#PickoftheWeek | A Night of #NYCStrong Short Films at the Hall of Science on Aug. 20
Living in the Big Apple sure ain’t easy. Living during a pandemic is no cakewalk, either. But New York has survived, and its residents are as tough as ever and ready for a measured celebration.
Rooftop Films will screen six shorts that embody NYC’s fighting spirit outdoors at the New York Hall of Science on Friday, Aug. 20. The selected pieces include stories about COVID — naturally — but others depict quintessential urban scenes, such as trying to carry a mattress into a walk-up apartment and dealing with a blackout.
The doors will open at 6:30 pm, followed by a set of DJ music by The Lay Out. After some speeches and introductions, the program with begin at about 8:30 pm. Here’s the lineup.
How to Cook the Perfect Risotto (30 minutes). John Wilson attempts to make his elderly landlord’s favorite dish to show thanks for all the times she has cooked and cleaned for him. What could go wrong?
I Know What Pandemic Means (15 minutes). This visual and auditory experience meditates what happened and how it felt to be so close to instability and illness in Elmhurst during COVID’s height.
In Sudden Darkness (3 minutes). This slice-of-life film follows the Moores, a working-class Black Bronx family trying to stay afloat during a blackout.
Last Stop For Lost Property (13 minutes). An intimate look at the NYC subway and the thousands of items and people that get lost in its tunnels.
Moving (8 minutes). A tragic comedy.
3,000 Miles (5 minutes). Sean Wang chronicles his year in New York City via his mother’s voicemails. The fun begins on July 5, 2016, after the California native crossed the county to settle in the Big Apple.
Admission is free with RSVP. After passing through the Hall of Science’s main entrance at 47-01 111th St., patrons walk towards the back end of the museum to the field across from Science Avenue.
There are some COVID-related protocols. For example, patrons must meet vaccination requirements and masks are required while interacting with event staff.
Editor’s note: This program is part of NYC Homecoming Week, a citywide celebration that includes a concert with George Clinton at Forest Hills Stadium on Aug. 20.
Images: Rooftop Films
