Published
Tue, Aug 9, 2016, 18:01
- Jonathan Ullman is directing, with Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Larry Levan.
There's a Paradise Garage film in production.
Simply called Paradise Garage, the movie will be written and directed by Jonathan Ullman, whose last major work was Trouble In The Heights, which focused on crime in the streets of Brooklyn. Ullman also directed a short 15-minute film about the Paradise Garage in 2014. British actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith has been cast as Larry Levan, with Rayniel Rufino taking on the role of club staff member Joey Llanos. The real Llanos is a consultant on the film, while one of the venue's DJs, David DePino, will serve as associate producer.
"The stories of The Garage speak volumes about the human spirit," says Ullman, "how people were brought together by a love and passion, both on the dancefloor and in the DJ booth, all set against a backdrop of unity and diversity. This film is both a celebration and a dramatic tale, wrapped around a killer soundtrack that defined an era."
The Paradise Garage, located on King Street in New York City's Hudson Square, was one of the foundational clubs in dance music. In addition to Levan, the Garage was also a regular spot for DJs like Frankie Knuckles and Nicky Siano.
You can listen to an exclusive mix from DePino over at the film's website, and watch Ullman's short film.