Public Access

United States2025107 minEnglish

An unprecedented look inside one of the greatest media experiments to hijack American screens. Rare archives from New York’s underground capture a world of creators who shattered rules, defied censors, and transformed our televisions into a free-speech battleground where anyone could be a star.

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The internet and social media platforms may have given birth to influencers and content creators, but decades before their popularization, public access television such as New York City’s Manhattan Cable Television opened up the floodgates for technological free expression. With no editorial input allowed, ordinary New Yorkers had carte blanche to create — from the interactive Grube Tube to Glenn O’Brien’s underground scene free-for-all TV Party and the pioneering LGBTQ+ series The Emerald City. But when sexually explicit programming pushed the boundaries and stirred public debate, First Amendment court battles followed. David Shadrack Smith takes viewers through the unfiltered creativity and chaos of this paradigm-shifting new technology, which presaged today’s media-driven world. As Public Access cheekily warns, “Brace yourself! Nothing you have ever seen before can prepare you for this.” — BT

This film contains mature content and may not be appropriate for all ages.

Available in person. Also available online for the public (January 29–February 1) and credentialed press and industry (January 28–February 1).

U.S. Documentary CompetitionAll FeaturesLGBTQ+ StoriesScience & TechnologyNonfictionClosed CaptionOpen CaptionU.S. Only- less

Credits

Director(s)
David Shadrack Smith
Produced by
Sara Crow
Anne-Marcelle Ngabirano
Production Companies
Part2 Filmworks
Olive Productions
In Association with
Out for the Count
Executive Producers
Wren Arthur
Steve Buscemi
Benny Safdie
Original Music by
adore
Edited by
Geoff Gruetzmacher
Archival Producer
Anne-Marcelle Ngabirano
Additional Editors
Maya Tippett
Craig Rinkerman
Assistant Editor
Cristian Uriostegui
Music Supervisor
Olivier Spencer
Cinematographer
David Shadrack Smith
Graphics
Norn Jordan
Erica Lee
Picture Finishing Services and Archival Processing
Module
Colorist
Steve Beganyi
Sound Design
Ruy Garcia

Company
Part2 Filmworks
Website
https://www.part2pictures.com/
Contact
David Shadrack Smith
david@part2pictures.com
9177674810

Meet the Artist

David Shadrack Smith

Brooklyn-born filmmaker David Shadrack Smith began his career reporting in China and producing for National Geographic before founding Part2 Pictures. He’s produced award-winning nonfiction for CNN, Hulu, HBO Max, and more, which has earned Emmys and James Beard Awards, among other honors. Public Access is his feature directorial debut.

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