Category: Film/TV

Staten Islanders learn about "The Ghost Army"

11/1/2017

On Wednesday, November 1st, BP Oddo hosted a free screening of the film “The Ghost Army” at the Hilton Garden Inn. Following the screening, filmmaker Rick Beyer hosted a Q&A and signed books.

The award-winning documentary film details the story of the top secret 1100-man unit that, from June 1944 to March 1945, misled, deceived, and befuddled the German military tacticians and planners. The film discusses the unit’s strategies during WWII to misdirect the enemy, using illusions such as inflatable rubber tanks and trucks, fake radio transmissions, and simulated airfields and planes.

Four local WWII Veterans attended the screening and were honored publicly at the event.

“Educating the public about Veterans and their service is a very important issue for me and my team,” said BP Oddo. “I was happy to bring ‘The Ghost Army,’ and filmmaker Rick Beyer, to Staten Island to spread the word about this little-known section of World War II history.”

"What these men did in World War II is nothing short of amazing, and I am grateful to Jim Oddo for helping me share this eye-opening piece of history with an audience on Staten Island," noted Beyer.

For more information on the film and the unit, visit ghostarmy.org.

BP and Broadway Stages Announce Major Filming at Former Prison Site

5/5/2017

On Friday, May 5th, Borough President Oddo joined with Broadway Stages to announce the filming of a new Netflix series and major motion picture at the former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility. Ocean’s 8, a sequel and all-female spinoff of the Ocean’s trilogy, will be filming at the former prison on Saturday, May 6. The Ocean’s 8 cast features several A-list celebrities, including Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, and more. The new Netflix series, Seven Seconds, a crime drama based on the Russian film The Major, will be filming at the facility on Friday, May 5.

Broadway Stages, the largest full-service TV and film production company on the East Coast, is currently working with the State to purchase the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, which was shut down by Governor Cuomo in 2011 as part of his prison closing program. The film production company plans on turning part of the prison into additional soundstages, while keeping other areas intact to give films and TV shows an authentic prison backdrop. The facility has already been used by hit shows, including Blindspot, Quantico, Blacklist, Blacklist Redemption, The Americans and more.

“The fact that major film and TV productions like Ocean’s 8 are filming on the Arthur Kill property, before the site is even acquired by Broadway Stages, demonstrates how popular this location will be as a future film studio,” said BP Oddo. “The facility is located on the West Shore waterfront of Staten Island, in an area that I call the ‘Jobs Coast,’ which is ideally suited for commercial activity. Every time a director calls ‘Action’ it will mean jobs and economic activity for Staten Island. In addition to the permanent jobs associated with the studio, I am told every major film and TV production will generate over two hundred jobs in a multitude of trades. When our future Staten Island film studio is officially open for business, I anticipate a steady stream of production here. The advance word is positive and exciting, and the activity that has been taking place before it is even open is encouraging.”

“We owe tremendous thanks to Borough President James Oddo, local elected officials and residents for their continued support of this venture. We are very excited to become a part of the Staten Island community, bringing jobs and major economic stimulation to this great borough,” said Gina Argento, President and CEO of Broadway Stages. “One reason we have been able to grow so quickly is because of the relationships we build in the local communities we operate in. It’s something we’re incredibly proud of and look forward to building those relationships in Staten Island.

Once Broadway Stages owns the property, it plans on calling the facility the Staten Island Stages. The company plans to create over 1,500 local jobs in the first year and make a $20M investment through its first five years.

BP Launches New Filming Site

6/21/2016

As film production continues to boom on Staten Island, the Borough President's Office has launched a new website to showcase the borough's film friendly locations to production companies. The photo portfolio is designed to aid location scouts in their search for specific locations on Staten Island, including parks, cultural institutions and private homes.

BP Oddo wants to open up the opportunity to Staten Islanders to benefit economically from this industry.

If you are interested in listing your home or business on our film locations website, email photos, a brief description of the space and your contact information to Allison Cohen at ACohen@StatenIslandUSA.com.

CHECK OUT THE NEW FILMING SITE

BP Oddo unveils Breast Cancer PSA campaign

3/10/2016

On March 10th, Borough President James S. Oddo unveiled a series of public service announcements (PSAs) that tell the story of four Staten Island women’s journey with breast cancer. Each of the four PSAs emphasizes the importance of routine mammography screenings as a necessary tool in the detection of breast cancer. The cancer survivors featured in the PSA campaign are Linda Altini, Christine Badillo, Anne Devlin, and Jennifer Shea.

The videos, along with other information about breast cancer and mammography screening, can be found at statenislandusa.com/breastcancer.

“I applaud these four brave women for sharing their stories about their experience with breast cancer,” said Borough President Oddo. “The best piece of advice I heard at our recent Mammogram Roundtable is that we must all take charge of our own health and, in consultation with our doctors, make our own health care decisions. I urge all Staten Islanders to watch these PSAs and then speak to their doctors to determine what is best for them in terms of screening.”

“If I reach just one woman who goes to get a mammogram, then that will be well worth it,” noted Mrs. Altini, who was diagnosed at age 40.

The PSAs were made possible through a collaboration of the Borough President’s Office and Staten Island Community Television.

Hundreds attend the film screening of “The Anonymous People” - BP Oddo, actress Kristen Johnston, SLAM NYC and SI Advance host movie, panel discussion

11/12/2015

On the evening of November 12, the beautiful, historic St. George Theatre, which has welcomed scores of celebrities throughout its tenure, saw the vivacious two-time Emmy winning actress Kristen Johnston take the stage last night.

Johnston, who is in recovery for alcohol and prescription drug abuse, co-founded SLAM NYC, which is committed to creating a sober high school in New York City. Thanks to an invitation from Borough President Oddo, SLAM and filmmaker Greg Williams agreed to screen his film, “The Anonymous People,” which is a documentary talking about recovery, shame and hope.

“It has been emotional to watch my home borough go through this epidemic and to lose so many Staten Islanders,” Borough President Oddo said as he opened the event on stage. “We’ve spent a lot of time talking about pain, addiction and death. Now we want to talk about recovery.”

The event attracted families, teachers, students and others who were interested in learning about the addiction-recovery process.

“I don’t want any more kids to die from this,” noted Johnston, addressing the audience from the stage. “Staten Islanders—you are our heroes on this issue because you are talking openly about the problem and recovery.”

The film ran 50 minutes and was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Advance Editor Brian Laline. On the panel were Ms. Johnston; Joe Schrank, Slam NYC board member and participant in the film; Greg Williams, filmmaker, The Anonymous People; Michelle Lipinski, Director of the Northshore Recovery High School; Adrienne Abbate, Director, Tackling Youth Substance Abuse; Luke Nasta, Director, Camelot Counseling Center; Thom Krauss, President and Co-Founder, SLAM NYC; and Tom Checchi, SI Advance.

The panelists discussed media coverage of addiction issues as negative and discussed the problem with anonymity, which while understandable and necessary for so many people, is associated with shame.

“We shame far too many people. The language that we use to talk about addiction in the media is very negative. We need a language of empowerment. Words have meaning. Words have power,” panelist Schrank said.

BP Oddo welcomes Emmy-award winner Kristen Johnston to Borough Hall

11/10/2015

Ms. Johnston's SLAM NYC & BP to host free film screening on addiction, recovery on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 PM

Borough President James S. Oddo and two-time Emmy winning actress Kristen Johnston sat down in his office this afternoon for a one-on-one conversation about her battle with addiction and her recovery. Both are committed to recovery from addiction and together with SLAM NYC and the Staten Island Advance, will host a free film screening of the movie, "The Anonymous People" on November 12th at 6:30 p.m. at the St. George Theatre.

Ms. Johnston is known for her role on TV's "Third Rock from the Sun." An advocate for recovery who has been open about her struggle with addiction, she has been clean and sober for 9 years.

She sat down with BP Oddo, who played the role of interviewer during the press conference.

"We are trying to share with people that this is a disease of the brain," Johnston said, noting that medical recognition of the disease will continue to help de-stigmatize it. "We want to let kids know, let parents know, there's no shame in getting help," she said.

In fact, she shared her own experience in a book and does the same in the film, "The Anonymous People." "Hundreds and thousands of people have changed their lives because I told the truth," Johnston said, noting that if she can touch just one person or family on Thursday night it will be a successful evening.

"Thursday night we'll show the film that has changed the way people view addiction in this country," Johnston said, adding that it's a celebration of recovery and that all should come out for it.

BP, SLAM, Advance addiction film screening presser

10/20/2015

Borough President James S. Oddo, Slam NYC and the Staten Island Advance hosted a press conference on Oct. 20 announcing the free screening of the film, "The Anonymous People" on November 12th at 6:30 p.m. at the St. George Theatre.

With the goal of changing the addiction conversation from problems to solutions, both the Borough President, the Advance and representatives of SLAM NYC, an organization co-founded by two-time Emmy award winning actress Kristen Johnston and Thomas Krauss, whose mission is to bring a dedicated recovery high school to New York City, have teamed up to present the film as it relates to the ongoing conversation about Staten Island's drug epidemic and solutions for families and individuals living with addiction.

"It's no secret that we have a devastating problem with drugs on the Island," noted Borough President Oddo. "This film and the panel discussion after, are designed to keep us talking about the problem - and more importantly - the solutions - so we can save more lives through recovery."

Noting that young people afflicted with addiction challenges can fill Madison Square Garden, representatives of Slam NYC, Thomas Krauss and Joe Schrank applauded Borough President Oddo in assisting their organization in making Sober High schools or related addiction programs part of the educational system in New York City. Krauss encouraged Staten Islanders to attend the free screening of the Anonymous People on November 12 to "learn, engage and embrace the efforts to help our kids facing the disease of addiction."

“The movie is a dialogue about recovery,” Schrank explained. “We can’t address the issue if we can’t be honest about it.”

The screening will be at 6:30 PM on November 12. A panel discussion including Ms. Johnston and the filmmaker.

BP Oddo challenges SI filmmakers to create second wave of litter PSAs, announces new contest

5/19/2015

In the spirit of classic PSAs, last year, Staten Island Borough President James S. Oddo held a contest asking Staten Islanders to get out the message of cleaning up our borough by recording their own anti-litter PSA. The contest – which had 6 finalists – was eventually won by Staten Island Tech student Aria Mutkowski. Again this year, BP Oddo is asking for homemade PSAs to get the word out.

Starting today, and running through June 18, residents are urged to get creative and film a PSA with the message of children teaching adults not to litter. The anti-litter videos, which he expects will be made using camera phones or more professional cameras, should be at least 15 seconds long and not exceed three minutes in length.

“What better way to reach Staten Islanders than by tapping into the creativity of Staten Islanders?” said Borough President Oddo. “Anyone with a smartphone or camera can join in and show off their community spirit, while showing, in a pithy way, why litter is wrong and hurts our community. We’ve found that kids teach parents, so we’d like to see this translated into this year’s PSAs.”

To enter the contest, Staten Islanders are encouraged to post their videos on the Borough President’s official Twitter (Twitter.com/StatenIslUSA) page with the hashtag #SILitterPSA or email the link for their submission to Anthony Basile at abasile@statenislandusa.com by 5 PM on June 18, 2015.

After receiving all submissions, he and his staff will pick their favorite PSAs and then leave it to the public to pick the winner. Those five best PSAs will be voted on by Staten Islanders.

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