Ep 271: Inside the Neighborhood: Seth Zvi Rosenfeld’s Guerrilla Filmmaking & NYC Stories
Update: 2025-11-03
Description
Episode Snapshot
Playwright-turned-filmmaker Seth Zvi Rosenfeld joins Damien Swaby to talk about his journey from the New York theatre scene to Hollywood, Sundance, and independent filmmaking. He shares how his latest film—shot guerrilla-style in a real restaurant over six days—became a heartfelt portrait of community and resilience in post-lockdown New York. The conversation dives deep into working with non-actors, directing for truth, and navigating today’s streaming and indie distribution landscape.
Chapters & Timestamps
Call to Action.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast. Follow Damien Swaby for more filmmaker interviews and insights into the craft and business of storytelling.
Playwright-turned-filmmaker Seth Zvi Rosenfeld joins Damien Swaby to talk about his journey from the New York theatre scene to Hollywood, Sundance, and independent filmmaking. He shares how his latest film—shot guerrilla-style in a real restaurant over six days—became a heartfelt portrait of community and resilience in post-lockdown New York. The conversation dives deep into working with non-actors, directing for truth, and navigating today’s streaming and indie distribution landscape.
Chapters & Timestamps
- 00:00 – Welcome & intro
- 00:01 – Origin story: theatre → screenwriting (New Line Cinema)
- 00:03 – Lessons from early Hollywood experiences
- 00:04 – First short film, Sundance Lab & early features
- 00:05 – Brother’s Kiss and King of the Jungle
- 00:06 – Transition into television work
- 00:07 – Pandemic short rekindles love for filmmaking
- 00:08 – The birth of a new film at El Posto A Canto restaurant
- 00:09 – Shooting with real patrons and blending fiction with reality
- 00:10 – Guerrilla filmmaking on the Williamsburg Bridge
- 00:12 – Creating a film about community and connection
- 00:16 – Directing non-actors and improvisation
- 00:19 – The heart of the film: post-pandemic togetherness
- 00:22 – Collaborating with longtime friends and actors
- 00:24 – New York City as a living character
- 00:27 – Danny Hoch’s creative influence and personal experiences
- 00:29 – Tone, truth, and emotional authenticity in filmmaking
- 00:33 – Influences: Sidney Lumet, Woody Allen, and Scorsese
- 00:36 – Lessons from theatre: the art of working with actors
- 00:38 – Television vs. indie film: control and collaboration
- 00:41 – Distribution realities & using FilmHub
- 00:44 – Next project: Legit — a comedy set in New York’s cannabis world
- 00:46 – Why we tell stories and how film preserves human experience
- 00:47 – Closing thoughts and reflections
- Films by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld: Brother’s Kiss, King of the Jungle
- Restaurant: El Posto A Canto (New York City)
- Collaborators: Christopher James, Rebecca James, Danny Hoch, Julio & Beatrice, Victor (Sixto)
- Influences & References: Goodfellas (Scorsese), Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, Network (Sidney Lumet), Manhattan (Woody Allen), Saturday Night Fever
- TV: How to Make It in America
- Distribution Platform: FilmHub
- “When you’re shooting a movie in six days, the cameras need to be going all the time.”
- “Create an environment where no one can do anything wrong — then roll.”
- “If theatre should play with your eyes closed, film should work with the sound off.”
- “I’m always chasing what feels true — that’s where the emotion and the comedy live.”
- “There will always be a need for people with a good story to tell it.”
Call to Action.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast. Follow Damien Swaby for more filmmaker interviews and insights into the craft and business of storytelling.
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