Nellie’s Story

When I first visited the site of the Vitagraph lot in Midwood Brooklyn I experienced what may be best described as a homecoming, like visiting my old stomping grounds from a past life.

My deep dive into Vitagraph research over the past decade has surfaced many details about life at the Brooklyn studio, known in the 1910’s as Vitagraphville, a bustling movie village. I learned of the earliest days, when a small company of actors borrowed furniture from their Midwood neighbors to furnish movie sets; how the sun dictated a film shoot, with performers required to freeze in place, cranking cameras stilled, if a dark cloud passed overhead; how Vitagraph directors transformed Brooklyn dunes to the Sahara desert and Prospect Park to Ancient Rome. Each detail invited further questions which led to more stories of Smith and Blackton, Pop Rock and Florence Turner — and I was drawn into this compelling history that included their technological inventions, the conflicts and compromises involved with attaining success, the emergence of Florence Turner as the first movie star and the stress of global fame that claimed her well being. 

Several collaborations precede The Vitagraph Story, beginning in 2013: Rebecca Krucoff, Peter Musante and I designed an interactive walking tour of the former lot; Melissa Friedling led a successful campaign to save the historic Vitagraph smokestack, which still stands at the Avenue M train station; Amy Jensen and I produced a solo show inspired by Florence Turner, and I produced, with director Diane Crespo, a short Vitagraph film.

All of these collaborations led to my creative partnership with writer and director Nina Wise, and this culminating theatrical work. We are so happy to bring The Vitagraph Story to a public audience.