I’m From New Jersey
By Gary Wien
People have been making
fun of the Garden State
ever since New Jersey was
founded. That’s one of the
things filmmaker Daniel
Goodman has learned while shooting,
“I’m From New Jersey” and one
of the things he’s trying to change.
Goodman, a New Jersey native,
grew up in Teaneck. He’s currently shooting a documentary
that focuses on the origin of the
New Jersey joke, the rise in
Jersey Pride, and the curious
history of how New Jersey is the
only state to never have an official state song.
Goodman said he was inspired
to create the film while going for
his Master’s Degree in Journalism from the Journalism and MeNew Jersey Stage
dia Studies Center at the University of Hong Kong. Growing up,
he had heard his share of jokes
about New Jersey, but hearing
students from around the world
make fun of his home state was a
bit too much.
“I was like, enough is enough!”
said Goodman. “It’s time to figure out what’s going on here. I
thought the topic could make for
a potentially funny and heart-felt
documentary about New Jersey’s
July 2014
pg 48