presents
A Film By Harvey Wang
RELEASE DATE: February 19, 2010 at the Quad Cinema in New York City
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes
RATING: Unrated
OFFICIAL WEBSITE & PHOTOS AVAILABLE AT: www.lastnewyorker.com
***WINNER Cityscape Award – BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL***
***WINNER Seahorse Award – MOONDANCE FILM FESTIVAL***
Publicity Contact:
Emma Griffiths
Emma Griffiths PR
449 Court Street #2L
Brooklyn, NY 11231
emma@eg-pr.com
917-438-5074
CAST & CREW
Lenny Sugarman DOMINIC CHIANESE
Ruben Liebner DICK LATESSA
Mimi Hotchkiss KATHLEEN CHALFANT
Zach Sugarman JOSH HAMILTON
Jerry JOE GRIFASI
Moses Weiss BEN HAMMER
Miriam Weiss SYLVIA KAUDERS
Lou Fishman GERRY VICHI
Director HARVEY WANG
Producers DANNY VINIK
ADAM FORGASH
Executive Producers RICHARD MACARY
TODD OLSON
Writer ADAM FORGASH
Director of Photography DEREK McKANE
Editor JEFF FLOHR
Composer DARIO ESKENAZI
Sound Editor MICHAEL LAURELLO
Casting Director OLIVIA HARRIS
Production Designer TAMAR GADISH
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SYNOPSIS
Lifelong friends Lenny Sugarman (Dominic Chianese) and Ruben Liebner (Dick
Latessa), both in their 70s, both dyed-in-the-wool New Yorkers, barely recognize the
Manhattan of their youth. The city they’ve loved for decades has become a playground
for the too-rich; their places, the ones they’ve frequented for years, are now refuges from
a changing world they’re increasingly unable to keep up with. When Lenny—a lone
schemer all his life—finally gets in over his head, he decides to seek the one thing he’s
never had: true love. But to achieve it, he may have to abandon the only place he’s ever
known.
THE LAST NEW YORKER is a tale of friendship, love and the world’s greatest city -and how all three keep us young and make us feel alive. The film also stars Kathleen
Chalfant and Josh Hamilton, and a host of renowned New York character actors
including Joe Grifasi, Ben Hammer, Sylvia Kauders, and Gerry Vichi. Directed by
acclaimed NYC filmmaker, documentarian, and photographer Harvey Wang.
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DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
I’ve had a long photography career (over 30 years) and have directed many
commercials and short films, but THE LAST NEW YORKER is my first feature.
When Adam Forgash began writing the screenplay, he came across my book, Harvey
Wang’s New York. The book is a collection of photographic portraits of older New
Yorkers whose occupations and ways of life were being threatened by change. I
photographed typesetters and rabbinic tailors, blacksmiths and gravediggers. I also
came across some great stores and businesses that seemed untouched by time, but
whose days were inevitably numbered. My photographs were inspiring to Adam, and
helped him visualize the world in which his main characters were living, and the New
York they remembered.
Producer Danny Vinik asked if I’d be interested in directing the film. Not only did it offer
me another opportunity to capture a New York that was fading away, but it allowed me to
work with many great New York character actors including Dominic Chianese (Uncle
Junior Soprano, The Sopranos), Dick Latessa (Tony Award Winner, HAIRSPRAY) and
Kathleen Chalfant (ANGELS IN AMERICA, Obie Award Winner, WIT).
I was so pleased to be able to shoot on-location in some of the New York City
businesses I’d come to treasure. Unfortunately, several closed shortly after the film
wrapped, so their inclusion in the film became that much more important, highlighting
some of what the city loses in the name of growth and progress. Ultimately, the film
became a surprising collection of love stories – the love shared by two friends, a man’s
passion for an idealized woman, the characters’ love of the city, and finally, my love for
the city.
--Harvey Wang, Director
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ABOUT THE CAST
DOMINIC CHIANESE (“Lenny Sugarman”)
Dominic Chianese, whose career in music, film, stage and
television spans over 6 decades, made his acting debut
with AMERICAN SAVOYARDS in 1952 at the Jan Hus OffBroadway theater, leading to his first professional U.S. tour
in Gilbert and Sullivan's THE MIKADO and PATIENCE. He
went on to act in dramas and musicals at regional theaters,
including Arena Stage, Center Stage, Yale Repertory, Long
Wharf Theatre, Walnut St. Theater, and the NY
Shakespeare Festival among others, from 1958 to 1998.
Chianese's Broadway appearances include RICHARD III,
David Mamet’s WATER ENGINE, Archibald MacLeish’s
SCRATCH, Tennessee Williams' THE ROSE TATTOO,
REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT by Rod Serling, the IRRESTIBLE RISE OF
ARTURO UI, The Public Theatre’s production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with
Sam Watterston, Jimmy Smits & Kirsten Johnston, and SECOND HAND MEMORY,
written and directed by Woody Allen. His most recent stints on the stage include, Arthur
Miller’s THE PRICE at the Old Grove Theatre in San Diego, and STILL LIFE, an offBroadway play by Alex Dinelaris.
Chianese began his film career in 1971 with the film FUZZ, and soon after landed the
role of Johnny Ola in the classic Coppola film, THE GODFATHER, PART II. This led to
three more films with Sidney Lumet – DOG DAY AFTERNOON, Q&A, and NIGHT
FALLS ON MANHATTAN. Other noted films include: AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, ALL THE
PRESIDENT’S MEN, SECOND SIGHT, IF LUCY FELL, THE CRADLE WILL ROCK,
UNFAITHFUL, WHEN WILL I BE LOVED, KINGS OF THE CORNER and ADRIFT IN
MANHATTAN.
Chianese is best know for playing Corrado "Uncle Junior" Soprano on the HBO hit series
The Sopranos, for which he was nominated for Emmy Awards in 2000 and 2001. His
other television credits include: Damages, Law & Order, Kojak, East Side, West Side,
Beacon Hill, Dark Shadows, and Hope & Faith.
Besides acting, he is also a singer/songwriter and has released two CD's, "Hits," a
compilation of different music styles, and "Ungrateful Heart," a collection of Italian
Songs. Chianese also recently launched a nonprofit organization called Joy Through Art
Foundation, which brings performing artists to nursing homes on a regular basis.
DICK LATESSA (“Ruben Liebner”)
Dick Latessa last appeared on Broadway as Wilbur in
HAIRSPRAY, a performance for which he won a Tony Award,
Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award, and he
recently repeated his role with Harvey Fierstein in Las Vegas.
Prior to that he appeared at Lincoln Center in John Guare’s
CHAUCER IN ROME. Broadway credits include Roundabout
Theatre Company’s production of CABARET (Helen Hayes
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Award and nominated for Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award), as well as Neil Simon’s
PROPOSALS, the revival of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE
FORUM, DAMN YANKEES, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, RUMORS, BROADWAY
BOUND, RAGS, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, PASSIONE, I OUGHTA BE IN
PICTURES, CHAPTER TWO, FOLLIEES, and AWAKE AND SING! In the City Center
Encores! series, he appeared in PROMISES, DUBARRY WAS A LADY, and LIL’
ABNER, and in the Kennedy Center’s Words and Music Series, BELLS ARE RINGING.
Off-Broadway credits include OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS, FIT
TO BE TIED, SOPHISTRY, MAN IN HIS UNDERWEAR, and PHILEMON, for which he
received an Obie Award and recreated for PBS. Latessa’s regional theater credits
include Long Wharf, Mark Taper, Huntington, Walnut Street, and Berkshire Theater
Festival. Most recently he appeared as Firs in THE CHERRY ORCHARD and Mr.
Maraczek in SHE LOVES ME. His film credits include THICKER THAN BLOOD, THE
SUBSTANCE OF FIRE, STIGMATA, THE GREAT NEW WONDERFUL, and ALFIE, with
Jude Law. Latessa’s most recent TV Credits include: The Good Wife on NBC, Six
Degrees on ABC, Brotherhood on Lifetime, and the NBC series The Black Donnellys.
KATHLEEN CHALFANT (“Mimi Hotchkiss”)
Kathleen Chalfant is one of the theater’s most celebrated
actors. She is well known to New York audiences and
worldwide for her portrayal of Vivian Bearing in the OffBroadway, Los Angeles and London productions of the Pulitzer
Prize winning WIT. For her performance, Ms. Chalfant received
the Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Outer Critics
Circle Award, Drama League Award, LA Ovation Award,
Connecticut Critics Circle Award, as well as her second Obie
Award. She was also acclaimed for her Tony-nominated
performance as Hannah Pitt in Tony Kushner’s ANGELS IN
AMERICA on Broadway.
In 2010, Ms. Chalfant will be appearing in two new Off-Broadway plays: FAMILY WEEK
with Rosemarie DeWitt, written by Beth Henley and directed by Jonathan Demme, and
PROPHECY, written and directed by Karen Malpede, with George Bartenieff, Nadjla
Said, and Andre de Shields.
Her other Broadway credits include ENCORES!, BLOOMER GIRL, RACING DEMON,
DANCE WITH ME, and M. BUTTERFLY. Her Off-Broadway credits include VITA &
VIRGINIA, DEADMAN'S CELL PHONE, A HARD HEART, SPALDING GRAY: STORIES
LEFT TO TELL, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, 5 BY TENN, GUANTANAMO, THE LAST
LETTER, TALKING HEADS, SAVANNAH BAY, FAR AWAY, THE VAGINA
MONOLOGUES, NINE ARMENIANS (Drama Desk Nomination), TWELVE DREAMS,
HENRY V (Callaway Award), and TRUE HISTORY AND REAL ADVENTURES. She’s
also appeared in DELIRIUM, IPHIGENIA AND OTHER DAUGHTERS, ENDGAME, THE
PARTY, THREE POETS, SISTER MARY IGNATIUS . . ., JUST SAY NO, THE
INVESTIGATION OF THE MURDER IN EL SALVADOR, HOLD ME!, and SIGNS OF
LIFE.
As familiar a face in film as in the theatre, Ms. Chalfant can also be seen in the feature
films A PERFECT STRANGER, DUPLICITY, KINSEY, REBEL VOICES, THE LAST
DAYS OF DISCO, MURDER AND MURDER, BOB ROBERTS, FIVE CORNERS,
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JUMPIN’ AT THE BONEYARD, DREAM WORK, A PRICE ABOVE RUBIES, SIDE
STREETS, RANDOM HEARTS and COMPANY MAN.
Her TV credits include Mercy, Rescue Me, One Life to Live, Book of Daniel, Jo, The
Guardian, The Laramie Project, Benjamin Franklin, A Death in the Family for PBS
Masterpiece Theatre, Steven King mini-series Storm Of The Century; Voices From The
White House (PBS), A Death In The Family (American Masterpiece Theatre/PBS), with
recurring roles on the critically acclaimed Prince Street and One Life To Live; and guest
spots on Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent,
The Beat, Spin City, LA Law, Prince Street, and New York Undercover.
She was a participant in V-Day 2001 at Madison Square Garden and V-Day 2002 in San
Francisco and Sacramento, California as well as The Lysistrata Project at BAM.
Additional Awards: 1996 OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance; 1998
Connecticut Critics Circle Award (Wit); 2000 Ovation, Garland, and Los Angeles Drama
Critics Circle Awards (Los Angeles) for WIT. She received the Drama League and
Sidney Kingsley Awards for her body of work. Kathleen is a founding member of the
Women’s Project and sits on the boards of The Vineyard Theatre, Broadway
Cares/Equity Fights Aids, and the advisory board of the New York Foundation for the
Arts. She is an advisor to Theaters Against War and a signer of the Not In Our Name
statement of conscience.
Ms. Chalfant was Artist in Residence at the Weill College of Medicine of Cornell
University for 2005 – 2006, was the Beineke Fellow at the Yale School of Drama in the
Spring of 2006 and again in the fall of 2008 and is a member of the Board of Advisors of
MSF/Doctors Without Borders.
JOSH HAMILTON (“Zach Sugarman”)
Josh Hamilton recently appeared in Jonathan Marc
Sherman’s THINGS WE WANT at the Acorn Theater in
New York City. His theater credits also include the role
of Nicholas Ogarev in Tom Stoppard’s play COAST OF
UTOPIA: SALVAGE at the Lincoln Center Theater, and
the role of Mickey in the David Rabe play
HURLYBURLY at the 37 Arts Theatre. He also starred
with Jennifer Jason Leigh in the Broadway production of
David Auburn's play PROOF. He starred in the original
productions of Kenneth Lonnergan's THIS IS OUR
YOUTH with Mark Ruffalo, and THE WAVERLY
GALLERY with Eileen Heckart. He has also appeared in THE CIDER HOUSE RULES,
AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN, GONE HOME and SUBURBIA.
His film credits include AWAY WE GO, TEN STORIES TALL, OUTSOURCED,
DIGGERS, MARGARET, BROKEN ENGLISH, THE F WORD, ALIVE, KICKING AND
SCREAMING, WITH HONORS, THE HOUSE OF YES, ONLINE, and FREAK TALKS
ABOUT SEX.
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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
HARVEY WANG (Director)
Harvey Wang is a widely published photographer and
Emmy Award winning filmmaker. His short films,
ranging in style and approach from documentary to
experimental, have been seen in festivals all over the
world. Wang’s film MILTON ROGOVIN: THE
FORGOTTEN ONES won the prize for Best
Documentary Short at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival,
and TRIPTYCH was chosen as Best Experimental Film
at the 2004 Rhode Island International Film Festival. He
has published five books of photography, all critically
acclaimed portraits of Americans from many walks of
life. Wang has exhibited widely at museums, including
the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington,
DC, the New-York Historical Society, and the Museum of the City of New York. He is
also a commercial director and is currently represented by No Smoke films in New York
City.
DANNY VINIK (Producer)
Danny Vinik’s Brink Films produced the feature film SPUN, directed by famed rock video
director Jonas Akerlund, starring Jason Schwartzman, John Leguizamo, Mena Suvari,
Patric Fugit, Brittany Murphy and Mickey Rourke. SPUN played at the Toronto Film
Festival and was picked up for distribution by Bob Berney at New Market Films. As well
as producing films, Danny has written screenplays including DEADROCKSTAR, and a
novel BLUE PAIGE 1999. He’s produced several short films and music videos, and he’s
an Internet pioneer, founding several Internet companies including Brink Media
www.brinkmedia.com, a company that develops the digital space for among others,
Kevin Spacey’s TriggerStreet.com and Chris Hanley’s Muse Films.
ADAM FORGASH (Writer/Producer)
Adam Forgash wrote and produced the feature film EVERYTHING PUT TOGETHER
directed by Marc Forster, which was selected for the dramatic competition at Sundance
and nominated for two Independent Spirit awards. Forgash has adapted screenplays
based on fiction by Michael Chabon and Ira Levin and is un-credited on many re-writes.
He lives in New York with his wife and daughter.
DEREK McKANE (Director of Photography)
Derek McKane has been involved in film production since 1988. He has had the privilege
of handling lighting duties for luminaries such as Vilmos Zsigmond, Conrad Hall, and
Darius Khondji. As Director of Photography, his recent feature films include
SUPERHEROES and THE FOURTH FLOOR. He has also shot commercials for clients
such as Nike, Energizer, Sega, Merrill Lynch, and GlaxoSmithKline. Derek is a 6th
degree black belt in Shorin Ryu Karate, and enjoys scuba diving and parachuting. He is
currently married with three children, living in a good school district on Long Island.
JEFF FLOHR (Film Editor)
Jeff Flohr is an editor and digital imaging technician. Most recently, he edited TV
PARTY, a documentary about an anti-establishment/performance art 'talk show' that ran
on public access cable in NYC from 1978-1982. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film
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Festival in 2005. As a digital imaging tech, he has worked on commercials for numerous
clients. When not in the digital world, he enjoys shooting film with his Holga.
OLIVIA HARRIS (Casting Director)
In addition to THE LAST NEW YORKER Olivia Harris cast the feature films EASY, NO
VACANCY, LANDFALL, STARDUST, and THE AWAKENING OF ANGELS. She is
currently casting THE MOMENT. Recently, she did New York casting for the features
10,000 B.C. and SPIDERMAN 3. For television, she cast the Hallmark Hall of Fame
CANDLES ON BAY STREET with Alicia Silverstone and Annabeth Gish, and the recent
CW Network pilot I’m Paige Armstrong. She did New York casting for a number of WB
Network shows including Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
and Gilmore Girls.
TAMAR GADISH (Production Designer)
Tamar works in both film and theatre. Her credits in film include ADAM directed by Max
Mayer starring Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Peter Gallagher and Amy Irving, YOU
BELONG TO ME directed by Sam Zalutsky starring Patti D’Arbanville and Daniel Sauli,
MARVELOUS directed by Siofra Campbell starring Amy Ryan, Martha Plimpton, Michael
Shannon and Ewen Bremner and MIND THE GAP directed by Eric Shaeffer starring
Allan King and Elizabeth Reaser. She was nominated for an Israeli Oscar for Best
Production Design for the film THE BARBECUE PEOPLE directed by David Ofek & Yosi
Madmoni. She holds an MFA in Set Design for Stage and Film from New York
University, Tisch School of the Arts.
JAN FINNELL (Costume Designer)
Jan Finnell grew up in New York City and began her costume design career working
professionally while still in high school. She works in film, TV, print, opera, theatre,
corporate branding and industrials, and on Broadway. Commercial and print shoots
include clients such as The Peace Corps, AT & T, Denny's, LG Digital, Sensodyne,
Cablevision, InSight, Bertucci's, and Cialis. An accomplished illustrator, she is also
known for her line of Bohemian and Eclectic Jewelry called Over the Top, which also
consists of commissions for her designer colleagues on Broadway and off. THE LAST
NEW YORKER is her first feature film.
DARIO ESKENAZI (Original Music/Composer)
Dario Eskenazi is an award-winning musician and composer. He has composed music
for some American and European films including THE LAST NEW YORKER, QUE
PAREZCA UN ACCIDENTE and EL AURA (winner of 6 Silver Condor Awards from the
Argentinian Film Critics Association in 2006). He has also written additional music for EL
CLUB DE LOS SUICIDAS and EL PENALTI MAS LARGO DEL MUNDO. He is also a
pianist in demand for several jazz and latin jazz bands in New York City. He was a
member of the Paquito D'Rivera Quartet for many years with whom he won 3 Grammy
Awards.
MICHAEL LAURELLO (Sound Editor)
Born and raised in the Boston area, Mike has been involved with projects ranging from
music production to sound design. He was on the production team for the score of the
feature film AMU, and recently has been busy editing soundtracks and writing original
music for film. In addition to his production experience, Mike is an accomplished pianist.
He currently resides just outside of Boston.
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ABOUT THE LOCATIONS
Lismore Hosiery (Closed)
334 Grand St.
Once the entire area between Delancey Street and
Grand Street was filled with bra, corset, and hosiery
shops. Some are still in business on the Lower East
Side, but most have shuttered. Lismore Hosiery
closed in November 2005. It had been in business for
68 years.
Beny’s Fine Jewelry (Closed)
86 Canal St.
Benjamin Cohen opened his shop in 1946, when the area
surrounding Canal and Bowery was the center of New York
City’s main jewelry district. In addition to jewelry, he sold fine
pens, razors, and lighters. The shop held on as the center of the
jewelry business gradually shifted to Midtown. His son Jerry
closed the shop in 2006. It had been in business for 60 years.
Eisenberg’s Coffee & Sandwich Shop
174 5th Ave.
This 1929 Flatiron luncheonette has enjoyed a
long line of owners who have respected its history
and its reputation as a New York institution.
Largely unchanged over the years, it is still serving
its famous sandwiches as well as old New York
City soda fountain favorites, like egg creams and
lime rickeys.
Blarney Stone Bar (Closed)
106 W. 32nd St.
In the 1960’s, there were dozens of Blarney Stones in New York
City. Today, their numbers have dwindled. They were known for
serving Irish favorites like corned beef and cabbage from steam
tables in the bar. Regulars liked to linger and enjoy plenty of
beer, liquor, and cheap eats. This Blarney Stone is now closed.
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Odessa Cafe
119 Avenue A
Odessa opened over 45 years ago, when the neighborhood was
predominantly Polish and Ukrainian. Though the demographics
of the neighborhood have changed, Odessa still has plenty of
demand for their delicious pierogi and potato pancakes.
Moulded Shoe Co.
10 E. 39th St.
Moulded Shoe has been in business for more than 60 years. In
addition to selling a full line of fine shoes, the shop’s skilled
craftsmen can make custom and molded shoes. Molded shoes are
made using plaster casts of the customer’s feet, while custom-made
shoes are made over a last (a shaped form, usually made of wood).
For pain and medical issues, a molded shoe can be the perfect
remedy. Custom shoes offer superior comfort and the best possible
fit…and the chance to use a little imagination, if a customer is so
inclined.
Tony’s Shoe Repairing
208 W. 35th St.
The shop was started in 1934 by Guy Pisani’s
grandfather Tony, an Italian immigrant who had been
a cobbler in Oppido Lucano in the old country. In Italy
he made shoes, but in America he had to work in
shoe repairing because there was so much
manufacturing. Guy’s father Danny took over the
shop in the late 1960s, and Guy worked alongside him for 20 years. Much has changed
now that the stable of old regulars has gone and shoes have become disposable. One
thing that hasn’t changed is Guy’s pride in the work. “I can guarantee everything I do,
and mean it, with personal attention, which is also a dying art.” He adds, “I still love
coming to work.” The shop has been in business for 74 years.
Global International Mens Clothing
62 Orchard St.
The shop was founded in 1948 on historic
Orchard Street, which was once a lane
through the orchard of a farm owned by the
wealthy Delancey family. In the early 1900s,
the street would become the commercial
center of the predominantly Jewish Lower
East Side. Today, Isaac Gluck is happy to
help customers select from the finest
imported Italian suits.
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