New Doc Is A Snapshot Of Famed City Photographer
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"Bill Cunningham New York", a film about the legendary New York Times photographer, is opening next week at the Film Forum on West Houston Street.
Cunningham is a character and modesty is one of his trademarks. It took the filmmakers eight years to convince him to make the film and two years to make it.
The film was directed by Richard Press.
"Bill Cunningham is a singular individual. He's a fascinating person," says Press. "The reason I wanted to make the movie is because of how he lives his life. His ethics, his almost religious obsession with his work and his body of work, his actual work. So he's a fascinating character."
Press's fellow partner and producer, Philip Gefter, is also his husband. For him, Bill Cunningham has taken an almost Buddha-like vow of fashion.
"He brings a great deal of passion and dedication to what he does every day," says Gefter. "He lives his life not like other people. There's a kind of simplicity, almost a monastic way of living. He rides his bike everywhere, he never takes cabs, he lived in a single room over Carnegie Hall for over 50 years. I guess you could call him eccentric but it's just the way he lives."
Yours truly been lucky enough to be photographed by Cunningham over the years, and in fact, one of his photographs of my sister and I recently appeared in the New York Times. The funny part is, the black bow tie I wore in the picture was borrowed from a waiter.
"Bill Cunningham New York" will be at Film Forum from March 16-29.