An Argument for Roxborough

M. Night Shyamalan's work has gone downhill. After Unbreakable, his films were barely watchable. This being said, I look up to him for his dedication to the Philadelphia area...specifically, the areas that rarely appear in films.

Many people (mostly tourists) are awe-inspired by the Philadelphia Art Museum steps that Rocky jumped up and down on...I really don't find it all that appealing; in fact, it's actually kind of annoying that when people think of the Art Museum, they immediately consider Rocky.

I enjoy the small selection of scenes from The Sixth Sense and the plethora of footage from Unbreakable that I can walk to within ten minutes of my apartment. Neither of these films were particuarly groundbreaking by any means; however, I have learned to appreciate more and more the kind of dedication that comes from going back and considering where you came from when you make it in the real world.

Roxborough is by no means "the Real world". Most people born in Roxborough--though it pains me to say--die in Roxborough. It is one of the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia as far as safety and quality of life is concerned, but take a good hard look...

Roxborough is overwhelmingly blue-collar and traditional. It is a decent combination of the beautiful qualities of Suburbia, mixed with the low-brow and "common-man" qualities of northern PA. Not to say that the fine people of Roxborough are stupid, or that Suburban life is in any way better; however, you must understand this analogy to understand what Roxborough is actually like.

Most of Roxborough is white and (if there still is one) middle class.
The traditions that were in place when our parents were young are still very much carried out by the elderly of today.
The people of Roxborough aren't necessarily bigots or racists (though some are, just as anywhere else)...but they enjoy a sense of separation of cultures and types of people...
...which is sort of ironic when you consider that a majority of Roxborough's white youth attempts to emulate black culture in every way possible.

Roxborough and it's neighbor, East Falls, are dank and often depressing. Some areas are beautiful and bright as well. Roxborough has awesome woods and hiking territory as well as (what may be) the only farmland in Philadelphia.

I think there is a poetry to this town that can't quite be explained unless you think about it, which the people of Roxborough are rarely willing to do (unless they're drunk).

I'm proud to be a member of this little society even though I bash it so much. It's almost like something you love to hate...a guilty pleasure, perhaps.

That being said, I think it is the perfect setting for a neo-noir film...and I want to do it. I want to highlight all of the staples of this society and locations that everyone will recognize. I want to do this in a way that conveys the mood of the town as well as an overdramatized portrait of young life in a noir setting.

To be Continued...