Film in Crown Heights

anonymous · July 2007

Any filmmakers in Crown Heights? I just moved to the area and am trying to get a feel of the local film scene.

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www.livevideo.com/ajbroadbent :shock:

capt. planet · July 2007

I believe an independent film producer bought the house on the corner of St. Johns Place and NY Ave. I don't know if he's on this board. Maybe someone else knows him.

littlehouseinbrklyn · July 2007

Funny enough, there are a lot of film people in PLG. I shouldn't name them all here, but they are well established, published and produced professionals.

dmiami · July 2007

I'm not in film but I do know that there have been people shooting at the armory on Bedford and Union for a month or so. Bright lights and Haddads

bojolais · July 2007

I know the corner man you are speaking of, he's our neighbor. He works in the industry. Don't want to out him without his knowledge... I believe he's on the board...

naif · July 2007

I've been meaning to ask around about the Armory at Bedford and Union. Does anyone know the story? Seems to me that I remember hearing about past productions being filmed there, and it's listed on nyc.gov as a "qualified production facility." But it also occurs to me that it has huge potential as a usable space for other functions: exhibits, performances, community center, etc. I read that it had been used in the past as a homeless shelter in emergencies.

Anyone know any more about it?

thezane · July 2007

I'm pretty sure it's a training/recruiting facility for the National Guard. But, even so, I agree that it could be great space for a lot of different things. Anyone know someone involved with the building?

naif · July 2007

I passed by the armory today, gawked a bit, then asked a couple of older guys who were manning an entrance what was going on. They said that the movie they are currently filming is "Schenectady," but they weren't sure of the director and didn't know any of the actors. I've tried to bring it up on imdb.com, but don't get any results. They mentioned that they had worked on "The Good Shepherd" at the armory a year or so back.

Anyway, also had a look at the space inside. It's great: really open and raw, with some natural light streaming in through the currogated fiberglass roof. Didn't see any evidence of the National Guard, but there seems to be a lot of office-type space along Bedford where they could still be active.

So were there any Deniro sightings in the neighborhood last year? Angelina?

thezane · July 2007

After some research and asking around, I learned that it's actually called "Synecdoche, New York," which, apparently, is a play on the word Schenectady. It's a new film from Charlie Kaufman, sounds pretty cool.

More info:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synecdoche,_New_York
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383028/

Synopsis wrote: Theater director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is mounting a new play. Armed with a MacArthur grant and determined to create a piece of brutal realism and honesty, something into which he can put his whole self, he gathers an ensemble cast into a warehouse in Manhattan's theater district. He directs them in a celebration of the mundane, instructing each to live out their constructed lives in a small mockup of the city outside. As the city inside the warehouse grows, Caden's own life veers wildly off the tracks. As the years rapidly pass, Caden buries himself deeper into his masterpiece. Populating the cast and crew with doppelgangers, he steadily blurs the line between the world of the play and that of his own deteriorating reality.

Sounds like they're using the Armory as the warehouse where they're building the mini-city. Perhaps, we can check it out before they're done...

naif · October 2008

It look like the armory (the one on Bedford b/t Union and President, not the shelter) is featured pretty prominently in "Synecdoche, NY."

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIizh6nYnTU

Early reviews are great. Can't wait...

whatchuwant · October 2008

Looks like Michelle Williams in in it. From today's Page 6:

MICHELLE Williams came out of hiding to promote her new movie - and her new man. The elfin actress has been reclusive since the death of Heath Ledger, her "Brokeback Mountain" co-star and father of her daughter, Matilda. But on Wednesday night, Williams stepped out at the Cinema Society/Mulberry screening of her badly titled movie, "Synecdoche, New York," with film producer and new beau Spike Jonze. "He was always an arm's length from her, and they kept stealing private moments throughout the evening," said one party guest. Director Charlie Kaufman joined stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener on the Gramercy Park Hotel rooftop alongside Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Julian Schnabel, Juliette Lewis, Zoe Kravitz, Jon Voight, Jason Lewis and Cynthia Rowley.

naif · October 2008

Just saw it and it's a classic. Any fan of Charlie Kaufman should be really satisfied with this--it's weird, ambitious, and affecting. And as you watch, keep your eyes open for other Crown Heights (south) landmarks...

But he doesn't seem to be aware that that the armory is in CH. Watch the Audio Slide show.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/movies/24syne.html

On the other hand, maybe location is irrelevant. See the movie.

d8 · October 2008

"I believe an independent film producer bought the house on the corner of St. Johns Place and NY Ave. I don't know if he's on this board. Maybe someone else knows him."

hi - i'm the guy who lives on ny and st johns. i'm not a producer, i'm a grip.
my wife and i have lived here for 3 years - love it. still renovating....
just wondering - how'd you know i worked in film ?

capt. planet · October 2008

Industry word of mouth.

Film in Crown Heights

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