The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) reports:
On Saturday, June 11th, come out and continue the tradition of celebrating Roosevelt Island in fine fashion! Starting at 9 AM the Good Shepherd Plaza will be full of volunteers, activities, entertainment, games and so much more!
Don’t miss out on a day full of excitement and fun! And be sure to join us at Firefighter's Field that evening at dusk for Territory: Short Films About Turf Wars, presented by Rooftop Films!
This free event is sponsored by Urban American, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, and Roosevelt Island Youth Program.
Rooftop Films heads to Roosevelt Island with a special FREE program of short films by and about New Yorkers. Join us at beautiful South Point Park for a scenic night along the shore of the island with spectacular views of Manhattan, Queens and the river on all sides.
THE FILMS
Childhood Sale (Casimir Nozkowski | 9 min.)
The filmmaker parts with his comic book past
Frankenstorm: From Across The East River (John Mattiuzzi | 5 min.)
"Frankenstorm: From Across The East River" is a visual and emotional account of the night that ended in the horrifying Con Edison explosion, darkening half of Manhattan’s skyline. This short form, experimental documentary hovers along the East River, at the Williamsburg Waterfront in Brooklyn, where hundreds of spectators flocked to absorb the terrifying amusements of an approaching superstorm.
Everything Absolutely (Natalie Paul and Terence Nance | USA | 12 min.)
An overwhelmed young woman, out on a date, unexpectedly discovers everything she needs in a conversation.
SOLO PIANO – NYC (Anthony Sherin | USA | 5 min.)
On a cold winter morning, a lone piano stands curbside in New York City. Passersby slow, stop, and play. Plinking slightly out-of-tune over the white noise of Broadway’s cars, buses, trucks, and sirens, the piano awaits its fate. A plaintive reminder to never pass up a unique opportunity in NYC.
How To Walk to Manhattan (John Wilson | 10 min.)
A distracted walking tour of an exhausting commute.
A Man Named Magick (Joaquin Perez and Robert Hatch-Miller | Brooklyn, NY | 12 min.)
Meet Magick Balay, who runs a midtown Manhattan magic shop by day, and at night performs his own legerdemain at clubs and private parties. A close-up portrait of a charismatic guy whose greatest feat is how he has transformed himself through his art.
Aaron Burr, Part 2 (Dana O’Keefe | USA | 8 min.)
An American revolutionary updates his place in history in this radically inventive and modern bio-pic.
The Commoners (Penny Lane & Jessica Bardsley | New York, NY | 12 min.)
In 1890, a wealthy eccentric named Eugene Schieffelin collected every bird ever mentioned by Shakespeare and released them into Central Park. The only one to survive in the New World was the European Starling, now among the commonest - and most despised - birds in America. p-lane.com | jessicabardsley.com
Under the Rollercoaster (Lila Place | USA | 15 min.)
To thousands, the Thunderbolt Roller Coaster was a Coney Island icon, but for Mae Timpano it was home. This enchanting film examines the true-life experience of one woman and her unique relationship to Coney Island living under the famed Thunderbolt Roller Coaster.
This is great - would love to see more independent film screenings outdoors on Roosevelt Island but I do hope for a better food selection than Mr. Softee.
Iranian-American filmmaker Marjan Tehrani chronicles her brother's return to Iran as he travels with his American wife to have a Persian wedding ceremony and explore his lost heritage. Using dynamic historical footage and weaving it with the couple's personal story, Arusi Persian Wedding explores the history and impact of the broken relationship between Iran and America. Behind the curtain of political tension, the film offers rare glimpses of both modern and traditional Iran, displaying a vibrant and complex country that is sealed off to much of the West.
An excerpt from interview with the Persian Wedding director via Still In Motion:
Every Iranian carries animosity about what’s happened between Iran and the US. Even if they live here and love this country, there is a really bad taste in their mouths, and a lot of regret for what could have been. Iranians are a very poetic people, proud, dramatic. We look to these moments in the past and hold on tight to them. That’s all I’ve heard about my whole life, these moments, these missed opportunities between the two countries. I was trying to figure out how to tell those stories. When my brother and his wife announced that they were going to Iran to have a wedding, I knew it was exactly how I wanted to go, with this amazing access to a very personal story with a strong narrative arc to it. This was also a life-long dream of my dad’s, that we would go back as adults and really see his country. He’s one of the few Iranians that we know in our community that has this passion, this love affair with Iran. He can’t stay away. He spends half of his year there.
The movie was originally scheduled to be shown at Southpoint Park, where outdoor movies should be shown on Roosevelt Island, as was the earlier Rooftop presentation of Song Sung Blue, a Neil Diamond cover band documentary. The reason for the move to Firefighter's Field is unclear since I have been given two different versions of what happened. I will update as soon as I find out more.
The schedule for the night is as follows:
8:00: Doors open
8:30: Live music
9:00: Film begin
Tickets: FREE
Directions to Roosevelt Island by Tram, F train, bus or car can be found here.
If the movie had been at Southpoint Park, I would have asked for those new to Southpoint Park to take a moment when you are there to consider that these panoramic 360 degree views will be ruined forever if the proposed Louis Kahn memorial (some refer to it incorrectly as the FDR memorial) is ever built at this site. Since the movie is not being shown there please take a virtual look with the above links at the open NYC skyline and waterfront views that are in danger of being lost forever
UPDATE - 9/5 - Rooftop Films sends the following message advising that the Roosevelt Island outdoor film showing of Arusi: Persian Wedding is being postponed until Sunday September 7:
due to forecasts of heavy rain and high winds, we are rescheduling for Sunday—same time, same place, different day. Hopefully we will be able to get out the word properly.
You Tube Video of U2's Edge Singing Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline
Looking for things to do this weekend in New York City. On Saturday night, Rooftop Films is presenting an outdoor movie showing of Song Sung Blue at Southpoint Park on Roosevelt Island. The movie tells the story of Lightning and Thunder, a husband and wife Neil Diamond cover band. Plus, prior to the movie an opportunity for Neil Diamond Karaoke on stage with the gorgeous New York City skyline and East River Waterfront as your backdrop but you have to sign up beforehand. No outdoor performance stage could be better than this!
Image of New York City and East River Waterfront View during prior Southpoint Park Movie Night from Fresh Air Flicks
For more musical treats this weekend, on Friday night Regina Spektor, Ne me quitte pas, will be at the McCarren Park Pool in Williamsburg and on Saturday afternoon, weather permitting go to Central Park and join the "People On The Hill" to see one of my favorite New York City performers, The Guitar Man.
The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd will be sponsoring a free, monthly, Sunday concert series to benefit the Roosevelt Island community food pantry
When: Sunday, August 17th @ 2:30 p.m.
Where: The Church of the Good Shepherd, 543 Main Street on Roosevelt Island.
Who: Anima Baroque Ensemble
Cash donations will be gratefully accepted in lieu of a set admission fee to benefit our most vulnerable neighbors in crisis.
UPDATE 11 PM - For those planning on attending the Song Sung Blue outdoor movie at Southpoint Park, Rooftop Films advises that if the weather is questionable on Saturday call (718) 417 7362 after 3 PM for up to date status report. If the weather is very bad the film will be postponed to Sunday.
According to Gothamist, Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park will be the venue for one of Rooftop Films outdoor movie nights. During a Gothamist interview with Rooftop's founder Mark Elijah Rosenberg, it was announced that:
On Saturday, August 15, we’ll be hosting a screening of Greg Kohs’ documentary “Song Sung Blue,” an astonishing and uplifting documentary about two American dreamers who fought to make people happy and forget their worries by playing the music of one of America’s favorite crooners, Neil Diamond. The man himself will be in town that week, so if you aren’t going to see him at The Garden, come out and join us for Neil Diamond Karaoke, and watch this joyous film. Free on Roosevelt Island.
But hold on. Not so fast. Maybe Southpoint Park will not have movies shown there this year. RIOC President Steve Shane forwards this message from RIOC's Program Co-ordinator:
Perhaps I can clear this up. I was approached a few weeks ago by Rooftop; I met with two of their representatives at Southpoint to see if we might be able to accommodate two of their shows- one in August, one in September, both shows being free to the public. They also claimed to have Jessica Lappin's support for the endeavour.
The sticking point currently seems to be the content of the movies they wish to show. Both nights would feature documentaries, and apparently one is not, how should I say it, "family-friendly"? I've been speaking with Daisy from Rooftop to get a more accurate description and possible prescreening of the movie for us so we may be able to give a yes or no.
Bottom line- this is another Todd P thing- NOTHING has been scheduled, nothing has been paid for at this point in time. August 16th is rapidly approaching and without a definite grasp of what it is Rooftop is trying to show, I cannot proceed with the permitting process.
Needless to say, I think a Rooftop film venue at Southpoint Park would be great. I hope that one documentary not being "family friendly" is not a reason to deny Rooftop permission to use Southpoint Park as a venue for outdoor films. There are adults who live on Roosevelt Island that would prefer to see a film that is not for the "kiddies" every once in a while.
It is outrageous that a film's content is being reviewed by a RIOC employee for it's suitability to be shown on Roosevelt Island. What qualifies this person, or any other government worker, for such responsibility? RIOC should not be in the business of regulating the content of outdoor movies shown on Roosevelt Island by a private sector business or organization, particularly in a location as far from what goes for civilization on Roosevelt Island, as is Southpoint Park. There is also something called the First Amendment which, unless the films are "obscene", I believe precludes government agencies from preventing them being shown if the sole reason for doing so is the content of the film.
RIOC, allow outdoor films to return to Southpoint Park and start the permitting process with Rooftop Films!
UPDATE 4PM- RIOC President Steve Shane responds:
My views on the first amendment are not relevant. This is supposed to be outdoor family entertainment and I do not want to get in the middle of what constitutes an acceptable community standard.
Unfortunately, by limiting what can be seen on Roosevelt Island to "outdoor family entertainment", RIOC through the actions of NY State public employees, is getting involved in defining an "acceptable community standard" for Roosevelt Island.
UPDATE 9:40 PM - In response to my question of:
Why does an outdoor movie event at Southpoint Park have to be "family entertainment"? Is there no place for for an intelligent, adult, (non-obscene) outdoor movie not appropriate for children on Roosevelt Island? If there is not such a place, is that setting a community standard for Roosevelt Island by RIOC.
RIOC President Shane responds:
Because there is no methodology for screening the attendees. I would have no objection to any kind of movie or other entertainment presented indoors, duly advertised. If you can figure out how you would advise adults as to what they may be viewing and that it may not be suitable for their non-adult accompaniers, then we could talk. However, outdoor movies have the aura of family entertainment on Roosevelt Island. If you want to see other kinds of presentations, there are plenty of venues for you. "Outrageous" seems to be a bit over the top in response. RIOC is not setting the community standards for Roosevelt Island. If you want to present anything in a non public setting, you or anyone else is certainly privileged to do so.
The gate at Southpoint park certainly provides a method of screening out children or those under a certain age if a movie is not appropriate for them to see so I still don't see why RIOC needs to play the role of Nanny to adult Roosevelt Islanders.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
