Division Street
A Series of Neighborhood Encounters
Written & Directed by Traven Rice
During her parents’ separation, Dee, a withdrawn, mixed-race girl with a wild imagination, feels she is being punished by having to stay with Angela, her cantankerous Jewish Grandmother, on the Lower East Side. Over the course of the series, she begins to see the diverse neighborhood as a magical place of gritty wonderment while Angela slowly realizes things are not as dangerous, or as isolating, as they once were.
Director Statement:
This series of short episodes reflect the importance of imagination in dealing with life’s challenges. The story incorporates the wonders of encountering new places and people from different backgrounds, while struggling to feel safe in a new environment.
Living and working in the L.E.S. as a local journalist and filmmaker, I’ve been deeply embedded in this unique community for the last eight years. Its diverse immigrant, working class history and current gentrification cycle results in a fascinating culture clash on every street corner. I’ve witnessed, first hand, how rubbing elbows with so many different characters creates a unique community -- and can save a soul. Coming from a broken family myself, this is my love letter, and a celebration of sorts, to the humanity found on the streets of the Lower East Side.
As “rag-tag” and gritty as the neighborhood is, I’ve stood on most of the street corners, and met so many of the residents, that I’ve come to recognize it as a magical place.
I also remember how hard is was when my parents got divorced and what it’s like to feel like an outcast. I was only able to survive their rocky separation, divorce and multiple new homes by relying on the support of a community of friends, neighbors and distant relatives who helped raise me.
Fantasy books, film and TV were my escape and influenced my imagination enough for me to believe I could tell my own magical stories, beginning at a young age. With "Division Street," I intend to show the benefits that a diverse community can bring to shaping a young girl’s personhood, while honoring the cultural history that is just under the surface. Through magical realism, I will show how facing our fear of the “other” and embracing our differences can make us all stronger.
The show is firmly planted in present day reality, but includes the magical realism that Dee encounters in her imagination. Each episode includes the emotional challenges that both Dee and her grandmother, Angela are facing, and ends with a magical element from the neighborhood that Dee encounters for support.
Magical elements include puppets, stop motion animation, cgi, time lapse, live action animation, choreographed street dancing, skater films and more. I will incorporate and highlight as many local artists and collaborators from the neighborhood as possible.