Solo, Piano - NYC with Anthony Sherin
SOLO, PIANO – NYC, by director Anthony Sherin has played at festivals around the world and has won many awards. Thanks to Anthony's astute eye and creative spirit, this unplanned short doc, unfolded before his eyes one winter's day in New York City. This short feels like an ode to NYC. From his home in Washington Heights, Anthony shared one of those special stories it feels you can only capture in New York.
About: Anthony’s short film, SOLO, PIANO – NYC, was selected as one of the outstanding photo projects of today by the 2013 Look3 Festival of the Photograph and was featured in the New York Times’ Op-Docs Series. SOLO, PIANO – NYC, winner of eleven awards, is screening at festivals around the world.
His documentary, ORIGINAL INTENT: The Battle for America, aired on PBS.
Anthony trained with several Academy Award winning film editors and is himself an accomplished editor. His editing credits include THE CURE (Universal), A SOLDIER’S SWEETHEART (Paramount/Showtime), and FIRST TIME FELON (HBO). He edited ONE YEAR LEASE, winner of the best short documentary award at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival.
How long have you been directing/writing? 8 years
How many films have you directed? 2 short films
What is your top advice for first-time directors? Read a lot and watch films. Learn a skill. For me, editing made the transition to directing an easier one.
Is there any one part of the process that you enjoy more than the others? I enjoy prepping projects – research and thinking. I love editing.
Solo, Piano - NYC
Solo, Piano – NYC is a 5-minute film of the last 24 hours of a once-wanted piano.
What kind of camera did you shoot on? Solo, Piano – NYC is made with stills. I used a Panasonic ZS7. I now use a Panasonic GH4.
What drew you to wanting to tell this story? Making this film was pure serendipity. After a snowstorm in New York City, I decided to do some work on another film, in my home in Washington Heights. But as I approached my desk, I thought I heard a piano plinking. I looked out the window and saw a piano on the curb below. I eventually started snapping stills and thought I would end up with just that — a lot of stills. To my surprise, I discovered after 24 hours that I had captured a story with a beginning, middle, and end. My friend Art Labriola created an original piano score, and I had a film.