'Camp Woz' alum to get red-carpet treatment
BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer

Campers from Monmouth Cares prepare for their trip to Camp Woz last summer.

RED BANK - Headlining at the Count Basie Theatre this winter are six-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight, hit makers Styx and a group of Monmouth County youths.

The 10 youngmen star in a student-made documentary of their "once in a lifetime" experience at a "dreamcamp" sponsored by one of the developers of the personal computer and cofounder ofApple Computer Inc., Steve Wozniak.

The documentary titled "CampWoz: The Admirable Lunacy of Philanthropy" is being privately screened Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Monmouth Street theater and includes full red-carpet treatment for its stars. (The red carpet will take place before the private screening at 6 p.m.)

"The stars are the kids, the red carpet is for the kids … and wait until you see them on the screen. You will fall in love with them like everybody has who has watched this movie. They're the stars, everybody else is external. It's all for the benefit and love and support and advocacy of kids," said Joe Patane,whose not-for-profit corporation, The Patane Foundation, coordinates and implements the dreamcamp programs.

Patane is a Monmouth County social worker and he, along with other care managers from Monmouth Cares, a West Long Branch nonprofit where the emotionally and behaviorally challenged youths are mentored, accompanied them to Camp Woz at Wozniak's home in northern California this pastAugust.

Patane, who is a former cast member of MTV's hit reality show "The Real World," used toworkwithWozniak as an assistant in one of his computer classes for kids and was inspired by his philanthropy to start the dreamcamps.

"For years, I have wanted to connect Steve [Wozniak] to my world of young adult social work, and share his optimism about the future and his contagious enthusiasm about technology and teaching others.He has inspiredme to inspire others," said Patane in a press release.

The documentary, which runs about 78 minutes and took two to four months to film and edit was put together by first-time filmmakers JarradKritzstein, 20, andDrewFoster, 17, both of California.

PataneworkedwithKritzstein previously on another video endeavor for children and recognized his talent and interest in filmmaking.

"It's so wonderful to be able to have faith in someone and they pull off this amazing thing," said Patane of Kritzstein's work on the documentary.

The documentary follows the youths, ages 14-20, as they work withWozniak and other professionals and learn the basics of computers, music, art, video, karate, dance, acting, wellness and more, according to Christine Snyder, a care manager supervisor at Monmouth Cares.

One of themain goals ofCampWozwas to excite the youths about the possibilities in different areas they may not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience, according to aMonmouth Cares press release.

"This is all about the kids and … giving them a platform to show their talents," said Patane.

Camp activities included video editing, cooking classes, introduction to filmmaking, Segway polo, animation class, ice-skating, yoga andmore, Snyder explained previously.

Included in the packed itinerary for the five-day campwere lessons on iBooks, laptop computing, music recording, Web design, blogging and basic video editing.

According to Patane, the kids received their own personal laptop computers, iPods and otherApple gear.

"We took the kids out of their environment put theminto a crazy, unique, different environment, supported them intensively and itwaswonderful. [The kids] have a little bit of fire in their belly [now] to achieve and be inspired that they can achieve," said Patane of the youths' experience.

The film is also being submitted to film festivals including Sundance.

The Jan. 12 private screenings is a free event. For more information or ticket reservations, contact Patane at Joes- Fund@mac.com or www.monmouthresourcenet.org/events.cfm.

"To have these 10 amazing guys perform at levels that I could never have imagined and to integrate so well together, this is my gift to them," said Patane of the private screening and red carpet event. "They deserve thatmoment."