Career in film industry provides script for book O.B. native has made a life of reinventing her roles in movie biz BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer OLD BRIDGE - Long before Sharon Badal's filmmaking fantasies became a reality, their celluloid seeds were planted in Old Bridge. "When I was 14, my dad opened a movie theater in town called Fairway Cinema, and that's how I got hooked," Badal said. The avid movie buff sold candy and served as an usher in the family business. During her senior year at Madison Township High School, Badal snagged an assistant manager position at the Loews Theatre on Route 18 in East Brunswick. "That's when I thought, 'You know, I could work in this business,'" Badal said. Badal did just that, working in numerous aspects of the industry throughout her career. It was those earliest experiences, however, that provided inspiration for Badal's book, "Swimming Upstream: A Lifesaving Guide to Short Film Distribution." While she was dreaming of a career in the film industry as a teen, there were few resources for young aspiring filmmakers, Badal said. Part of her goal in writing the book was to reach out to audiences like her younger self and show them that their dreams are in fact, full of possibility. Sharon Badal "Young people need to be encouraged to find their voice," said Badal, who now resides in Manhattan. Since the book was released in late December, she received evidence of achieving her goal, in the form of her first fan letter. A high school student from Oregon wrote to Badal, saying how helpful he found "Swimming Upstream," a book full of knowledge that he planned to take with him as he pursues a career in the film industry. It's no wonder that the book is proving useful, considering Badal's extensive experience in so many aspects of the film world. Over the span of a decade, she held executive positions in distribution for United Artists/MGM, Warner Bros. and Orion Pictures. She has also worked on projects for Walt Disney Feature Animation, ShowEast, Cinema Expo International, and the Independent Feature Film Market. In 1994, Badal returned to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she had earned her degree. This time, she was there to instruct. At the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, Badal teaches what she calls "the beginning and the end" of the filmmaking process - "Producing Essentials" and "Film Distribution and Marketing." "I never intended on becoming a professor," Badal said. "I just realized it was something I enjoy." Still as much a movie buff as ever, Badal really enjoys her other job as well. As a short film programmer for the Tribeca Film Festival, she screens more than 1,500 films each year. "For four or five months, I sit in my pajamas and I watch movies," Badal said. "I'm so fortunate ... that I have two jobs I love." Badal's credits roll on to include serving on juries for short film festivals in major cities, all while dedicating her work during free time to The Leary Firefighters Foundation, an organization created by actor Denis Leary. "This industry allows me to keep reinventing myself," Badal said. Despite the wide range of roles she has played in the industry, Badal sought input for her book from professionals in both the independent and short film spectrums. The result is frank advice from those who succeeded at swimming upstream in an industry where many cannot stay afloat. "I thought that my voice alone was just one voice, so I got everyone who's everyone in the short film universe into my book family," Badal said. The contributors hold top positions in companies like Sundance, Netflix and Focus Features, to name a few. According to Badal, she asked that each of them answer questions that they have been asked time and time again by filmmakers. "The focus of the book is, whether you have created something or are thinking of creating something, what are the opportunities that are out there in the world, and what can I teach you to get ready for that," Badal said. The opportunities available for filmmakers have changed immensely since the days when Badal was shooting with a Super 8. Technology has exploded since then, as has its affordability. And Web sites like YouTube allow anyone and everyone to try their hand at making films. "I think it's a double-edged sword," Badal said. "Just because you can make a film doesn't mean you should." On the other hand, one positive side of YouTube is that it has helped to familiarize the masses with short film as a viable format. "They're not like the poor man's feature film," Badal said. "They're like short stories compared with novels." No matter how much things have changed since her childhood in Old Bridge, Badal remains bonded with her beginnings. Several years back, she wrote a letter to a former faculty member in Old Bridge schools, expressing the impact the teacher had on her life. According to Badal, her education in the school district was outstanding. Badal's mother still lives in the township, as does her niece, Noelle, who attends Jonas Salk Middle School and to whom Badal dedicated the book. Her loved ones are enough to keep her coming back for frequent visits. "I loved where I grew up, and it will always be home," Badal said. "In a great part, that made me who I am