Dallas, Rafi and I just finished a new movie about street vendors and we would like very much for you to watch it.
It’s our longest movie to date (which I know isn’t a selling point on the internets) yet I still feel like it just barely scratches the surface of street vendor culture in New York City.
Take this fact omitted from the movie for instance:
The # of licensed street vendors ALLOWED in NYC = 853 (Merchandise) and 3000 (Food Vendors).
And it’s been like that for over 2 decades. I always thought anyone could get a license or permit to be a street vendor after passing a test or doing an interview. I assumed the number of vendors was based solely on the number of people who wanted to be vendors. Well, I assumed wrong.
Like a lot of our movies, we chose for our subject, something we three New Yorkers have taken for granted growing up in this city. I can’t speak for Dallas and Rafi but I’m fond of the knish, the pretzel, the hot dog and very occasionally the bootleg DVD. Before we made this movie I never really wondered who comprised the workforce that brought me these city delights. Sadly, I think it’s human nature to push a lot of stuff into the background. Hopefully, this movie shines a little light on a population that has had its business and its rights compromised by an effed the eff up economy, an overzealous police force and the lobbying efforts of Big Retail.
Enjoy the movie, let us know what you think, spread the word if you’re inclined and afterwards, if you feel worn out, Fux with naps!
(That last bit might make more sense after you watch the movie)
5 Responses to Presenting: THE VEND DIAGRAM
Jay Solis September 9, 2009
Vendor Power! This is the best one you guys have done so far.
Sammy September 14, 2009
Vendors all around make NYC for me, there’s none of that shit in Baltimore, fuckaempire state building, GIMME A HOTDOG
achali September 17, 2009
thank you thank you thank you… the internets been missing yawl
http://weblog.liberatormagazine.com/2009/09/vend-diagram-docu-about-nyc-vendors.html