Beacons of Light: New York Illuminated

Martha's Vineyard

A NEW JOURNEY BEGINS

As I continue to submit Beacons of Light to Film Festivals, a new project has entered my days and nights. 

Read at a poetry reading this evening, was 12th on the list.  Read a poem about my imminent journey to Martha's Vineyard.  Will see familiar views that tell the tale of a near impossible feat, one impeded by conflicts on land and by sea.

That story ended with glory and might, this tale begins in earnest tonight.

Hamlet under the stars in Brooklyn

SHAKESPEARE AND FIREFLYS

Saw an inspiring outdoor production of Hamlet tonight in Brooklyn.

Amidst fireflys and illuminated trees my friend, Sean Phillips, played the character Laertes with courage and nobility.

This city enables such a breadth of culture to be exhibited throughout the year and tonight's production of Shakespeare's greatest tragedy was truly a gem in New York's cultural crown.

Hundreds of New Yorkers celebrating New York

HONORING THOSE WHO BREATHE LIFE INTO THIS TOWN

Attended the 116th Annual Meeting of The Municipal Art Society of New York last night. 

There was a great deal of hope in the air and speeches were filled with exciting ideas and sustainable plans for the future of New York and it's citizens.  

Blue Stage Lights

PARKER AND CHOPIN

Sat among writers and candles tonight at a poetry reading in the village.

Blue stage lights dotted the tiny ceiling above every reader and healthy applause was reserved for all.

I read a short poem about Coltrane and Bach and their ability to alleviate the stress of crowded, airless New York City subway elevators in an instant.

Stepped outside into the last light of day and onto the train home where I imagined our subway rides scored to Parker and Chopin.

The Odd Couple On 57th Street

ANOTHER JEWEL

Walked past Carnegie Hall along 57th Street this evening.  Under a dripping scaffolding, in the near dark, was a tiny book sale. Paid two dollars for one of my favorite plays, The Odd Couple. Read it cover to cover, made the sound cue list and dreaming of staging it...

Finding a Gem

ANOTHER TREASURE FOUND AT A NY SIDEWALK BOOK SALE

I felt drawn to this book sale on Saturday and crossed a very busy avenue to glance over the collection. Found several special titles, among them a novel by Louis Auchincloss.  

Tall Buildings and Tall People

MAVERICKS 

Attended two Book Launches recently, both celebrating mavericks and their incomparable contributions to New York CIty and beyond.

Photo shoot

A BREEZY SUNDAY MORNING

Had the pleasure of meeting with visual artist and musician, Tae Won Yu, for a casual photo shoot.

Delivery by way of the Bronx

BY BRIDGE AND BY HIGHWAY

Due to a delivery mishap, I found myself traveling across boroughs, highways and bridges by foot and in two cabs.  

After a year and a half of work, boxes of Beacons of Light sit in my apartment, neatly wrapped in cellophane.  Will unpack these boxes at the speed of light. 

Hundreds of Empire State Buildings illuminated in blue.  

The New Yorker

Just wanted to share my favorite New Yorker cover of all time.

Good night, 

Heather

Locations from where I photographed New York

I took this photograph while standing next to the neon Pepsi sign in Hunters Point, Queens.

FOUND NOTES FROM 88 DAY SHOOT - THIS LOCATION LIST WAS AMONG THEM:

Astoria

Battery Park

Bay Ridge

Bowery

Brooklyn Heights

Bronx

Central Park

Chelsea

Chinatown

Coney Island

Dumbo

East River Park

East Village

Financial District

Flushing

Fort Lee

Fulton Landing

Greenpoint

Greenwich Village

Harlem

Hell's Kitchen

Hunters Point

Hoboken

Jersey City

Liberty Island

Little Italy

Long Island City

Lower East Side

Madison Square Park

Murray Hill

Peck Slip

Pike Slip

Riverside Park

Roosevelt Island

Staten Island

Staten Island Ferry

Sutton Place

Theater District

Throgs Neck

Upper East Side

Upper West Side

Washington Heights

Washington Square Park

Weehawken

Whitestone

Montauk briefly

AN EVENING IN NEW YORK CITY

Just got back from a wonderful evening of short stories, poetry and comedy.  I read a short story I wrote about learning to swim in the choppy waters off Montauk, Long Island.  

Heather

Great Friends

BEFORE TWILIGHT

I took this photograph before twilight while setting up to shoot the neon Pepsi sign in Hunters Point, Queens.

I want to thank all my great friends who have extended such encouraging and supportive words.

Next week the copies of the film arrive.

9 bridges, 28 neighborhoods, 14 parks and 12 clocks...

BEACONS OF LIGHT WEBSITE LAUNCHED

We just launched the website for Beacons of Light: New York Illuminated.  I started shooting this film in 2007 covering New York City's five boroughs during an especially cold and windy winter. 

I learned very quickly that even short filmstock such as Super 8, which is what this movie was shot on, was going to be extremely expensive.  Paying the lab as I went along and forgetting the cost the second I left with the film in my arms, I managed to capture the following:

114 locations

9 bridges

2 states

14 parks

28 neighborhoods

12 clocks

15 Broadway Marquees

20 Landmarks

 "I WALK THE LINE"

The choice to use Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" was the first and only choice for the film and I'm honored and grateful to have had the chance to work so effortlessly with Sun Entertainment and Bug Music to license it.

THANK YOU

Hopefully this movie will take an interesting journey and who sees it will be as rejuvenated by the city as I was.  I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to discover this spectacular town again.

Thank you for reading my first thoughts on making this film and I hope you'll return as I record the trip it takes, whatever the length and wherever it may lead.

Looking forward to writing back soon-

Heather Rose