Anthony Pisano: Regarding the discarded

On an unseasonably warm November night in Manhattan on our way to get ice cream, we stumbled upon what appeared to be a vintage shop, brightly lit display window and all. As we began to walk in, a man sitting out front warned us that we were welcome to explore, but nothing inside was for sale. Our interests piqued, we began to browse through the collections the man out front had built throughout his life. This is a story of a man and his home. A film by Mark Cersosimo and Kelsey Holtaway For bonus footage, see http://departurearrivalfilms.com For behind the scenes, see http://markcersosimo.com/this-is-my-home-the-backstory Music by Red Hook Ramblers www.redhookramblers.com "This video has a magical, masterful charm" - Roger Ebert

I would like to share a film with you all. It is a snapshot of Anthony Pisano, an eccentric man whose East Village apartment in Manhattan looks more like an antique store than than it does living quarters. And as is mandated by the mindset of the causal stroller, individuals are wont to walk into the apartment and past Anthony, who sits out front of the apartment day and night watching people pass by.

"You can satisfy you're curiosity," Pisano tells them, "but nothing's for sale."

Perplexed, they slide further into the store/apartment and find a desk, a bed and -- if they're lucky -- a cat.

"This is my home," he says.

Mark Cersosimo and Kelsey Holtaway's short film, shot on a Canon 7D for Vimeo and their company Departure Arrival Films, shows how Pisano's home is the anti-store; a place where people walk in but cannot buy, they can take something home but no money will be exchanged. These people that walk into his "shop" bring him joy, which is evident by the deep crow's feet around his eyes, created by perpetual smiling through shared experiences.

Cerosimo describes the film as "a story of a man and his home," but it's much more than that. The film is a reminder of the importance of human interaction.

"That's important. That's life," says Pisano.

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Header image sourced from film.

Extras:
Bonus footage
Behind the scenes