We were on the scene for the premiere of two short films at the Tribeca Film Festival.
I LIVED: Brooklyn was created by director/cinematographer Jonathan Nelson and audio producer Danielle Andersen. Nelson and Andersen both live in Brooklyn and I LIVED was born from a desire to investigate the intricacies of place and identity in the borough’s distinct neighborhoods. Deborah Young was one of the featured subjects and very excited to be at the festival.
Tell me about your film?
Jonathan: I LIVED: Brooklyn is a new short form episodic series documentary shot entirely in Bedford–Stuyvesant. We’ll be moving to other neighborhoods soon but our first volume is Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
And what attracted you to focus in on that area?
Danielle: It’s where we live and we were surrounded by fascinating people. We just wanted to profile them and give other people a chance to hear about their experience of living there.
And what does it mean to be here at the festival?
Danielle: It is magic.
Jonathan Nelson: Everything.
Danielle: Never thought it would happen. It’s amazing.
Are you documentary filmmakers?
Jonathan: Yeah I have experience in documentary.
Danielle: I work in audio.
The film Shiva consists of improvised vignettes from an Upper West Side Shiva, exploring the absurd, mundane, sad and spiritual. Shaina Feinberg, Chris Manley, Chris Roberti, Jeff Seal co-wrote, directed and star in the film.
So tell me about your project.
Shaina: Oh, it’s called Shiva and it’s a combination of improvised comedy and actual grief and it’s 17 minutes long and there’s four of us, we make comedy together. We’re called Bankrukt, it’s like bankrupt but with a K.
What inspired the piece?
Shaina: My dad died, January 19th.
I’m sorry to hear that.
Shaina: Thanks yeah, it was really sad and sudden and the four of us … we’ve made a film together and we’ve made over 150 videos together. And on the first night of Shiva we were all hanging out at Shiva and it was so sad but also really hilarious and so we were like, let’s just make something out of this. So it’s part documentary and then also comedy.
What do you hope viewers take away?
Shaina: I hope they relate to the honesty of it and also laugh and you know, just everything I make I just want it to be about feelings and realness. So I hope they just have like a real moment with it.
And what’s next for you?
Shaina: We’re making a feature this summer and I’m selling a T.V. show and we’re doing a million things.
