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It is What it IS-Perseverance

The compelling story of a family of five trying to build a sustainable dream home in Manhattan as the real estate bubble begins to burst.

Film – Manhattan, New York, United States

Our Story

It Is What It IS” Perseverance

Everybody is for “Green Design” until it’s being built next door, especially in MANHATTAN.  This is the true story told by the developers behind The New York Times headlines “Not in my Front Yard” (6/27/07).  Colin & Pamela Rath were already established builders when they designed the first green cantilevered condominium complex in Manhattan approved by The Department of Buildings. Their 121-123 west 15th street development incorporated (2) geothermal wells, passive solar heating, reclaimed natural materials and modular construction in its modern design. Their company, Terrapin Industries LLC constructed the development during the real estate balloon (2002-2008). The story follows the Rath family perseverance in obtaining financing; navigating New York City real estate bureaucracy and managing contractors building their concept. All while their family of five lived in the project site as the development was built around them.

What started as a successful developer family’s simple dream to develop a green building for their expanding family and sell a few condos to break even was upended on November 17, 2006. That morning a construction accident unearthed a major construction fraud conspiracy on their site. That revelation proliferated into a dramatic odyssey that occupied Colin & Pamela Rath for the next several years with altercations with tenants, DOB, DOT, DOH, OSHA, contractors, banks, neighbors, family as the global banking crisis imploded and the Rath’s fight for survival.

That’s the story, Pam & I have been documenting for over 9 years now. We have been living the story, documenting and categorizing all the documents, footage, audio, related mass media stories and pictures as we were constructing the development. We have also been managing all the film crews and writing the documentary to boot. We have learned a lot along the way and have built up a great team to put it together for presentation.

We are now in the process of post-production of the documentary. And we need your support to get the documentary film to next level to get the project fully funded to be released.

 

The Impact

The real estate and financial collapse brought a devastating impact on this country. We are just now seeing hope that the recession is fading. It would be hard to find someone who has not been affected by the recession. “It is What It IS” shows the rise & fall of New York City real estate market first hand and extensive personal knowledge of the financial industry that exploited it. The documentary shows the impact on a family of five in Manhattan.Best of all “It is What It IS” documentary entertains. Everyone likes a juicy New York real estate story and this one is the mother of all real estate drama.“The documentary “It is What It IS” illustrates a family developer’s point of view disclosing the inner workings of the construction regulation/ industry and financial industry in Manhattan.  In normal time this would only be interesting, but add into the mix we were building something never built before in NYC and the real estate & financial world beginning to implode makes this one hell of a story you want to see.

What if your campaign doesn’t happen ?

We are asking your help so we can get this out this year So we can have the documentary be ready to submit for the Tribeca Film Festival 2013 (ideal audience for a New York real-estate story) and Sundance Film Festival 2014.We have about 6 months of editing to gget it to finished quality.
What You Get

 

What We Need

We are trying to raise $60,000 to finish post production.

We have been filming the project since inception in 2003 to present. We have 95% of the story filmed, documented, categorized all the documents with footage, audio, related mass media stories and pictures as we were constructing the building.  All pre-production is done and we are into post-production editing.

What You Get

 “It is What it IS” Vook (A Vook is a virtual book that is a digital mixed-media form that blends video, text, images and social streams into a single, integrated visual experience. It is available on the Web-based and also on-the-go as a unique mobile application) .is ready and will be distributed to increase exposure for the release of the documentary”.

The vook will be sent starting 5/16/12 a chapter at a time every three weeks with video, audio, & picture links. Here are some of the chapter titile:

  • Begins with a  suit – where else would it start in Manhattan than a lawsuit
  • Purchase of 123 West 15th st – the eight month negotiation
  • History of 123 west 15th st- The German terrorist cell blows black tom 1938
  • SRO litigation -  Bureaucracy at its best
  • Wonderful timeless world of Department of Buildings – Design approval Begins
  • NY Times Real Estate cover disaster – Corcoran marketing – any press is good press
  • Love thy Neighbor - 311 calls & real estate Blogs bring unwanted attention
  • Commitment Letter and Finance Closing never mean same thing - BRT & 300 other financial  contacts for refinancing – Loaner of Last resort to worst industry has to offer
Then once the film is premiered donations of larger amounts get Posters, DVD's and premier tickets.

Our Team

Krysanne Katsoolis of Cactus Three Films www.Catusthree.com (Production/Distribution)

Shannon Conboy at Shantastic Films www.shantasticfilms.com  (editing)

Landon Van Soest at Transient Pictureswww.transientpictures.com  (Cinematographer)

Cody Wood, www.codywood.net (writer/performer of film sound track “Collage”)

Patrick Kasic www.pakasmedia.com (web site designer)

Colin Rath & Pamela Harvey-Rath,     www.Terrapindesign.net , www.TerrapinIndustries.com 

(Producers, Property Owners/ Designers/ Developers/Writers)

It’s Pam & Colin’s personal story. “It is What it IS” documentary is about the  development of 121-123 West 15th street that involved over 100 plus people who are filmed from contactors, financers, engineers, city inspectors, building officials, neighbors, tenants, family members, employees, lawyers, etc.

Other Ways You Can Help

Exposure is the name of the game. Any and all exposure will help our documentary. If not bringing in funding? It will bring attention to the documentary. AS they say “Any press is good press”.

Please send out our link to Indego out to others. The more exposure we get the better.

Check out our websites and other links. We had a decent amount of press on this project, but could always use more.

I can be reached at Colin@terrapinindustries.com

Thank you

Colin & Pamela Rath ,Breana Rath ,Meriel Rath ,Nerian Rath

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