Lower Manhattan has a new destination for movie enthusiasts as Fosun launches The 28 Liberty Summer Film Series within 28 Liberty Plaza. Outdoor movies will be shown free on the plaza every Thursday night starting on July 21, 2016 at 8pm through the end of August.
The series, sponsored by Fosun and Downtown Alliance — collaborators in providing free wi-fi to the area — will feature a different movie every Thursday evening. It kicks off with the Steven Spielberg classic, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. Other films to be shown include Raiders Of The Lost Ark on Jul. 28, Spaceballs on Aug. 4, and The Goonies on Aug. 11.
Films will be projected on a screen 15-feet high by 20-feet wide in 28 Liberty’s pristine 1.5 acre plaza, which features a signature sculpture by Jean Dubuffet and a sunken garden by Isamu Noguchi. Free popcorn will be provided to patrons and food will be available for purchase from on-site vendors.
Filmed in Utah over a 20-day period, Ami Canaan Mann had a lot of work cut out for her as writer and director of Jackie & Ryan. However, in being an experienced creative mind within both TV and film (e.g. Texas Killing Fields, Friday Night Lights, NYPD Blue), Ami wound up thriving on the challenge of the time crunch.
Starring Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy, State Of Affairs) and Ben Barnes (The Chronicles Of Narnia, Dorian Gray), Jackie & Ryan carries the tagline “Sometimes they stay. Sometimes they go.” With the film’s stars crossing paths at difficult points in both of their lives, the viewer should know early on to expect a relationship-driven drama, although more of the thought-provoking variety. Fortunately, there is a strong supporting cast in place (including Clea DuVall from American Horror Story and Heroes and Sheryl Lee from Twin Peaks), keeping things further fresh and interesting.
Ami took the time to answer some questions for me, on behalf of Downtown, also clarifying projects ahead for her once Jackie & Ryan has completed its theatrical run.
How would you describe Jackie & Ryan to someone who hasn’t yet seen the trailer?
Ami Canaan Mann: Jackie & Ryan is a drama about a train-hopper/musician who meets a woman in a small town, who is at a crossroads in her life and struggling to maintain custody of her daughter. Jackie and Ryan connect through a mutual love of music and, during their three-day relationship, change the course of each others lives. Great performances by Katherine Heigl and Ben Barnes.
Jackie & Ryan was reportedly titled Your Right Mind while in production. What brought about this change in titles?
A: I really wanted a title that was strong and simple, that conveyed the core of the story. Jackie & Ryan does that, I think. Just a story about a man and woman and what happens when they meet.
You filmed the movie in 20 days. Do you find short production times like that to be invigorating? Or would it be more ideal to take your time on a movie?
A: Shooting a film in 20 days is definitely invigorating, but I also knew when I was writing the script that it would be that kind of a schedule because I wanted the film to be on the low end of low budget. So I wrote a lot of day interiors and exteriors, minimal location changes, etc. It worked for Jackie & Ryan both logistically and because it was in keeping with the themes of the film. For me, I felt like, even if you were able to get more money, you couldn’t really shoot a movie couched in the recession and focused on train-hopping on a big budget scale. Wouldn’t be right. So the making of the film all felt in keeping with the spirit of the story. Worked out all right.
While writing the film, was it also your plan to be the director?
A: Yes, I wrote Jackie & Ryan with the intention of directing it which particularly great as you take project through the stages of prep, shooting and post and see what you imagined in your mind come to be. The sequence at the beginning of the film, for example, is shot per shot, exactly as I envisioned it when I was writing. We’re pretty damn lucky as filmmakers when we get to see that kind of thing manifest.
Do you see yourself as more of a writer, or more of a director?
A: For me, writing and directing really go hand in hand. I’m certainly a better director for having been a working writer for so many years and a better writer for having directed my own material. I think you probably learn to be less precious as a writer and more adventurous as a director.
For this film to be “successful” by your definition, what must happen?
A: By my definition, for a film to be “successful” means that, as the filmmaker and at the film’s heart, you said what you wanted to say in the way you wanted to say it. There are always compromises and the trick is to make the smart compromise, or the compromise in the smart way and still support the story you wanted to tell. Then, if after all that, the film affects even just one person who watches it, causes them to think a little differently about their lives, maybe even helps them, then the film is a success. It’s done its job. All the rest is gravy.
Once Jackie & Ryan has been released and all of the promotion has been done, what lies ahead for you?
A: We’re in casting now on a film project I’m really excited about, beautiful script. Shooting some episodic in the fall, and we’re in the initial stages of starting a non-profit organization that will provide arts education for elementary school age kids.
Finally, Ami, any last words for the kids?
A: Go see the film, the cast is incredible and did a fantastic job. Don’t train-hop, it’s illegal and dangerous. But do listen to great music and get inspired to do things you love just because you love to do them.
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." (AP Photo/Focus Features, David Lee, File)
We all need an escape, which is why we have films and movie theaters to watch them in. It takes us to a whole new dimension, and for about an hour and a half, we don’t have to deal with the worries of our day.
Here are five cinematic art houses in the downtown area that you should definitely check out:
I. Angelika Film Center
18 W Houston St New York, NY 10012
C/o grandlifehotels.com
Iconic for its screenings of many indie and foreign films, the Angelika is the favorite of many New York City based filmmakers.
II. Landmark Sunshine Cinema
143 East Houston Street New York, NY 10002
C/o http://photos.cinematreasures.org.
The Sunshine Cinema has stadium style seating and offers digital, 3-D technology. They also hold special events and limited screenings that you can check out here.
III. IFC Center
323 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10014
C/o https://c1.staticflickr.com.
Formerly known as the Waverly Theater, another movie hub, IFC Center is located in Greenwich Village. IFC features high-definition digitals with luxury seating, as well as an abundance of indecent, foreign, and documentary screenings. You can see the full array, here.
IV. Village East Cinema
181-189 2nd Ave New York, NY 10003
C/o http://nycphoto.smugmug.com.
Village East Cinema is located in Manhattan’s East Village. It houses seven screens of film, and offers stadium seating. You can find showtimes and tickets here.
V. Film Forum
209 W Houston St New York, NY 10014
C/o filmforum.org.
A more intimate space, Film Forum offers three screens of film, and is open 365 days a year! It’s the only nonprofit cinema in Manhattan. The establishment presents American independent films and foreign art films.
The Tribeca Film Festival begins in April but tickets for the event go on sale tomorrow, March 31, for American Express card members and on April 6 for the general public. In addition to a huge array of films that are shot and produced all over the world, the festival also hosts panels, talks, and even a street fair for families. They also host an Artists Awards Program that strives to highlight both emerging and existing artists. The lineup for the festival ranges from short films and narratives to documentary films. Some of the films premiere for the first time ever at the festival, allowing attendees to see them before anyone else. Additionally, members of the cast and directors are often around to do Q&A’s prior to or after the showings.
Along with celebrating New York as a major filmmaking hub, the festival is also a testament to the growth and development of Lower Manhattan in the wake of the 2001 September 11 attacks. Attending the festival fosters an even greater sense of artistic and communal prosperity. Special events for the festival include a performance by Mary J. Blige, along with the world premiere of Mary J. Blige- The London Series, a Monty Python 40th Anniversary Celebration and The Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards. For more information on the festival, and to purchase tickets for the event, visit the Tribeca Film Festival website.
Join FiDi Families this winter at the South Street SeaportCommunity Cube! DOWNTOWN’s very own Family & Lifestyle editor, Denise Courter, doubles as Founder/Publisher of FiDi Families and has been raving about the success of the event, “FiDi Families is excited to announce that we will be extending programming through the end of February! It will tentatively be Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Stay tuned for further information!” The Community Cube is conveniently located, warm, and overall a wonderful venue sponsored by Howard Hughes and New-York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. Partners involved in this programming include GoGo Squeeze, PBS Kids, Fandango, and many more. With all the support and free goodies, these programs have been a huge hit!
This is a great opportunity for parents to keep their children busy and entertained during for the first half of the week, which seems to be the busiest time for Downtown families. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays have all been packed with fun and educational programs. FiDi Families has had some of their favorite performers come, yoga, arts and crafts, movies, story time, and much more! These events are from 10am-12pm with an hour of free play at the end!
If you are looking for things to fill your weekend with, you can even spend your Sundays with Fidi Families at their Character Ice Skate. The skate is from 10am-12pm at the South Street Seaport Ice Rink! FiDi Families looks forward to the continuation of sharing indoor, free, and heated fun with Downtown families!
-by Deirdre McAndrew
*Photography and images: Courtesy of Denise Courter
Beating the winter blues is always tough, especially on the weekends when you don’t have a good enough reason to leave your bed. Luckily, having a wonderful city like Manhattan at your fingertips puts a positive spin on the outlook of a cold and snowy winter. Rather than falling into seasonal depression, embrace what you can do during your winter weekends in Manhattan! If you are feeling cooped up in your heated home, and are looking to be active outside, take advantage of the many ice rinks in the area! The South Street Seaport has a beautiful rink and a great location right near the water. The festive lights and decorations, reasonable fares, skating lessons, the opportunity to purchase a membership pass, or ability to make group reservations, creates a pleasing atmosphere for skaters of all ages and abilities.
If you are trying to avoid the cold, what better way then to stay indoor and informed? Spend the day at on of Manhattans many museums trickled throughout the city! It is easy to dedicated a few hours or even a whole day to admiring the exhibits in museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the American Museum of Natural History. If you are the type to be overwhelmed with the size of museums, shoot for a smaller scale one, such as the Lower East Side Tenement Museum or the Frick Collection. Although smaller in comparison to other NYC museums, they always offer fascinating collections that can keep you busy and out of the cold for hours.
Photo: Courtesy of NYC Insider Guide
Although a boat tour seems seasonally inappropriate, being inside a warm boat is a much better way to experience the greater Manhattan area. You’ll get the feel of being outside without experiencing the intensity of the windchill. Take this time to relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you during winters in Manhattan.
A cold winter in New York City is one of the best times for shopping, especially considering all the post-holiday sales that offer great savings. Although the Madison Avenue shops are always a good decision, they also make for a cold shopping trip. If you want to stay indoors and cover as much shopping ground as possible dedicate your spree to hours in the fabulous NYC department stores and the Shops at Columbus Circle.
Beat the winter blues with a Broadway play or musical! There’s no better way to shed your layers of warm clothing and winter accessories off to sit down and relax for a few hours. Whether it is a nighttime show or a matinee, you are guaranteed to have a great and warm time. If you don’t feel like spending the money on tickets to Broadway, but like the idea of warming up in a theatre, catch a movie! Warm Up at the Village East Cinema for a relaxing time and affordable ticket fares! Between winter activities, admiring what the city has to offer, appreciating the arts in Manhattan, and retail therapy, snowy Saturdays are sure to become one of the best and most productive parts of the week!
