Monthly Archives

The orange-clad marchers were shackled together as others held signs protesting torture and waterboarding. They were followed by about a dozen cops on foot and on scooters. What I didn't understand, however, is why they were here at Lincoln Center.

(Lincoln Center, Manhattan)

This is a pretty bad-ass paddywagon, made even more bad-assed by the precariously perched cherry light.

(NYC Police Museum, Old Slip, Manhattan)

We wait for the same roast pork buns my Mom used to love, in a place that hasn't changed since she first entered thirty years ago.

(Mei Lai Wah, Bayard St, Manhattan)

(Bowling Green, Manhattan)

Jo likes the new Mango store for the clothes, but I like it for the generous man-seating.

(Mango, Broadway & Prince St, Manhattan)

(Deluxe Market, Elizabeth St, Manhattan)

OK, I'm back in NYC and so technically it's cheating to still be posting Park City photos. (Plus, it's blurry.) But dude...that's Cheech!

(Asian American Filmmakers Reception, China Panda Restaurant, Park City, UT)

Park City has been a total blast and I'm sad to be leaving. I'm so darn grateful to Slamdance for premiering my film.

Festival week is known for its celebrity circus, but Heath's untimely passing is a strong reminder of why most of us are here: we love movies and we are moved by them.

(Treasure Mountain Inn, Park City, UT)

With all the festival frenzy, it's easy to forget to look up and realize how frickin' beautiful this place is.

(Park City, UT)

Between parties and panels and sold-out screenings, it's impossible to see everything I want to see at Slamdance/Sundance. Fortunately, I got a chance to catch Goliath, which is a pretty terrific movie. Especially if you're a cat lover. Here kitty kitty kitty kitty...

(Zellner Brothers at the Library Center Theater, Park City, UT)

The main posterboard at Slamdance is a work of art all by itself.

(Treasure Mountain Inn, Park City, UT)

I was pretty anxious about the premiere, but the (sold-out) audience was very warm and generous about the film. I only wish the cast and crew could have been there. Slamdance rocks!

(Treasure Mountain Inn, Park City, UT)

There are rumors that U2 is in town for a private concert (U2 3D is screening at Sundance), but for true indie cinema geeks, the Red camera was the real head-turner on Main Street today. Joe Kleber, a rental house owner from Atlanta, was showing off his Red the way people parade their boas on the Coney Island Boardwalk.

(Sundance Filmmakers Lodge, Main St, Park City, UT)

Today was a mix of panels, films, and free food. Main Street is getting busier as more folks arrive for the opening weekend festivities.

Update: about two hours after this photo was taken, this part of Main Street lost power for about twenty minutes. Ouch, filmmakers! Glad I wasn't screening then.

(Egyptian Theatre, Park City, UT)

I'm in Park City, UT to premiere my new short Beijing Haze at the Slamdance Film Festival. It's my first time in Park City and I'm really excited.

As you probably know, Sundance Festival week is legendary for the industry hype, celebrity buzz, and heavy deal-making. Oh, and they also show a few movies as well. Slamdance, now in its fourteenth year, started as an indie answer to Sundance but now has its own formidable reputation as well.

My goals for the week are to have good screenings (like I have any control over that), meet lots of people, and watch a lot of movies. And eat free as often as possible.

Now, New York isn't exactly a backwater when it comes to industry folk, but sharing a shuttle ride from SLC airport with Stacy Peralta, a Focus Features staffer, and an entertainment lawyer from LA was kind of intimidating. I mean, these people are way higher on the food chain than me.

I tried to keep the self-doubt demons in check, but as the van barreled down Route 80, my mind was racing. I'm just a guy from Brooklyn who happens to own a camera. I was lucky enough to get a short into that scruffy festival at the end of Main Street. I'm the smallest of the small-time and everyone knows it. What the heck am I doing here?

But in the van, the vibe is low-key and we talk like we're all equals (though Stacy has the best stories). For a fleeting moment, I almost feel like I belong here.

It's not until I get to the Slamdance check-in at the Treasure Mountain Inn that I really start to feel that maybe I do belong here. Sarah greets us with a friendly hug, and she and Paul shower us with swag that's actually useful, including a great Crumpler laptop bag and much-needed Doc Martens boots. Kodak sponsors a champagne toast for all the Slamdancers, and the week kicks off in the friendliest way.

I feel lightheaded, but that's only partly due to the thin air.

(Treasure Mountain Inn, Park City, UT)

And all this time I thought the promise of the Internet was that everything wanted to be free, or at least available on easy terms.

(Liberty Travel, Broad St, Manhattan)

There once were two Japanese brothers who dreamed of becoming big and famous in the world of retail.

Uniqlo, the older brother, began selling stylish, affordable clothing to young people. He soon became rich and popular. Muji, the younger brother, followed his brother into the business, but added a twist to the elder's formula by selling goods of all kinds to older people that were plain but also kind of pricey. He too became wealthy and well-known.

Uniqlo moved to Soho a few years ago and Muji folowed suit last year. Muji's neighbor CB2 has a similar story, having recently moved to lower Broadway a few blocks down from her older sister.

(Muji, Broadway & Grand St, Manhattan)

Post 9/11, it's not uncommon to see NYPD convoys arriving at major tourist destinations around Manhattan in an effort to deter terrorists. I've more or less gotten used to the sight, but I wonder what visitors think. It's kind of scary the first time you see them arrive en masse.

(Bowling Green, Manhattan)

(Tea & Sympathy, Greenwich Av, Manhattan)

Sometimes I just love a sudden downpour in Manhattan, even though I usually wind up soaked. An unexpected torrent can turn the already-hectic pace of street life into overdrive, adding some great drama as people dash wildly to dry spots.

I'm not sure I captured today's frantic scurrying on Wall Street with this photo, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

(Wall St, Manhattan)

Meals on the run sometimes mean eating in unlikely and unsavory places. But when it's 11:30pm and you haven't eaten dinner, those concerns can fall away like crumbs from a knish.

(34 St-Herald Sq Station, Manhattan)

Little is known about the civilization that built this stone beast at the foot of the Manhattan Bridge.

(Canal St & Bowery, Manhattan)

The rear of the Charging Bull is not as popular as the front, but a lot more fun. I can't help but smile at the tourists that gleefully pose for the rear view; they always look like they've discovered a great secret. Seeing them have such fun makes me feel grateful to live here.

(Bowling Green, Manhattan)

What I wanna know is, why don't the Chinatown buses go to Providence? They seem to go everywhere else.

(Canal St & Bowery, Manhattan)

Sorry to get all serious and whatnot, but I have a confession to make: as much as I love the ribs at Daisy May's, I think love the cupcakes even more. There, I said it.

(Daisy May's BBQ, 46 St & 11 Av, Manhattan)

I don't know how they do it at them fancy Apple Stores with the pretty girls, but here at the Bklyn Blggng Genius Bar, we have our own custom tools for removing Macbook RAM.

The man with his arms up is yelling about sin and salvation, ignored by both the machine gun-toting NYPD and groups of Chinese tourists. But I hear ya, dude.

(Wall St & Broad St, Manhattan)

(Gray's Papaya, 72 St & Broadway, Manhattan)

It's my goal for 2008 to blog regularly again -- daily if at all possible.

So check back often. As always, I make no guaranties about quality. But quantity? Coming right up.

(Bklyn Blggng HQ)