichelli said. “If they don’t stay together it probably helps. It certainly doesn’t hurt.”
Matthew Hiltzik, Miramax spokesman, said “Time will tell” if the movie has what it takes to withstand the alleged break-up.
“We feel very strongly about the quality of ‘Jersey Girl,’ ” Hiltzik said. “There’s a great story here and a great performance by Ben. We’re hopeful that the film will speak for itself.”
Hiltzik said the movie was set to hit the silver screen in the third quarter of this year, but the third installment of the “The Matrix” and the December release of another Affleck film pushed back the “Jersey Girl” debut to March 19.
Romeo and Emily Dixon, owners of Romeo’s Records on North Delaware Street, said they doubted that curiosity about the movie would fade because the couple split up.
“People could care less,” Romeo Dixon said. “It’s Hollywood.”
Emily Dixon added that Christmas music thought to be featured in “Jersey Girl” prompted a holiday harmony buying spree when a rush of people flocked to the two-square-mile town during filming. She said a display window featuring “nothing but Jennifer Lopez” helped J.Lo’s albums fly off the shelves.
“Everybody wants to see the movie,” Emily Dixon said. “People who know Paulsboro were like, ‘I was there.’ ”
Despite the flop earlier this summer of “Gigli,” a film which also stars Affleck and Lopez, Judy MacKenzie, Paulsboro Chamber of Commerce member, said the release of the highly anticipated “Jersey Girl” will cause a local frenzy. She said the following for Director Kevin Smith will bring masses of people to see the buildings, streets, and Tinicum Lighthouse used as movie backdrops.
“I really think there’ll be the ‘Kevin Smith Jersey Girl tour,’ ” MacKenzie said. “That’ll bring hundreds of people to this town … All of that is just a positive for us.”