Richard Sandler Collection
Take a glimpse into the New York filmmaker, Richard Sandler. For a limited time we are now offering 2 classic New York Documentaries for one low price. See the radical transformation of Times Square in “The Gods of Times Square”, and the free form documentary that chronicles the last 12 years of intense change in the East village in Brave New York/Sway.
Brave New York
"Brave New York," is a free-form documentary video that loosely chronicles the last 12 years of intense change in the East Village "hood." From the reopening of a newly curfewed Tompkins Square Park and Wigstock in '92, to the destruction of the cherished Loisaida Community Gardens, to the yuppie invasions of the dot com years, to the present era, indelibly stamped with post 9/11 grief, this durable, lusty neighborhood survives in spite of a real estate gold rush that has excluded all but the well-to-do. The movie's main voices are those of the artists and street people whose wisdom and commentaries upon the dominant culture give us pause amidst the speedy approach of a "Brave New World." SWAY is a free-form video documentary edited from 14 years of daily subway video shooting. It is filled with music and poignent NYC moments.
The Gods Of Times Square
The Gods Of Times Square was shot over a six year period that witnessed a radical transformation of Times Square. Gone now are the mom and pop stores, squeezed out by a real estate gold rush. Gone too are the colorful characters who made Times Square a "speaker's corner". Only the most strident of religious zealots remain to warn of "eternal sin." The Gods of Times Square thus records a time in New York City history when the place most identified with free speech and the soul of New York, changed from a democratic, interracial, common ground to a corporate controlled soulless theme park. The former versions of Times Square offered it's congregants a place to air their thoughts and blow off a little steam, to rant about God and race on the one hand or buy sex or porn at the other end of the Times Square spectrum. Now the choices are fewer, the prices are higher, and the "sin" is gone. The fabled "white way" now plays host to the newest of Gods: Mickey, Minnie and Goofy on one corner, Bugs Daffy and Porky on the other... Gods help Times Square! - Richard Sandler
