Pre-Production Crew: Meet and Greet!

May 31, 2025

Last night, under the soft blue glow of countless computer screens, The Chris Vaughn Company’s filmmaking family gathered, separated by distance, yet united by purpose. The goal, to launch Feelin’ Lucky, the homegrown sequel to the raw, defiant spirit of Jerseyboy Hero. The first pre-production meeting was not in a crowded bar or on a Jersey boardwalk, it was in the digital ether, a Zoom grid of wide-eyed faces flickering like candles in the dark.

Chris Vaughn, backlit by a stark contrast of light and darkness, his face caught in the glow of his computer, the shadows of the a lighting storm around his company logo dancing behind him, clouds mingling in the window beyond, embodied the duality of our times: both here and not here, tangible yet pixelated. But his words cut through the digital haze with the conviction of a man who has seen the peaks and valleys of creative pursuit without the major stamp of approval that comes at the ultimate cost of compromise.

The energy was unmistakable, even through the flickering screens: an alchemy of ambition and curiosity, of youth and seasoned resolve. One by one, little red microphones unmuted, and the conversation turned electric. The project was on the table, this new chapter that would honor the soul of Jerseyboy Hero, that scrappy, heartfelt documentary chronicling Vaughn’s own journey from boardwalk bars to shaking hands with music legends like Springsteen and Academy Award Winner, Nick Vallelonga. It was about belief, about finding the nerve to put your voice out there, even when no one’s listening.

Now, with Feelin’ Lucky, Vaughn promised a deeper dive into what it means to have a dream in these strange, uncertain times. The sequel isn’t just a second act; it’s a resurrection, with a twist, a testament to the indomitable spirit of artists who refuse to be silenced, even when the world seems to have gone on mute regarding what was once the foundation of this great nation, faith and family.

“Are we really doing this?” some undoubtedly pondered, half in jest, as if the very idea of a sequel seemed surreal over a decade later. Vaughn leaned closer to his camera, framed in that dramatic glow of light and clouds, like a man in a noir film, plotting something daring. “Oh, we’re doing it. And we’re going to do it better, bolder, because we have to.”

For the young team, the challenge of writing a sequel in this digital landscape was both daunting and exhilarating. The questions lingered, hanging in the Zoom chat like half-typed messages. But there was hope, an amber still glowing, and there was a plan. Vaughn issued a challenge to everyone in the call: “This weekend, revisit Jerseyboy Hero. Don’t just watch it, critique it, tear it down, study it. Dissect every frame, every line of dialogue, every note of the soundtrack. Let’s find what made it sing, and where it fell silent. And then, together, we’ll rebuild it back, better, brighter, cleaner, warmer.”

It was a call to arms for storytellers, a mission to mine the past for the gold that would shape the future. The idea wasn’t to create a carbon copy, it was to resurrect the soul of the first film, reborn with the lessons of time and the fresh vision of new voices and a polished production. Amid the seriousness, there was humor, excitement, faith and new friends, quite possibly the joy of creating something that almost was, but wasn’t, was… unstoppable. Inviting.

Before the meeting closed, Vaughn announced that the next gathering would also be over Zoom, a chance to after they watch Jerseyboy Hero, to share their discoveries, and see how their own journeys intersect with his. It would be a chance to plan their first in-person mission -to stand together on Jersey soil and see if they can bring this vision to life in the flesh. once again, with the Jerseyboy Hero himself. Could they resurrect this story? Could they continue the dream a second night? Is this feeling, this faith real?

As the meeting wore on and screens flickered with the dull glow of midnight approaching, Vaughn raised his hand, not just in the Zoom box, but as a quiet benediction to the room. “This is Jersey,” he seemed to symbolize over a decade ago, backlit by that mingling of light and clouds. “ This is where legends are born. Let’s write a sequel that proves nothing can kill the dream, not even time.”

And with that, the meeting adjourned, green boxes blinking out one by one. The final echo was a promise, shimmering in the digital darkness: this isn’t just a sequel. It’s a testament to what happens when storytellers refuse to let the story end.

So yes, we’re really doing it. Even through the static and the stuttered frames, Feelin’ Lucky has begun, an act of faith, of defiance, of a Jersey spirit that refuses to be muted. This weekend, the team will return to the roots of Jerseyboy Hero, break it apart, and then rebuild it stronger, because that’s what storytellers do. Maybe some stars will align, appear, and maybe, just maybe, the hero will rediscover his song. That’s what Jersey does. And next week, they’ll gather again, fueled by laughter, discovery, and a shared conviction that the dream can rise from the digital ashes, and spirit becomes flesh.