DEAR FRIENDS,

Thank you for your interest and taking the time to learn more about our short film. This project was born out of our desire to capture the multi-layered history of the Lower East side, a traditionally working-class neighborhood that for decades has been home to successive waves of immigrants.

As New York becomes ever more gentrified and its traditional neighborhoods continue to be disrupted and even demolished, it is important to create art that reminds us of those who came before us, and what we still can learn from them. The homes, shops, and street art that have defined communities for generations are rapidly being replaced with luxury apartments and coffee bars. Being that there are only a few sections left, our footage could one day be considered a historical document.

We are excited to announce that we have completed principal photography and have reached our goal to raise $2,000 for initial production costs. However, we still have a long way to go. We need to raise another $3,000 by May 1st to complete post-production. Making this short film means a great deal to us and your support is greatly needed and appreciated! Please know, there is no such thing as a donation that is too small and every little bit helps.

$25 pays for 50 DVDs on which to burn copies of the movie for competitions and screenings!

$50 pays for a day's rental of sound equipment for our pickup shots!

Donate $100 or more and we will gladly put your name in the credits!

Previous Tenants is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of Previous Tenants may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax- deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Please click on the below link to send us your donation

Thank you again for your support. We can't do it without you.

Sincerely,
Regina Robbins...................................................... .....Susan Rankus
Writer, Director, and Founder of Cinema Gnome....... ....Producer

ABOUT THE FILM

Previous Tenants is a short but sweet story set in New York City's Lower East Side. The film focuses on Laura, a newcomer to New York, American-born but feeling like a foreigner. Financial desperation and loneliness drive her to attempt suicide. As she enters a consciousness between life and death, she sees for the first time the ghosts of those who lived - and died - in her apartment before her. They are a cross-section of the populations that settled and built up the Lower East Side: Eastern European Jews, Italians, Puerto Ricans. Each of these spirits has his or her own agenda in the advice they give Laura - whether she should come over to their side or remain in the land of the living. Ultimately, Laura must choose.

The otherworldly plot of Previous Tenants is designed to give a form and a voice to characters from the city's past, and to dramatize their relationship to us as the inheritors of their culture and their labor.

SPECIAL THANKS

Special Thanks to Our Major Donor
Stephen Mao

And to all our Donors and Benefactors. We would never have been able to do this without your generous contributions!

Tara Bahna-James
Simona Berman
Bikram Yoga - www.bikramyoganyc.com
Christine Bokhour
Sonya Butchin
ChocolateGelt.com
Jim Chu and Staff at White Rabbit
Ann Cooley & Body North Pilates Salon
Booth Daniels ( www.boothdaniels.com)
Elizabeth Devereux & Lady Stardust Dolls
Lisa Dozier & Symphony Space
Richard Dubs
Edward Einhorn
Matt Grigoryan (www.cinori.com)
Rodney Hakim (www.rodneyhakim.com )
Kelly Haydon
Amy Hirsch and Jessica Robbins
Alice Israel
Fiona Jones
Jami Josephson ( www.Learn2Salsa.com)
La Bella Ferrara (108 Mulberry Street)
Marshall Lipson
Ann Lipton
Ellyn Suzanne Messinger
Duncan Pflaster
David Rankus
Phil Rankus
Rosalind Rankus
Eric and Linda Robbins
Devon Schwartz
Maggie Surovell ( www.maggiesurovell.com)
Ariel Joseph Towne