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Documentary Film Screening: Oh, Johnny!

Pt. Beach producer and director, Lawrence Schwartz, premiers his documentary film about Brick twp. resident John Santillo, a WWII and D-Day survivor.

Old soldiers never die, they just make you smile. John Santillo, a World War II D-Day survivor, travels back overseas for the 75th D-Day Anniversary to relive his time at war. Through a story that moves between the past and present, John opens up about the years he spent overseas using his unique blend of charisma, optimism and humor that captivates everyone he meets along his journey.

This film follows two narratives: John's life as a soldier during the 1940s and his 2019 D-Day Anniversary trip to France. Through the interweaving of these two stories, the film contrasts John's time as a young man drafted into the Army with his view on the war now as a 97-year-old veteran residing in Brick Township, NJ. While he faces haunting memories from his past, John comes to grips with how deeply the war affected him.

Director and producer, Lawrence Schwartz, will offer a Q&A after the film screening. Lawrence is a retired television producer (NBC News), print journalist (New York Post), and educator (Rutgers University, New York City public schools). He is passionately committed to perpetuating the legacy of our World War II veterans. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for World War II Studies at Brookdale College in New Jersey, and is a Charter Member of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. He lives in Point Pleasant Beach.

"Oh, Johnny!" is his passion project. Further information about the film can be found at: https://ohjohnnymovie.com/

NR (40 min).

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