PELHAM, NY — On Thursday, June 11th at 7:30 p.m. The Picture House (TPH) will present an advance screening of the documentary Rubble Kings with a post-film discussion with the film’s director Shan Nicholson and subjects from the film. Nicholson’s feature-length documentary, Rubble Kings, the story of New York City gang culture in the 1970’s and its influence on the birth of hip hop, is poised for national and international release summer 2015. A feature narrative is subsequently in development, directly inspired by the events described in Rubble Kings and being written by Nicholson.
Through archival footage Nicholson tells the story of the real warriors that walked the streets of New York City in the 1970s and the harsh reality of gang life in a city that seemed to be falling apart. From 1968 to 1975, gangs ruled New York City. Beyond the idealistic hopes of the civil rights movement lay an unfocused rage. Neither law enforcement nor social agency could end the escalating bloodshed. Peace came only through the most unlikely and courageous of events that would change the world for generations to come by giving birth to hip-hop culture. Rubble Kings, the most comprehensive documentation of life during this era of gang rule to date, tells the story of how a few extraordinary, forgotten people did the impossible, and how their actions impacted the world over. As disaffected young men began channeling their rage into artistic expression, hip hop was born, merging beats, graffiti, and breakdancing to become one of the 20th century’s most innovative and influential cultural movements.
After the screening there will be a post-film discussion and Q&A with the director, Shan Nicholson. Nicholson is an award winning filmmaker, DJ, music producer, and counter/pop culture storyteller. His work is unabashedly inspired by being a product of New York City’s culturally rich period of the 1980’s, which continues to influence the world over.
Beyond his burgeoning success as a documentary film director, Nicholson has focused equal attention on screenwriting, directing online content and music videos, with premieres on pop culture tastemaker sites such as Pitchfork, MTV, VH1, and Rolling Stone. Nicholson also has several screenplays in development that have emerged from his documentary work.
Tickets to the advance screening of Rubble Kings and post-film discussion are $12/general admission, $6/members, $10/students and seniors and are available at www.thepicturehouse.org or at the box office, 175 Wolfs Lane, Pelham, NY 10803.