Living Portrait of NYC // Experience
In Summer 2022, I was tapped to represent one of the five boroughs for an unannounced documentary project at the time. The project aimed to showcase the hope and resilience of New Yorkers after the pandemic. I chose to focus on Uptown Manhattan because these communities were some of the most disproportionately affected by the pandemic in regards to work, housing, and loss. And yet the people continue to reclaim their culture, joy, and liveliness in the ways they can.
While I’ve grown to love Queens and call it home in recent years, I will always consider myself an Uptown girl first. This is my love letter to the neighborhoods that raised me.
Produced by
Roxanne Lim
What did you do?
I pitched, storyboarded, and directed a segment showcasing community members from Washington Heights, Inwood, East Harlem, and West Harlem for a limited-run experience room installation sponsored by Citizen’s Bank. Even though the scenes pictured here were just a few of the hundreds that made the final cut, it meant a lot to me to share this part of my world.
Through this project, I was able to support local creatives and businesses. I met up with core members of Harlem Run, grabbed morir sonandos and skewers from the best vendors on 181st Street, learned about the origins of Jay’s Barbershop, and heard intergenerational stories of immigration and homecoming.
In the fall, I went to see the exhibit multiple times. I brought my friends and family, and invited some of the interviewees themselves. Seeing New Yorkers see themselves in this big, immersive way was a beautiful experience. A core memory, for real.