Scary. Soiled. Scandalous. And basically shitty. This is how history not-so fondly remembers New York City of the 1970s. Drug use was rampant all across town; employment was not. Crime rates soared; faith in America’s greatest city plummeted. Bryant Park was referred to as “Needle Park,” and the 6 Train was appropriately termed “Mugger’s Express,” a place where armed bandits were known to have jumped turnstiles in a quest to rob hapless straphangers for free. Sorry kids, “Dave and Busters” and “TGI Fridays” were most definitely not the names of wholesome corporate establishments residing in Times Square, although such monikers likely echo those of the pimps and prostitutes (respectively) who once worked its corners. And when the financially devastated city teetered on bankruptcy in 1975, the nation’s president famously told New York to “drop dead.”
Editors, Sound Designers & VFX Artists Share Their Secrets at MEW’s 6/8 Event - ProductionHUB
EditFest With Alan Heim - A Star Editor and His Work on Star 80
I just moderated my third panel for EditFest, and although this had only one panelist, it was enough for a feast, because that panelist was the very gifted and gracious Alan Heim. Alan chose to discuss and show clips from Star 80,director Bob Fosse’s final film, which was an unconventional decision. The film was vilified by the critics and audiences found the disturbing and sexually violent subject matter to be difficult viewing. Alan said, “I believe had it not been so well made, maybe it would have been unwatchable.” Fosse had this to say about the film: “The passion I had when I made it is no longer there, but I know it’s technically the best movie I’ve done. I felt completely in control of this story.”