NJ native using Bergen County for ‘American Summer’ movie

2-minute read

Residents of several Bergen County towns may notice some familiar scenes in an upcoming movie created by a North Jersey native.

Michael Gray, who grew up in Westwood and now lives in Ho-Ho-Kus, used those municipalities and Allendale as backdrops for “American Summer,” starring Steve Guttenberg and Christie Brinkley. The movie, which wrapped filming earlier this month, is expected to be released in the summer of 2025.

The movie is described on its website as “a nostalgic coming of age comedy” that combines “Bad News Bears” and “The Wonder Years.” Gray, the writer, producer and director, took inspiration from his own New Jersey upbringing in a “very quaint, family-oriented, All-American town.”

“I miss those days of freely riding bikes down the street lined with sprinkler sprayed lawns and squared simple properties,” Gray said on the site. “Bringing families to cinema sharing that time away from life, stress, devices and from reality is what ‘American Summer’ is meant to do.”

The movie is a retrospective look into the summer of 14-year-old Mikey, who is preparing for baseball tryouts as his father, an Army soldier, is missing overseas. He balances his sports dreams alongside hanging out with friends and, in a new development, trying to catch the attention of a 15-year-old girl he meets named Kelly.

Guttenberg and Brinkley play older versions of Mikey and Kelly, respectively, as they reminisce about their summer. Logan Gray is cast as the younger Mikey, while Mia Talerico plays teenage Kelly.

Gray, who also appears in the movie as the baseball league commissioner, said he envisioned the film as a broadly appealing story that his children and his parents can all see together. More importantly, he wants all viewers to come away with lasting memories and form stronger bonds with the people around them.

“The connection of friend to friend, sibling to sibling, parent to child, grand and great-grandparent to child and coach to player are all so molding and important for our youth,” Gray said. “Exploring a child’s desire to be free, to play, to compete, to improve, to be compassionate and help others and to love and be loved are what life is about.”

Gray has written, directed and produced several movies under his company name, Relentless Filmz. In 2011, he produced the mixed martial arts documentary “Fightville,” which followed the lives of a group of Louisiana-based fighters that included future UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier.

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