A Castle in Brooklyn, King Arthur
Filmed over a period of seven years, A Castle in Brooklyn, King Arthur, narrated by Golden Globe Award winner, Brian Cox, brings us through the doors of the Broken Angel building and to its creator, the visionary, Arthur Wood as he clings to his life’s work, the Broken Angel building an icon of the bohemian artist culture that once permeated Brooklyn. The Fairy Tale is over…
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Tyler A. Chase
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I was at the Broken Angel building regarding another project that dealt with its architecture. I found visionary artist, Arthur Wood to be incredibly interesting. It became apparent to me that there was something significant and unusual happening to him and his wife Cynthia. Despite them owning their home for twenty six years they were torn out of it and had their backs against the wall. Their basic human rights had been violated so I decided to investigate further and make a documentary.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film because it is interesting and regardless of who you are, what happened at the Broken Angel could happen to you. Also A Castle in Brooklyn, King Arthur is an historical film because Arthur and his diverse Brooklyn community are part of a New York scene that is disappearing. This is what Reel Roy Reviews said about the film: “I am haunted days after by her clear-eyed, unsentimental but utterly empathic filmic observations on the clash of creativity, capitalism, obsession, free thought, and community in postmodern America. “
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Many of my films are about artists and human rights in housing and how the lack of human rights, particularly in housing, results in cultural decline and eventually decay. Artists have always been and will continue to be the canary in the coal mine.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The film is largely cinema verité, hence the audience is the fly on the wall and experiencing things as they happen. They, like Arthur and I, are there when promises are broken, as disclosures are made that surprise us, as we find out that the people that we thought were the good guys show their true colors and intentions. It is one of the great things that happens when you entrench yourself for as long as I did to see things through. There were developments that were not apparent until I stood with Arthur and experienced his world and then went through the footage to edit it.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We've had very positive feedback. The audience easily empathizes with Arthur and Cynthia because they are the vulnerable "every man". It's like watching a puppy standing in the middle of the road. They become emotionally invested sharing sadness, outrage and disbelief at what happens. People are angry and afraid when they see this film because their false sense of security is challenged. Even our Narrator, Brian Cox was upset and outraged by the film. This is an email that I received
Dear Tyler
I finally got to see ‘ Castle in Brooklyn’ An absolutely amazing piece of work on your part. Heartbreaking in its portrayal of the decimation of an artist.
I could not believe how Arthur could through the horror that was visited on him and poor Cynthia.
I am very honored and proud that you asked me to narrate it for you. I had no idea how deep the power of your commitment to right the injustice that was visited on Arthur.
Thank you for reasserting the right of an individual to his or hers artistic
vision.
Deepest congratulations!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I didn't know what to expect. The way the project was done was very unorthodox. We didn't have funding, sponsors or much support to begin with. We were lucky to have the musician/composers and photographers come to our aid. It became kind of an ensemble piece in that way. When it was completed I showed it to Arthur and was extremely touched that he liked it so much. That is what was most important to us. When it was accepted into festivals and I started getting feedback I was a bit surprised by the strong reactions because I had lived in that reality for so long that I had gone numb. I had to compartmentalize myself in order to finish the work. It has been a transformative piece of work.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We Are Moving Stories is a wonderful platform. We were included on it when our short doc, Sweet Soul in Exile, screened at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival. We are excited to have our first feature film take part. We would like A Castle in Brooklyn, King Arthur to be picked up, distributed and seen worldwide. Of course we dream of a theatrical release, who doesn't, but however audiences can experience it ... would be great. Arthur and Cynthia have to be heard. Their community, many of whom have since been pushed out of their homes have to be heard. Hopefully and at the very least, Arthur and his family receive an apology and compensation for what was taken from them.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are committed to this independent work. It took seven years of investigative filming and years more to complete it. We just ask that it be looked at and judged on it's merits. Film is a powerful tool of communication and human empathy and has to move away from being exclusive to popular agendas. Human Rights is more than slogans.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like people to take the time to see how other people live. That being different or eccentric does not mean that you deserve to be preyed upon. It is time to understand the profound impact of eviction, the universality of the housing issue and reflect on what they can do in their own communities to insure that people are not victimized. As Human Rights Award winner, Shula Koenig taught me during the course of the making of this movie, Human Rights is a way of life.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How did it happen? How did this happen to elderly people who owned their home and land for 26 years? Why did they not receive a penny and why did they not get their possessions returned to them?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We are currently developing a feature documentary tentatively entitled, Always Here, surrounding certain incidents regarding culture and environment. We are completing a short documentary for the beginning of next year called, Deep Friendship, as a tribute to improvisational jazz pianist, Connie Crothers. We are applying for grants to complete the post production of the feature documentary, Blues for 475. When the pandemic restrictions end we will proceed to travel to Italy for Touched by Duse. Next June we will be in Colorado to film for Let Them Eat Geese. We have projects in different stages of development and completion.
Interview: July 2021
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
A Castle in Brooklyn, King Arthur
Length:
1:41
Writer
Tyler A. Chase and Krista Blomberg
Tyler A. Chase wrote the narration of A Castle in Brooklyn, King Arthur with the help of Krista Blomberg. Krista also helped write and worked with Tyler on the award winning short film, Animal Crackers - Pentimenti, delivering an outstanding performance as the main character, Sylvie. She lent her skills to help flesh out the Narration text for actor, Brian Cox in A Castle in Brooklyn.
Director
Tyler A. Chase
TYLER A. CHASE is an award winning auteur/filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York. Tyler develops and directs films produced at L’ORAGE Productions. Tyler filmed throughout seven years to make the feature film, A Castle in Brooklyn, King Arthur. Other films are the short documentary, Sweet Soul in Exile and the short narrative, Animal Crackers (Pentimenti).
Producer
Lisette Cevallos and Tyler A. Chase
Lisette Cevallos (Producer, V.P. of L’ORAGE), is a producer involved in the development of the films produced at L’ORAGE Productions. She is a producer of the completed feature documentary film, A Castle in Brooklyn, King Arthur with Golden Globe Award winner, Brian Cox as Narrator, the award winning short documentary, Sweet Soul in Exile and the award winning short narrative film, Animal Crackers (Pentimenti). Cevallos is involved in projects in different stages of development.
Key cast:
Brian Cox - Narrator, Arthur Wood - Self, Cynthia Wood - Self, Angelique Abuquattam Deshield - Self, Elizabeth Wood Ramirez - Self, Dj Fly Ty - Self, Counselwoman Letitia James - Self, Counselman Tony Avella - Self, Human Rights Award winner Shula Koenig - Self, Dr. Mindy Fullilove - Self, Reverend Billy Talen - Self, Tyler A. Chase - Self
Looking for:
distributors, journalists, buyers, sales agents
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/acastleinbrooklynkingarthur/
Twitter:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/acastleinbrooklyn_kingarthur/
Hashtags used:
#LORAGEProductions #ACastleinBrooklynKingArthur #TylerAChase #TheBrokenAngelbuilding #filmfatales
More info:
https://www.acastleinbrooklyn-kingarthur.com/
Where can I watch it now?
A Castle in Brooklyn King Arthur is presently part of Film Fatales Prisma program and seeking distribution.