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Coney Island Then and Now

“Coney Island Then and Now” tells the story of one of the most magical places in the world. Not exactly Disney World. This gritty documentary film shows the evolution of Coney Island, Brooklyn’s famous beachfront Amusement Park which has made many transformations over the years. From visionary George Tilyou’s Steeplechase amusement park to land baron Fred Trump’s controversial Trump Village, and now rapper and Coney Island native Gorilla Nems is changing things with the times. There are many stories in this very mixed community made up of Russians, Latinos, Asians, and African Americans creating an interesting dichotomy where old Coney Island and new collide with gentrification and a booming real estate market. Even if you have never been to Coney Island its iconic symbols like the Wonder Wheel, The Cyclone, Nathan’s Hot Dogs, The Mermaid Parade, Graffiti Walk, and Coney Island USA Sideshow will be. This is a special place and a story that must be told.

3 Avenues 21 blocks infinite stories.

CONEY ISLAND THEN AND NOW

  • Maria Clara
    Director
    Life on Christopher Street (77 Films), Street Kids United ll The Girls From Rio, BTO - Brazilian Tap Orchestra
  • Kimberly Gray
    Producer
    Bastards of the Party (HBO Films) Life on Christopher Street (77 Films), The Man Who Bottled Clouds
  • Nems
    Key Cast
    The King of Coney Island (Vice) Outside w/GORILLA NEMS, Haymaker
  • Danielle Mastrion
    Key Cast
    Coney Island Muralist for MTV, 40 Acres & A Mule, Nike
  • Eric Knapp
    Key Cast
    "Mr Cyclone"
  • Ilya Akiyoshi
    Director of Photography
    Boston Strangler (Hulu) The White Lotus (Max) Captain America: Civil War, The Girls on the Bus
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    39 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 18, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    300,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Maria Clara

Maria Clara
Maria is a Brazilian award-winning filmmaker who lived in New York for 12 years and worked with directors such as Spike Lee. She directed "OUT in Manhattan", a 3-part series which included "Life on Christopher Street about New York's gay subcultures at a very young age and gained a lot of critical acclaim.
Her story telling is motivated by giving a voice to people who many times are invisible in the world. In 2017, her film "BTO - Brazilian Tap Orchestra" won the Hollywood International Independent Documentary award. She is the director of "Street Kids United ll The Girls From Rio", the film had a great impact on the girls and led some of them to better opportunities and a better life.

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Director Statement

"Coney Island Then and Now" rescues the history of what it has been in this very peculiar New York subculture and what the future looks like with the fast gentrification of the neighborhood. The film gives a true voice to each character and allows them to tell the story like it is, unscripted.