Alex Spieth filming her new series in the 110th street median.
By Alex Spieth
I’m Alex Spieth, a writer and actor, who has lived in the Upper West Side for the past 3 years (109th, so I made it by the skin of my teeth). Over the past few months, I’ve filmed the first season of [Blank] My Life in the Upper West and Harlem. In scouting and using locations, I have discovered pitfalls and joys and have decided to share them to all other aspiring filmmakers on the “Upper Best.”
Locations Used:
Home at 90th and Riverside: In episode “Thanksgiving”, my character, Susan, goes to her boyfriend’s parents’ home. While many of my friends live in apartments, all of our places have that “only been a few years since they graduated college” Â feel, and, as we were no-budget, set dressing was not on the table. After frantically emailing anyone who may or may not have grown up in Manhattan, a worthy candidate stepped to the plate and allowed us to use her parent’s apartment at 90th and Riverside. I kissed her hand and will later in life offer my services as a surrogate for this GIFT.
Pros:
–The apartment was gorgeous, and the family was gracious and delightful.
–Proximity to Riverside Park for an after-shoot stroll in to the glorious night with the knowledge that “This day, I created internet art”.
–Proximity to Ollie’s To Go, who provided the props for the shoot, for a minimal cost. Â $$
–Proximity to Gristedes who provided pumpkin pie, also a prop. $
Cons:
N/A
Five Stars for hospitality and generosity.
110th Street Median: One of the episodes required a classic “subway meeting”. This median to be dealt with with extreme care. We shot at 6pm, which is power-hour for foot-traffic as the UWS families will stop at nothing to cross the street.
Pros:
–Proximity to Westside Market
Cons:
–Proximity to Westside Market.
Two Stars for fear of being trampled like Simba in The Lion King.
Rocks at 110 Central Park: In a promo shot, I made out with another actor at 12pm on a Sunday afternoon in early-fall. It was a gorgeous day, and everyone was ready to go to the park. In a true NYC triumph, no children seemed to notice or care about the two pseudo-adults touching tongues. In a true NYC triumph, the adults cared even less than the kids did.
Pros:
–It’s a beautiful thing to witness UW-siders taking such joy in the “Great Outdoors”
–Making Out is cool, on-screen or off.
Cons:
–Rocks were slightly uncomfortable to sit on.
–The amount of people enjoying the great outdoors made getting to and from the rocks difficult.
Four Stars for My Shame.
Apartment at W. 60th: In the pilot episode, I interact with a child and an animal, which felt like the gauntlet had been placed in front of me. The real test here was appearing professional and together for the benefit of the minor, her mother, and, of course, the pet’s owner. The director, DP, and I put on our bravest, funniest, most together faces, and miraculously the act was carried out.
Pros:
–Extreme proximity to One Train (blissfully well running, even on weekends)
–Proximity to Dunkin (a staple in indie filmmaking).
Cons:
–The owner of the apartment was in New Jersey, and I was afraid the Security Guard would suddenly sense “One of these things does not belong….” and kick the web series cast and crew out, which CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE READ UNPROFESSIONAL.
–The apartment is a gorgeous high-rise, but I am…afraid of heights.
Five Stars for Beauty. Five Stars for the Miracle of Everything Working Out.
Stills from an epsiode filmed at Mel’s Burger Bar on 110th street.
Mel’s Burger Bar (110th): All of the dates in episodes take place in restaurants, and finding locations which are willing is difficult, as it could disrupt flow/stifle business/no one really WISHES their restaurant was clogged with over-grown children playing on cameras like monkey-bars. However, I worked as a server at Mel’s  for a year (leaving slightly before the shoot), and family WILL take care of you. They let me film during the hours of 10am- 5pm on a Tuesday.
Pros:
–Nachos and Sliders were dope.
–The servers were helpful, kind, and conscientious.
–My cast and crew were recognized as “sexy” which is a good boost for ego no matter what.
Cons:
–I begin to regret leaving serving there.
Five Stars for Willingness.
Riverside Park: One of the episodes takes place in a park, and I feared very much being evacuated while shooting. Thusly, I contacted both Riverside and Morningside Park, and all interactions with the Parks Department were A+++ (timely, kind, well-meaning, and prompt). Riverside is more extensive in their questions to the filmmaker, but all questions are with the Park’s best interest in mind (aka “What is your clean-up plan” “Will you disrupt foot traffic”). We ended up shooting at Riverside due to convenience for the creator (aka myself).
Pros:
–Just GAWGEOUS SETTINGS
–The calm in knowing that park sanctions were on my side
–Proximity to most of the cast and crew homes
Cons:
–Slightly cold on the day we shot (no fault of the Parks)
–A homeless man took two of the actors’ jackets, and the series faced a real moral dilemma as to whether to retrieve them or not. We decided not to, and content ourselves with footage
Five Stars for Consummate Professionalism by the NYC Parks Department.
Check out the first few episodes of Alex’s comedic series here. The episodes are short and funny!
And we are supposed to care about this….why??? Ughhh
I like it. Part of the real-life fabric of the UWS.
@UWS_lifer
As a reminder of the self-promotion now on the increase in our neighborhood.
It wouldn’t be the Upper West Side without a snarky comment by someone missing the point, so I’m glad UWS_lifer got that in at the top.
As an Upper West Sider myself (and a former 109th Street resident, as were Dustin Hoffman and Robert Duvall), I look forward to seeing your series, Alex, and wish you luck with it. You’re obviously a funny person, based on this write-up.
Should we care any less about this than the story of the girl growing up here in the 30’s? This is Alex’s experience on the UWS. I think it’s interesting that both stories were posted this weekend.
Pretty funny that the filmmaker is so “scrappy”! I guess you have to be pretty ‘scrappy’ to live up here in the really sketchy neighborhood on 109th Street for 3 whole years! Almost Harlem, for heavens sakes. And sad as it is to say, all the photos actually represent the composition of the neighborhood. Too bad they didn’t get a show of the thieving “homeless man”. I would liked to have seen that. A ‘Girls’ for the new millennium. I do think one ‘share’ here (and I am a filmmaker) was plenty.
Ignore the sad sacks who post their bitterness– I think it’s great you are shooting in the hood and good luck with the series!
I do hope you mix it up a little diversity-wise. There are so many great actors of various ethnicities and lives up here, it would be a shame to not get them visibility.
Don’t forget Obama! also a former 109th street resident.
Kudos to Alex for fun, creative writing! I look forward to seeing the episodes. This is a good example of the energy and creative spirit of our neighborhood.
What station or channel is this aired on? It sounds different.
Why do people have to post with these negative comments? Can’t we just read it as one person’s experience trying to do something in life? Be it the UWS, or not, gives it another level of context that should interest us West Siders. I think it was written with that in mind.
Maybe UWS and dannyboy, should both write a short pieces on what it’s like to be a curmudgeon on the UWS. I would read them too. — come on, give it a try. I dare you.
Good luck Alex.
@comment bob
Don’t hurl insults instead of ideas.
Your personal attack is creepy.
Happier with the attention?
Just viewed two of the episodes. I applaud Alexfor her work and hope she makes a go of it as an actor. Unfortunately, I found the episodes to be rather tedious and not funny. But best of luck.
Better than anything Mr. Oscar is celebrating tonight.
from:
Loyal Viewer and frustrated Video Artist.
Ah the inevitable ‘diversity’ comment. Isnt NYC 35 percent white? Shouldnt a filmmaker just tell their story? Oh I forgot. Only non whites- who are the overwhelming majority here- can do that. SMH.
this is great – episodes are SO FUNNNY. Thank you Alex! Think I found my new furtive workplace distraction…