What is Kickstarter? We’re the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. Learn more!

Photo-full

About this project

Housed in Manhattan’s historic Brill building, Colony Records was founded in 1948 by Nappy Grossbardt and Sidney Turk. Remaining a family-owned business, Colony has been a mecca for everyone from Benny Goodman to Chet Baker to Elvis Presley to Mick Jagger to Elton John to Michael Jackson.

Replete with star-studded memories and old-school retail philosophies, a veteran staff of hardcore music aficionados have created a unique environment where regardless how obscure the song, or if all you know is one lyric, you will exclaim ‘I found it at the Colony!’

While the Times Square neighborhood surrounding the store has transformed from Tin Pan Alley, to Red Light District, to corporate mega-playground, and music fans have gone from buying vinyl albums to cassette tapes, to CDs, to mp3s, the Colony stands stalwart.

Colony Records is a landmark of New York’s cultural history and one of the last remaining independent music stores in the country. Amidst the changing landscapes of Times Square and the music business, against a brutal economy, Colony battles to survive.

Manhattan Lullaby is as a feature documentary following Colony’s current life and chronicling the history that has led to this point. Using interviews, verite, archival material, and music the film will trace the evolution of Colony Records, incorporating relevant elements of the histories of Times Square and the music business.

Over the past 2 years we have been able to shoot approximately one third of the film, making the most of limited resources. Your contribution will help enable us to shoot some much needed verite of the store as well as interviews with celebrity fans, former employees, and long-time customers. These next few months of production are crucial to get the film to the next stage of presenting to grantmakers and broadcasters. Every donation helps, no matter how small, and your help is exponentially more valuable the more you spread the word.

The Manhattan Lullaby creative team includes:

Director/Producer - Sara Alize Cross (Producer The Order of Myths, AP Murderball)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1857118/

Editor - Alison Shurman (Run For Your Life)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2199097/

Cinematographer - Hillary Spera (Darkon, camera operator The Lie, The Freebie)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1629321/

Co-Producer - Jennifer Filippazzo (Field Prod The Oath, AP American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2559617/

www.manhattanlullaby.com

Ask a question

Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.

78
Backers
$8,035
pledged of $7,500 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding Successful

This project successfully raised its funding goal on January 24, 2011.

Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more

8 Backers

*The sincerest gratitude of the filmmakers. You will be a part of getting this film finished. Every bit helps and spreading the word to your friends and family makes your donation exponentially more valuable.

Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more

11 Backers

* A stylin' indie-band pin printed with the film logo * Sincerest Gratitude

Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more

16 Backers

* A super soft and sexy organic cotton tee shirt printed with the film logo * A stylin' indie-band pin printed with the film logo * Sincerest Gratitude

Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more

13 Backers

* DVD of the finished film * A super soft and sexy organic cotton tee shirt printed with the film logo * A stylin' indie-band pin printed with the film logo * Sincerest Gratitude

Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more

5 Backers

* Your name listed in the Special Thanks section of the end credits of the film * DVD of the finished film * A super soft and sexy organic cotton tee shirt printed with the film logo * A stylin' indie-band pin printed with the film logo * Sincerest Gratitude

Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more

2 Backers

* A super fly limited edition poster from the film * Your name listed in the Special Thanks section of the end credits of the film * DVD of the finished film * A super soft and sexy organic cotton tee shirt printed with the film logo * A stylin' indie-band pin printed with the film logo * Sincerest Gratitude

Pledge $1,500 or more Pledge $1,500 or more

0 Backers

*An invitation for you and a guest to attend a private 'feedback' screening to share your thoughts before the film is finished (in NYC, does not include travel or expenses) * A super fly limited edition poster from the film * Your name listed in the Special Thanks section of the end credits of the film * DVD of the finished film * A super soft and sexy organic cotton tee shirt printed with the film logo * A stylin' indie-band pin printed with the film logo * Sincerest Gratitude

Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more

1 Backer

* A private dvd screening of the finished film in your home for your friends and family with filmmaker Q&A (filmmaker in person in NYC, LA, San Francisco, Boston, DC, Philadelphia, Denver, Boulder, filmmaker via skype in other locations) *An invitation for you and a guest to attend a private 'feedback' screening to share your thoughts before the film is finished (in NYC, does not include travel or expenses) * A super fly limited edition poster from the film * Your name listed in the Special Thanks section of the end credits of the film * DVD of the finished film * A super soft and sexy organic cotton tee shirt printed with the film logo * A stylin' indie-band pin printed with the film logo * Sincerest Gratitude

Project By

Saraifp2.large

Has not connected their Facebook account.

Sara Alize Cross produced The Order of Myths, a feature documentary about Mobile, Alabama’s racially segregated Mardi Gras, directed by Margaret Brown (Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt). The Order of Myths premiered at Sundance 2008 and was an Official Selection at SXSW, True/False, Full Frame, Edinburgh, Munich and Silverdocs, where it won the Cinematic Vision Award. After a theatrical release, the film aired on PBS Independent Lens. The Order of Myths won Peabody and Independent Spirit Awards.

Sara was the associate producer of the feature documentary, Murderball, which won the Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Murderball was released in theatres and aired on A&E. Sara also associate produced 21 Up America, a hi-def documentary directed by Christopher Quinn (God Grew Tired of Us) and part of the acclaimed 7Up series by Michael Apted. 21Up America premiered at Silverdocs 2006 and aired on Discovery channel. Sara directed and produced The Ride, a 20 minute, 16mm narrative film that screened at several film festivals around the country.

Project_bar_shadow