Crown Heights - Filmmakers Use Google Glass To Help Promote Tolerance Between Caribbean And Hasidic Neighbors

Brooklyn, NY - Using Google Glass technology, four young Brooklyn filmmakers are hoping to promote tolerance between Caribbean Islanders and Hasidic Jews in Crown Heights in their new project titled Project 2x1.

The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS reports that scenes depicting daily existence in culturally diverse environments—-including a synagogue, barbershop, and Crown Heights’ West Indian Day Parade—- which are shot using small cameras attached to residents’ faces, then allow Crown Heights residents to see what life is like on the other side through the use of Google Glass.

Director and producer of the film, 24 year-old Hannah Roodman, said the film’s mission is simply “To bring two distinct communities together to form one united neighborhood.”

Jamaican-born Taganyahu Sawby, 35, who relocated to CrownHeights when he was 12, said he felt residual prejudice when looking through Google Glass.

“We live in New York, we all have to learn acceptance. I think judgment and criticism have no place in our lives, and it creates really divisive measures. There’s no time for that.” said Swaby.

The young filmmakers say, that as a new generation, they are hoping to ease cultural tensions that have roots dating back decades.

Filmmaker Meldy Seldowitz, 20, an Hasidic Jew, said, “Growing up, I was always in my own community. 

I was taught that Orthodox Jews don’t really talk to the outside world, and even more so to our Caribbean neighbors. It’s a grassroots movement. The younger generation are more open to being friendly with our neighbors, but it’s happening slowly.”