EARLY ROUGH CUT of Square: Straightening Out Washington Square Park

http://square-movie.com
This is the first draft of SQUARE, a film which details historic features of the park that the NYC Parks Department plans to do away with in its proposed redesign plan.

I am currently at work on the revised edit. Coming soon. In the meantime, your feedback on this version is welcomed.

I invite you to join the group:
http://www.youtube.com/group/washingtonsquarepark

Here you'll find shorter sequences that haven't yet found their way into the film as well as other uploaded videos.

If you have footage you feel should be included, please contact me. I look forward to hearing everybody: comments, criticisms, and contributions are all welcome.

And thanks to everyone who has already contacted me! Look for yourselves soon...

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• 7.7.7
• 7/7/7
• Washington
• Square
• Park
• Greenwich
• Village
• New
• York
• City
• Architecture
• Public
• Space
• Documentary
• Art
• George
• Vellonakis

[friendsofbrookpark]

Asking for a business card and harassing for filming? "It's up to the future." That is funny!!! And the teens speaking in the beginning was perfect. Word is borne! Feedback: use optimistic language, like proposed renovation, not defeatist or de facto language. Tompkins Square Everywhere!

[dogperson]

I agree with your note, but it's a bit late for optimistic language. As of this writing, the Parks Department has begun Phase One. And they started by cutting down the tree circle and smashing up the seating walls.

[tejonpass]

I think this has some really interesting footage in it. There is definitely a lot to be said. However, I think that to really be documentary, it needs a bit more organization, and perhaps some sort of narration, to be truly explanatory. Right now it's more illustration than documentation, which is great if you already know what's going on. But if not...

[dogperson]

You've hit the nail on the head with "more illustration than documentation". I've been at work restoring the chronology of the story and adding in more titles, locations, and dates. I hope you'll continue to share your opinions with me.

[felliniesque2000]

This makes me so sad. I was a kid in Wash. Sq Park and now it has been destroyed. Benape & Velloniikis' frou-frou gay vision of a new space to please condo owners is all that remains. Incidentally, DO NOT PATRONIZE Washington Square hotel. The owners contributed huge amounts to the redo in order to get more guests. The last chapter in this has not yet been written. Our park was destroyed but our spirit wasn't. At very least, those responsible will suffer the ignominy of what was done to the park

[HeidiIvy]

Thanks for posting this! I moved away from the East Coast and was missing Washington Square Park, my all time favorite place to hang out. I searched here on YouTube and found out it's getting distroyed? That was one of the ONLY parks I'd ever been where people from all types of backgrounds treated each other kindly and had fun TOGETHER, I thought that was what America was about. What is happening to NYC?

[ariannahiggins]

It still looks crappy. There are signs all over saying something about historical preservation...but there have been so many changes so that they can't possibly be just renovating and keeping it the same...

[lgfuad4lyf]

Its already demolished and it makes me so fuckin angry!! thats the only place a fuckin homeless person will pick up your phone and give it back if you drop it....like fuck the corprate bastards destroying the village...i hate those stupid trustfucnd babies movin in there...makes me so pissed....

[DanHour]

NYU, Bloomberg, Corporate NYC and the thugs from the Parks Department have finally wrested the Park from the people. From Mark Twain and Robert Louis Stevenson sharing a bench, to the Beats, to the 60s counterculture, WSP has been a gathering spot for discourse and mixing of people of all backgrounds. The goon squad used to arrest poets and musicians; now, it's anyone trying to film the rape of the Park. NYU will have Disneyworld, the Yuppies and realtors will be happy with the gentrification.

[lostnyc2]

This park has become little more than NYUs private campus and graduation grounds where the public is a guest If you want to uncover "why" move the fountain & hiding the truth of the real plans, you only need look at WHO the money is going to, and where the money is going, then it becomes clear- some are getting big money to push this so NYU has a nicer graduation spot & the dorks in the TISH family get a namesake fountain simply by MOVING an existing historic one.

[Georgesimian]

I can't believe they're ripping up the park. I want to see the rest of this film. This is a total outrage. I'd really like to know how this was allowed to happen.

[VanishingNewYork]

Sanitize the city. Get rid of the "riff raff" - that would be anybody besides other billionaires. Mayor Bloomberg was quoted as saying "NY is a luxury good". Read some Naomi Klein. Just look at the 10 signs of fascism. One step at a time.