Compared to the sterile and sprawling landscapes of Los Angeles, the intimate and tightly-woven geography of New York has long served as inspiration for filmmakers from Woody Allen to Michael Kang. How do New York filmmakers and those in the industry navigate the varied spaces and multitude of overlapping communities? From subterranean passageways to rooftop gardens, our panelists will discuss how they represent and express their love for this extraordinary city.

Panelists:
Karin Chien (producer, SANTA MESA) is an independent film producer based in New York City. Chien has produced six feature films. She is currently curating the Museum of Chinese in America, and is launching a new company to bring underground films from China to the United States.

Paul J.Q. Lee has been involved in New York's film and television industry for over 25 years. Lee is an actor, who also serves as a location consultant in Chinatown and lower Manhattan, bringing New York scenes to life for films such as SPIDERMAN 2, THE 25TH HOUR, and DONNIE BRASCO Joining local actors and unique settings, he has worked with directors such as Spike Lee, John Woo, and Woody Allen.

David Moy is the Supervisor of Field Operations for the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. He works as liaison between the office, productions, City Council, Community Boards and other city agencies. Before joining the MOFTB he worked for many years in the film industry in the Locations Department. His film credits include MEET JOE BLACK, ONE TRUE THING, BIG DADDY, SLEEPY HOLLOW, 200 CIGARETTES, HIGH ART and POLLOCK.

Ed Radtke (director, SPEED OF LIFE) has made three independent feature films. His second feature, THE DREAM CATCHER, garnered eleven awards at international film festivals and has been released worldwide. He is the recipient of two NEA grants, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship.

Moderator: Ron Simon has been a curator at The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Television & Radio) since the early 1980s. He is also an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University, New York University, and Hunter College. Simon has written for many publications including The Encyclopedia of Television and Thinking Outside of the Box: A Contemporary Television Reader.

Read more: New York Faces in Single Spaces: The Cinema of The City and Flights in Film: An Interview with Ed Radtke, Director of THE SPEED OF LIFE

Co-sponsored by:

New York Geographies will take place at the Asia Society, 725 Park Ave @ 70th St.