When COVID-19 arrived
Broadway shuttered and fi lming
for TV shows and movies
stopped. Stuck at home, actor
and Kingsbridge resident
Steve Greenstein began to
write a series about the pandemic.
Greenstein, 60, an actor
for more than 30 years, was
recently in “Pose” on FX and
has worked with people like
Gary Busey, Christopher Meloni,
Burt Lancaster, Dennis
He realized that sitting
at home wasn’t an option, so
he decided to tell the story of
how the virus had affected
his hometown.
“I said I have to get back to
work,” he said. “I love Kingsbridge.
So, he dipped into his savings,
hired actors and in
the summer began fi lming
“COVID Ditty,” a fi ve-part series
of short clips that capture
glimpses of life in and around
his neighborhood. The show
centers on Charlie, his son,
and a man named Phil, and
how they are coping with the
pandemic in Kingsbridge.
The cast rehearsed their
scripts at Tibbett Diner on
Tibbett Ave and got their
COVID tests at Imperial Pharmacy
on Corlear Ave., per
SAG-AFTRA requirements.
They fi lmed scenes at Cristo
Rey Barbershop, 227 W 231st
St, Carvel on Broadway and
across from the Kingsbridge
Donut Shop.
Greenstein describes the
show as historical fi ction
and showed the juxtaposition
of how COVID-19 forced
mom-and-pop stores and dry
cleaners to close, while liquor
stores and places like Target
remained open.
“These areas don’t get in
the movies much,” he said referring
to Kingsbridge.
Since production began in
the summer the community
welcomed the cast and crew
with open arms. Greenstein
praised the young actors and
crew he for helping him create
something so impactful.
“I couldn’t have done it
alone,” he explained. “It’s
very much a coalition.”
Greenstein told the Bronx
Times that his will power and
determination to work during
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the pandemic comes from the
strength of his late parents.
His mother was a Holocaust
survivor and his dad, a WWII
veteran.
“I have a lot of grit in me,”
he commented. “I feel like the
pandemic is like we’re in a
war. This is my little Battle
of the Bulge. I think they’d be
very proud of me. My sensitivity
comes from growing up
with all of that.”
To view the show go to Stevegreensteinactor.
com or @
covidditty.
Bronx actor doesn’t
quit; creates his own
show, with his savings
Steve Greenstein and his crew fi lm “COVID Ditty” Photos by Jason Cohen