THIS IS NOT A BOOKSTORE: A PROFILE OF AVI GITLER

Avi Gitler is the owner of Gitler &___. The gallery is located in upper Manhattan on 150th and Broadway. If you've ever been to 150th and Broadway you know that there aren't many galleries there...

At the time of this mini-doc, the gallery's installation was a pay what you wish used bookstore.

After spending a little time there, I quickly found out that this gallery is a place where people of all different backgrounds congregate, kibbitz, and appreciate art.

Make a point of stopping by. gitlerand.com/

Originally appeared on Viewing.nyc.

WHAT YOUR NYC CHRISTMAS TREE GUY IS THINKING

Jamie Johnson from central PA sells Christmas trees to New Yorkers every year. Find out what he thinks of us and why people ask him for pot all the time.

Originally appeared in The West Side Rag and Viewing.nyc.

POP-UP MEN

Two guys living on a NYC street with no bedroom or bathroom and needing to sell 600 Christmas trees. Meet the Pop Up Men. In English and available in German and Japanese Subtitles. Hit the CC button in the player.

Originally published by Laughing Squid.

WE ARE THE 99 PERCENT

Remember Occupy Wall Street? In 2011, Zuccotti park in Lower Manhattan became ground zero for a night and day protest that lasted two months before the Mayor tore it down.

During this time, there was a tumblr called We are the 99% .  The tumblr was a collection of photos where people would explain their day to day stresses that the 1% doesn't have to worry about. The stories were gripping and the site continued posting till 2013. On their About page they had a short manifesto called, "Allow Us To Introduce Ourselves."

At the time, I thought it would be cool to get protesters from Occupy saying one line each of the statement printed on the tumblr's Introduction page. I was so pleased to see that the organizers of the blog attached my film onto to the About page after I sent them the film. http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/Introduction

 

THE DENTIST AND DR. SEUSS

Charles Cohen is a one of kind Dentist/Suess fanatic/Author. His obsession with Dr. Seuess has led to a second career.

Random House published in September, 2011 a handful of lost Dr. Suess stories that Cohen had found in women's magazines of the 50's.

DP: Ed David
Editor: Eric Perlman
Music: Jason Staczek

Originally published in Newscorp's The Daily

RENAISSANCE MAN

If you've ever walked Manhattan streets and seen a man hunched over on his knees smoothing chalk into the cold pavement, then you've seen Hani Shihada at work.
Hani learned his trade in Perugia, Italy where this type of drawing is a very old tradition. He draws copies of Michelangelo and other Renaissance masters which usually take him several days to complete.

We filmed this piece on Broadway and 113th. You wouldn't know it but a huge rainstorm wiped out most of the morning's work but Hani soldiered on.

Hani's sidewalk pieces are his calling card so it's not surprising that he has found a second career doing commercial gigs which take him all over the country.
For more information go to: hanisidewalkart.com

Originally produced for Newscorp's The Daily.