On Location

After years in the film industry, Michael Gray began to grow nostalgic for the type of feel-good family entertainment that he says has seemingly vanished from cinema and television in recent years.

“Where is the content that’s appealing to small-town America, that can inspire and entertain an audience, spanning generations?” asks Gray, a writer, director, and producer who calls Ho-Ho-Kus home. “It doesn’t happen anymore. It used to; I think its absence has left a large population of viewers deprived.”

To quote the classic 1989 sports fantasy film “Field of Dreams:” If you build it, they will come. And so, Gray did.

His film, “American Summer,” hits theaters this month, starring big names like Steve Guttenberg, Christie Brinkley, and Dan Lauria. It’s a coming-of-age story that captures the carefree days of being a kid in the summer—afternoons spent riding bikes down tree-lined streets with friends, first crushes, and of course, America’s pastime—baseball.

It’s a storyline Gray first dreamt up more than a decade ago; seeing it released to the world has been exciting and heartwarming, he says.

An All-Star Cast

“American Summer” is told from the perspective of Guttenberg’s character, Mikey, looking back on an unforgettable summer from his youth.

That year, young Mikey, played by Logan Gray (known for roles on the Apple TV+ series “Surfside Girls” and Disney’s “Just Beyond”), meets “the” girl and scores a spot on the travel baseball team. But he’s also coping with uncertainty as his father, a U.S. Army soldier, is missing overseas.

The PG movie might be described as “Stand by Me” meets “Sandlot” with some “Wonder Years” vibes, Gray says.

Mikey’s crush, Kelly, is played by Mia Talerico of Disney’s “Good Luck Charlie” fame. Brinkley rounds out the all-star cast as adult Kelly, Lauria as Mikey’s grandfather, Cullen Moss, known for his role in “Outer Banks,” as Coach Eddie, and former MLB players Lee Mazzilli and Luis Sojo.

Gray says the cast came together beautifully and organically. He was introduced to Guttenberg through a mutual friend. The pair hit it off at a dinner meeting.

“He’s a phenomenal person; he loved the title and really got what we were trying to do,” Gray says. “So, I had him locked in.”

Gray began to think about who a good fit for adult Kelly might be—“someone age 65 or older whose smile gives you the feeling of the sun beaming.” Brinkley fit the bill perfectly and signed on after reading the script and a phone call with Gray.

The writer/director/producer says casting Lauria was kismet.

“He’s the ‘Wonder Years’ dad; you trust him,” Gray says. “He’s perfect as the small-town grandpa who’s a veteran because he’s actually a veteran.”

Gray says the “universe aligned” in casting Logan Gray and Talerico. He says Logan, a “talented actor,” also resembles Guttenberg, and Talerico is an “iconic childhood star.”

The unique cast melds to create a world where friendship, love, and community are central. Notably absent are screens.

“I remember the days of playing outside until the streetlights went on and it was time for dinner,” Gray says. “Then you went home to be with your family—watched TV, maybe played a board game together. Those days are done. Now kids are sitting around together but looking at their phones. I wanted to remove that device distraction from the movie and exist in the relationships between the people.”

Bergen County Roots

And though “American Summer” is meant to be timeless and take place in Anytown, USA, Gray’s upbringing in Bergen County inspired the film.

The writer grew up in Westwood in the 1980s and says the movie is a “twinge” autobiographical.

“It was an idyllic place to grow up and very humble; both of my parents were teachers,” Gray says. “We’d get on our bikes, ride up to the field to play ball with our friends. I really wanted to capture some of that idealism of my youth into this content.”

The movie was even filmed in Westwood, Ho-Ho-Kus, and Allendale and has some nods to the towns (the final game is Allendale vs. Highlands). Gray says he cast many locals as extras in the film and prioritized hiring local production assistants, caterers, etc.

The writer/producer is in the film himself and has a one-line as the baseball commissioner (though he appears more comfortable discussing his behind-the-scenes work on the film). Three of his four children also appear in the movie. He says it’s a special experience and comforting to be surrounded by friends and loved ones during filming.

The movie will premiere on Sept. 4 in 50 to 100 theaters across the country, according to Gray. The September timing is perfect, he says, as the film is a retrospective of summer memories. Plus, with celebrations continuing for America’s 250th anniversary, he feels “American Summer” hits the right notes.

The producer, whose previous projects include the documentary “Fightville” and films “A Birder’s Guide to Everything” and “Jamie Marks is Dead,” hopes “American Summer” opens the door for him to create more family-forward content.

“I want to foster that nostalgic feeling and create content that focuses on the real lives of people in small-town USA,” Gray says. “I want to create movies and TV shows that kids and adults can truly enjoy together.”

For more about “American Summer,” visit americansummermovie.com or the film’s Instagram page @americansummermovie.

Sarah Nolan is a writer with a passion for telling people’s stories. A Ho-Ho-Kus native, she believes in the power of local journalism to connect and inform residents and foster a sense of community.