Queens-based fi lmmaker is searching for people
to appear in his new documentary ‘Life is EL’
BY ANGELICA ACEVEDO
Filmmaker and Astoria resident
Mark Goldberg is working
on a special New York City transit
documentary entitled “Life
is EL.”
The documentary will explore
the history of the city’s
elevated train tracks, and, most
importantly, the way it has impacted
the lives of the people
who own businesses and live
next to or underneath them.
“Every borough has elevated
tracks, somewhere,” said Goldberg,
who has filmed Els all
over the city.
“Life is EL” has been in the
making since April 2018. Goldberg
was first inspired to write
the story after noticing the news
surrounding the renovations
and closures of subway stations
across Queens.
At the time, the eighthgeneration
native New Yorker
lived in Long Island City and
experienced the closures of the
30th and 36th Avenue subway
stations in Astoria, which reopened
last year in June.
“One of the main components
of the film is the economic
impact that the closures of stations
have on local businesses,
and I immediately started interviewing
business around the
area that were affected by those
closures,” he said.
Getting businesses to participate
in the film was easy,
Goldberg said.
The real hurdle is convincing
individuals who live near
elevated stations to participate
in the film.
But Goldberg assures that
if an individual appears in
the film, that doesn’t mean
that individual will be on the
screen for “15 minutes,” rather
just enough time to hear their
unique take on what it’s like to
live near trains that don’t run
underground.
“It’s a people’s story. It’s not
just about the wheels turning
on metal rails; it’s living and
working under and around the
Mark Goldberg is writing, directing, and filming “Life is El.”
elevated train tracks,” he said.
On Sunday, the MTA celebrated
the system’s 115th birthday.
This same month, amNew-
York reminded us of the 50th
anniversary of the old El, which
“linked commuters from Ridgewood,
Glendale and Maspeth to
parts of Downtown Brooklyn
and lower Manhattan.”
Goldberg hopes to feature
those who remember the old elevated
trains as well.
“I have met people who used
to live by the old elevated trains
… eventually I’ll sit down with
them,” he said.
As much as his documentary
will showcase the immediate effects
that living near an elevated
train has on the community,
he knows that looking back and
ahead is just as important.
“Any film and anything that
I do, especially a documentary,
always has three components
to it: past, present and a future,”
he said. “What’s gonna happen
in the future? Will we morph
more toward elevated trains, or
are we going to try to go toward
a subway system? I think it may
go more elevated.”
Goldberg, who grew up in
Jackson Heights and has lived
in Long Island and Manhattan,
wasn’t always a filmmaker. Before
he began pursuing his passion
for still photography and
cinematography, he owned record
stores and was in IT.
Goldberg believes “Life is
EL,” the first documentary he
wrote, is almost done.
His team consists of assistant
director Yasunori Tanaka, editor
and music composer Ethan
Startzman, key interviewer
Lynn Nevins, interviewer Lisa
Ramsay and researcher Jill
Murman Payne.
If you live next to or under
an elevated train in New York
City, Goldberg encourages you
to reach out to him via email at
IWant2BeSeen@LifeIsEl.com.
For more information, visit his
website at www.LifeIsEl.com.
When you’re ready
to feel better,
we’re right around
the corner.
Gastroenterology and Advanced Endoscopy from
Palmadessa & Brodsky
Call us at (718) 461-0163
or visit QueensGastroDoc.com
241-02 Northern Blvd #1, Douglaston, NY 11362
Christ the King High School
68-02 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, New York 11379
(718) 366-7400
Christ the King High School Speech
& Debate Team Start Season with Wins
The Christ the King Speech & Debate Team is starting the season strong with some great
individual and team wins over the first two tournaments.
At the first BQCFL league tournament on October 12, the team was led by award winning
individual performances by Gregory Jans, Elvis Soto, Christian Wong, Krystian Makocki, and
Samantha Fernandes. At that tournament Gregory and Elvis were the first place champions of
varsity PF Debate even though they were competing up a level from their Intermediate level
and Samantha debuted as Intermediate and placed even though she qualifies as novice.
On October 26th the Speech and Debate Teams excelled at the 2nd league tournament,
taking overall 4th place in Speech, 3rd place in Student Congress, and were the first place
overall champions in Debate. This week even more CK competitors received awards including
Krystian Makocki, Diego Espada, Ian Baksh, Gregory Jans, Elvis Soto, Samantha Fernandes,
JeanPierre Paniagua, and Isabelle Baksh.
We’re very proud of all of our competitors, especially all of the first time speakers that have
debuted the past two tournaments and we’re looking forward to a very successful year!
Back Row L-R: Mr. Jans, Christian Wong, Krystian Makocki, Nichlas Celis, Ian Baksh,
Gregory Jans, Omar Figueroa, Adonis Cusu, Mr. Baran, JeanPierre Paniagua
Front Row L-R: Ms. Tully, Elvis Soto, Milana Haripersaud, Samantha Fernandes,
Diego Espada, Xavier Espada, Isabelle Baksh, Charlie Sconiers
TIMESLEDGER,24 NOV. 1-7, 2019 QNS.COM
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