Welcome to New York is a 2012 comedy short film directed and written by Steven Tylor O'Connor and based on story by Sean David. It stars Sherry Vine, Sean Paul Lockhart, Nicholas Page, Lauren Ordair, Ashleigh Murray, Megan Kane, Matthew Watson with Casper Andreas, Victor Cruz and Alex Ringler. Welcome to New York is about unique first experiences in New York City. The film received generally favorable reviews from film critics.
Contents
Premise
The story of five young people's unique first experiences in New York City.
Cast
Sherry Vine as Dr. Kitty Rosenblatt
Sean Paul Lockhart as Jake
Casper Andreas as Christopher
Matthew Watson as Ryan
Ashleigh Murray as Simone
Megan Kanev as Cassie
Nicholas Page/ Lauren Ordair as Mick/ Lauren Ordair
Victor Cruz as Jose
Alex Ringler as Alex or "Cupcake"
Shacottha as Crazy Person
Steven Tylor O'Connor as Scotty
Sean David as Waiter
Seanny Flynn as Stacey
Dasha Kittredge as RoxAnn
Ashley Layfield as Becky
Production
Production Assistant Trey Gerrald was originally cast as Alex/'Cupcake' until he got cast in NBC's Next Caller. It is set to be filmed in New York in March 2012. The world premiere of the film in Kansas City, MO at the Tivoli theatre as part of the "Kansas City LGBT Film Festival".
Soundtrack
"Far l'amore" — Bob Sinclair Ft. Raffaella Carra
"City by the Sound" — Eric Williams
"Set Fire to The Night" — Brandon Hilton
"Empty Handed" — Bryan Fenkart
"OK" — Bryan Fenkart
"Dirty Love" — Chris Salvatore
"I Want Your Sex" — Chris Salvatore
Reception
The film received generally positive reviews from film critics. Amos Lassen wrote "All of us love surprises and “Welcome to New York” is filled with them”. “Heading the cast is Sherry Vine as Dr. Kitty Rosenblatt, a very unorthodox psychiatrist who has quite a successful practice (and who is absolutely hysterical in her role)”. He add: “Steven Tylor O’Connor directed and he should be very proud of this clever little film. This is the second film of his that I have seen and I can say that he is one of the new directors to watch. If “Welcome to New York” is an omen of what we can expect from him then we are very lucky”.
Scott’s Movie said, "Welcome to New York is a perfectly charming film”. “One of the funniest moments in the flick is the look on Nick Page’s face when Vine expresses befuddlement over the notion of working as a drag queen”. “Ms. Vine is very funny, and in a way that doesn’t rely on the inherent humor of a man dressing as a woman. For some reason, she reminds me a lot of the actor Sylvia Miles”. “The strongest scenario involving a very appealing Megan Kane and Matthew Watson and an awkward first date with Sean Paul Lockhart and Alex Ringler that could have been drawn from a Seinfeld episode. Lockhart is particularly endearing as an apparent young innocent”. “Perhaps the best compliment I can pay O’Connor’s movie is that it ended too soon. It could easily be expanded to feature length. While it is clearly low-budget, it does not look cheap. And it has a nifty soundtrack that includes tracks by Eric Williams, Brandon Hilton, Bryan Fenkart and Chris Salvatore”.
Awards
Audience Favorite at the 2012 Louisville LGBT Film Festival for "Narrative Short".