New Film “Rockland Local” to Debut on Apple TV+

One Rocklander has achieved a decade-long dream – Jonny Danks, a graduate of Tappan Zee High School, is making waves in the competitive entertainment industry. Frustrated with being overlooked for roles and tired of nepotism, Danks took matters into his own hands. “It’s time,” says Danks, “I want to be the boss, the captain of the ship. I want to build my team.”

And build his team he did. Danks premiered his short film Shakey Grounds in 2010, receiving positive feedback. However, it wasn’t until 2020 that Danks had the opportunity to bring his feature film vision to life. He dedicated years to raising funds, learning the ins and outs of producing, and meeting investors, even traveling to different states to secure support. “At the beginning, there’s a lot of rejection… It’s hard to convince someone to invest, especially in a film.”

Danks’ perseverance paid off in 2021 when he secured over seven figures in funding for Shakey Grounds. While Danks doesn’t call it a passion project, he sees it as a fulfilling chapter in his life that he wanted to see through. Filming for the movie began in 2022.

Shakey Grounds tells the story of a young musician grappling with his best friend’s death, finding new inspiration when a disgraced record label executive unexpectedly visits his hometown. Danks not only produced and created the project but also stepped in front of the camera as the record label executive. Balancing multiple roles gave Danks a deeper appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work in film production.

Sharing the screen with Danks are familiar faces such as Eric Roberts, Mackenzie Ziegler, and Eric Nelsen. Danks made sure to provide a luxurious experience for the cast, ensuring they had top-notch accommodations and catering to their requests. Roberts’ actor request included small V8 tomato juice cans and dark chocolate candies, a detail that amused Danks.

With original music featured in the film, Danks wanted to offer audiences a unique experience. As he puts it, “With AI coming out, you never even know what’s real and what’s not anymore. But when you hear the music, it’s unique. It’s all original.”

For his hometown of Rockland, Danks humbly expresses his gratitude and hopes for their support. He invites Rocklanders to watch the film, disconnect from the world for 90 minutes, and show their support for independent films like Shakey Grounds.

Shakey Grounds is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on May 23rd, with availability on Prime Video, DirectTV, iTunes, and Fandango. Follow Jonny Danks on Instagram @jonnydanks for updates on his future projects.