DOC NYC - Miracle on 42nd Street
Miracle on 42nd Street is a documentary about the untold history and impact of the Manhattan Plaza apartment complex in New York City. Starting with the background of the blighted Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood and the building’s initial commercial failure in the mid-1970s, the story recounts how – in a moment of bold inspiration or maybe desperation – the buildings were “re-purposed” as subsidized housing for people who worked in the performing arts, becoming one of the first intentional, government supported, affordable housing for artist residences.
Interview with Director/Producer Alice Elliott
Watch Miracle on 42nd Street on Prime Video and iTunes
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I’ve been an artist all my life, so I’m well acquainted with the struggles that artists face to get established and thrive. While most people seem to appreciate art in their personal lives - movies or music or theater, etc. - many people seem not to realize the economic contribution that art and artists make to society. This film is an amazing true story that vividly dramatizes both. I had to make it.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I think viewers will be amazed by the huge number of famous stars in the film that credit Manhattan Plaza as the place that allowed their dreams and inspirations to flourish at a time when the just needed a roof over their head. Big show business names like Larry David, Samuel L. Jackson, Donald Faison and Alicia Keys all got their start while there.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
We see the struggle that artists have and their importance to society. Personal stories of Alicia Keys, Larry David, Terrence Howard and others are revealed against the backdrop of real estate and Broadway deal makers.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
As with many documentaries, you are shooting the stories or real people so you don’t know exactly what you are going to get. Over time we were able to shape the story into a script that has a really compelling narrative that is quite emotional at times. There was a lot of history here that people may not know about, and we had to be sure to bring it to life.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Most people are surprised to learn about Manhattan Plaza. Almost every New Yorker has seen it, but very few know the whole story.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
While few deny the impact of that Manhattan Plaza had on the transformation of the once blighted midtown neighborhood, many in the housing community have many strong opinions about national and local policy. However, Miracle on 42nd Street is also for a broad audience, so we have tried to go for the big picture, in most cases, and not get too caught up in details that are mainly of interest to housing experts.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I’d love if it starts a conversation about how affordable housing, where it is needed, and how artists can play a unique role in economic revival. But all people deserve safe, affordable housing.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Miracle on 42nd Street, with its many stars, is for a broad audience. We hope for a major cable, broadcast or streaming network to buy the film.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We would like civic leaders, union members, elected officials, urban planners and grassroots housing organizations to work together to create safe, affordable housing that encourages artists and creativity to flourish. We think the film shows that it can be a win-win for communities, builders and business that work together. If the film can plays a role in this, it would be a wonderful personal victory for me as a filmmaker.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What would affordable housing for artists and others look like in our community? The Manhattan Plaza “miracle” is being replicated all over the country. Some state sponsored, but most of it grassroots, with few resources. But there are hundreds of neighborhoods out there that might benefit.
Would you like to add anything else?
I’m hoping that Miracle on 42nd Street will encourage more documentaries about other models of housing and keep the conversation rolling. And our film will play a long role in education and part of the national conversation, I’m sure.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
The production team includes so many talented and diverse artists. Many are working on TV series, feature films and, of course, more documentaries. Me included!
Interview: November 2017
All images: Copyright 2017 – Miracle on 42nd Street, Inc. – All Rights Reserved
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. 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
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Miracle on 42nd Street
Miracle on 42nd Street is a documentary about the history and impact of the Manhattan Plaza apartment complex in New York City. Starting with the history of the blighted Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood and the facilities’ initial commercial failure in the mid-1970s, the story recounts how – in a moment of bold inspiration or maybe desperation – the buildings were “re-purposed” as subsidized housing for people who worked in the performing arts. The social experiment was a resounding success in the lives of the tenants, as well as the neighborhood and local economy. The film makes a compelling case for both the value of subsidized housing for artists in America, as well as the value supporting the arts to the American economy. The film features on-camera interviews with people who’s lives were positively impacted by the complex, including Alicia Keys, Terrance Howard, Donald Faison, Larry David and Samuel L Jackson, Angela Lansbury, and many others.
Length:
68 min
Director:
Alice Elliott
Producer:
Produced by Mary Jo Slater, Lisa Shreve, Alice Elliott, Erika Lockridge, Joanne Storkan, Nancy Perkins, Cindy Cowan, Cindy Bond, Eric Small
Executive Producer Ken Aguado
Writer:
Joal Ryan & Steve Ryfle
About the writer, director and producer:
Alice Elliott is an Academy Award nominated documentary director of The Collector of Bedford Street and a 2012 Guggenheim Fellow award recipient. She directed the award- winning PBS documentary Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy. For Miracle on 42nd Street, she received a National Endowment for the Arts Grant.
Key cast: Angela Lansbury, Larry David, Terrence Howard, Alicia Keys, Donald Faison, Giancarlo Esposito
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors): Distributors
Funders: Literally 100 donors. We are a 501c3 non-profit, and received grants from the NEA and Ford Foundation, as well as private donors who believed in the story.
Release date: Festival premiere 11/11/17 at DOC NYC America's largest documentary film festival, with over 250 films and events. The eighth annual event happens Nov 9 – 16th at IFC Center, Cinepolis Chelsea and SVA Theatre in New York City.
Miracle on 42nd Street is a documentary about the untold history and impact of the Manhattan Plaza apartment complex in New York City. Starting with the background of the blighted Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood and the building’s initial commercial failure in the mid-1970s, the story recounts how – in a moment of bold inspiration or maybe desperation – the buildings were “re-purposed” as subsidized housing for people who worked in the performing arts, becoming one of the first intentional, government supported, affordable housing for artist residences.
The social experiment was a resounding success in the lives of the tenants, and it led the way in the transformation of the midtown neighborhood, the Broadway theater district and local economy. The film makes a compelling case for the economic value of the arts and artists in America. The success of Manhattan Plaza has become a role model for similar experiments, which the film features, around the country, in places like Ajo, Arizona, Providence, Rhode Island and Rahway, New Jersey.
Narrated by acclaimed actor/writer Chazz Palminteri, Miracle on 42nd Street features on-camera interviews with people whose lives were positively impacted by the complex, including Alicia Keys, Terrence Howard, Donald Faison, Larry David and Samuel L Jackson, Angela Lansbury, Giancarlo Esposito, and many others.
http://www.docnyc.net/film/miracle-on-42nd-street/
http://miracleon42ndstreet.org
@miracleon42