Ghost Town

A dance film shot in Asbury Park’s historic Casino building which was destroyed in a fire in 1928, Ghost Town attempts to hold on to a fragile world of the past. The enormous space, which was once a symbol of the industrialized and fast-paced productive society in which it was built, overnight became an empty vessel for constant passage. The sense of loss, displacement, and the distortion of time that is conveyed in Ghost Town was inspired by the emotional response to the societal changes that developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the distractions of daily life brought to an abrupt halt, isolation requirements implemented, and encouragement for people to use the quarantine as a break from work, or a resting period from daily life, many expected to emerge well-rested, reenergized, and contemplative. Yet, a looming sense of disorientation, brokenness and detachment bubbled to the surface instead. Premiered at the Garden State Film Festival 20th Anniversary. Directed and Produced by: Maya Mizrahi