By Bill Parry
Two Astoria filmmakers launched a fund-raising campaign earlier this month to raise the money to create a feature-length film about their neighborhood.
Paras Chaudhari and Chrysovalantis Stamelos, founders of Crescent Street Films, are counting on the youthful art community to help them make “Astoria Park” a reality after a decade of working on the project.
“It all began when we were students at Syracuse University in 2004,” Stamelos, 33, said. “We would watch Bollywood movies every Saturday afternoon and we decided to make one of our own based on basketball and rap music.”
The two moved to Astoria shortly after graduation, started their film company and produced a short version that was well-received at film festivals in 2005.
“It was always our plan to make ‘Astoria Park’ a feature-length film to explore the characters more deeply, adding context to the story,” Chaudhari, 32, said.
The movie is about ethnic tension and homophobia between two rival immigrant gangs that plays out on an Astoria basketball court.
“Ethnic groups are so insular and territorial in Astoria,” Stamelos said. “It’s great for the neighborhood, and back in ’04, we knew it was great and it will really put Astoria on the world map.”
The pair went to great lengths to fund the film’s production and almost gave up trying last year.
“Investors were saying that the project is too risky and too controversial,” Chaudhari said. “For us, that is what makes it worth doing. We decided it’s time to let the community know about the project before it gets made, not after. So, let’s get the neighborhood involved and corroboratively promote ourselves.”
The campaign is called Astoria Stand Up and its first event, at the Bohemian Beer Hall April 5, drew nearly 300 young artists for an afternoon filled with music, dance and poetry. A second event is planned for May 4 at Break Bar & Billiards, at 32-04 Broadway. The filmmakers are hoping to draw an even bigger crowd with the Cinco de Mayo-themed gathering.
The two filmmakers shoot the events and feature them as part of their Kickstarter online fund-raising campaign.
For the event at the Bohemian Beer Garden, Stamelos flew in from Turkey, where he has opened a second office for Crescent Street Films. The former MTV producer shot a documentary called “Hello Anatolia,” which sold out multiple shows last year at the Museum of the Moving Image. He plans on traveling back and forth for each fund-raiser.
It may take a bit longer to raise the $1 million they will need to produce “Astoria Park” because they were so moved by the turnout for their first event and have decided to fund another project.
“We are no longer just doing a Kickstarter just for the movie,” Chaudari said. “The Kickstarter campaign will now be for Astoria Stand Up. A percentage will go to the movie and a percentage will go towards the ASU organization and the artists that perform as part of ASU events.”
Audrey Dimola curated and hosted the April 4 event and believes it is the start of something big for the Astoria arts community.
“I’ve loved working with the Crescent Street Films crew for Astoria Stand Up,” she said. “Their purpose is pure, and I always wanted to be involved with efforts that promote and celebrate the talent and diversity of my home borough.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718.260.4538.
