In this exclusive interview, Michael Leavy, co-producer of Terrifier 3 and director of STREAM, reveals how Staten Island's indie filmmakers are redefining indie horror. He discusses how the island’s talent and resources are breaking barriers in the global creative scene, with projects like Terrifier 3 setting new records and shining a spotlight on the borough’s creative potential.

In the final of three installments, Brian Buchanan explores the music landscape of Staten Island and advocates for a venue to serve audiences on the South Shore.

Can you taste it? Is that steaming hot cup of java simmering and wafting? You think to yourself, What ingredients does it possess and was it made lovingly? Who is pouring it? What’s the intention? Like any sought-after food and drink recipe, ingredients are key. And just like that, a place you visit with real investment in its community also possesses these ingredients. If you were around in the early 2000s, chances are you could look no further than the Muddy Cup Coffeehouse, which was located at 388 Van Duzer Street in Staten Island’s Stapleton district during the height of the early aughts.

In the second of this three-part installment, Brian Buchanan explores the cultural and music landscape of Staten Island.

Tattoos have become so widely accepted and so incredibly mainstream that it is hard to imagine a time when that was not the case. Staten Island has embraced this form of body art so much that we have nearly twenty shops over the span of our sixty square mile island. Taking it further, we presently have the most amount of women tattooers that this island has ever had since tattooing became legal in NYC way back in 1997. I should know, as I am one of the first (I believe quite possibly the literal first!) woman tattooers on this island, starting off in 2002.

In 2013, a vacant lot on Front Street in Stapleton underwent a remarkable transformation into what is now known as Maker Park. Spearheaded by the founders of MakerSpace NYC, DB Lampman, and Scott Van Campen, this area was once littered with abandoned vehicles, trash, and debris. Today, Maker Park stands as a vibrant cultural hub, especially during the summer when it hosts an array of arts and cultural events. As one of Staten Island’s most important cultural sites, Maker Park plays a pivotal role in the community. Its summer programming, curated by Maker Park Radio, is inclusive, showcases incredible talent from Staten Island and beyond, and, most importantly, is a lot of fun! 

A shouting mandolin player stomps their feet for a twelve-minute song. A petite instrumentalist disappears behind an accordion for an impressive droning set. A singer brings the expected roar of a bar down to intrigued whispers as they sing. A six-foot rapper brings a ukelele out from behind their back. A comedian tackles a tipsy mass and ensures a strong reaction. A magician rises from the mixing console to reintroduce wonder to otherwise arduous lives. 

In the first of this three-part installment, Brian Buchanan explores the cultural and music landscape of Staten Island.