The award-winning director of a three-minute film screened at the New York Film Festival three years ago has stated that the purpose of 'Deep Sleep' is to make people laugh about sex. On Washington Street in Paterson, two men hung a pair of disemboweled pigs in the window of the Vieques Butcher Shop and tied their feet with a rope. A parking lot in front of the Center City shopping center in Paterson is where a large complex of demolished apartment buildings can be found. The Harris' first saw the film at the New York Erotic Film Festival in December, where it earned high marks for its excellence.
Now, signs in Spanish are displayed in shop windows that represent the Puerto Rican neighborhood that is home to the sharks in the film. Zegler makes his film debut in the project with Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver), who plays his hapless lover Tony in the story inspired by William Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet”. Some Peruvian businesses in Paterson, which normally have signs in English, are now covered with accessories for the film, with advertisements of all kinds, from clothing and barbershops to electronics stores and banks. But beyond that large extension, which has been closed to the public, several blocks have been transformed into the center of Paterson, a stage placed on an existing urban landscape that is very open to business. You can see all the first, second and third place winners of the Passaic County Film Festival on the Passaic County Film Commission's YouTube channel.
About half of the people who appear in the film are residents of the Paterson area, all friends and relatives of the Suns, and the rest are professional actors. Irma Yucht, an angry young woman in her thirties and the wife of a lawyer, said that she and her husband had never seen a pornographic film before, but that they went to see it because their street was in it. Amazed by the ads and signs in stores with a 1950s style, Ernesto Riofrío, who has lived in Paterson for 30 years after arriving from Peru, hoped to find a way to get a role in the film as an extra. He pointed to other projects such as “The Irishman” by Martin Scorsese (which will premiere on Netflix this fall) and Al Pacino's Amazon series “The Hunt”, which have also been filmed in Paterson. In the role that Natalie Wood played in the 1961 film is Rachel Zegler, an 18-year-old native of Clifton who is of Columbian American descent.
Moreno, producer of the film, will return to play Valentina, an adaptation of the character Doc who plays Tony's boss in the film. Robbins and Robert Wise directed the original film adaptation of “West Side Story” which premiered in 1961 and won 10 Oscars including best picture. The upcoming Film Gala in Paterson NJ promises to be an exciting event for movie lovers! From Deep Sleep, a three-minute comedy about sex screened at New York Film Festival three years ago to Baby Driver, starring Ansel Elgort as Tony - there will be something for everyone! The Passaic County Film Commission's YouTube channel will feature all first, second and third place winners from Passaic County Film Festival. The Puerto Rican neighborhood is home to many sharks featured in this movie. You can find advertisements for clothing stores, barbershops, electronics stores and banks all over Paterson! Half of those appearing on screen are residents from Paterson while others are professional actors.
Irma Yucht and her husband had never seen a pornographic movie before but decided to watch it because their street was featured! Ernesto Riofrío from Peru hopes to get a role as an extra. Other projects such as “The Irishman” by Martin Scorsese (which will premiere on Netflix this fall) and Al Pacino's Amazon series “The Hunt” have also been filmed here. Rachel Zegler from Clifton plays Natalie Wood's role from 1961 movie while Moreno returns as Valentina - Tony's boss! Robbins and Robert Wise directed “West Side Story” which won 10 Oscars including best picture. So if you're looking for an exciting night out filled with movies - head over to Paterson NJ for their upcoming Film Gala!.
