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White House Hotel
Life at the end of The Bowery

Synopsis:

In the past, the White House Hotel used to be a place where people would simply go to sleep for the night. It was meant for people who could not afford a monthly rent, but who could maintain enough cash flow to barely stay off the streets. The flophouse is still considered such a place, albeit a little different. It is located on the historical Bowery of New York City, an area once infamous for its brothels, flophouses and saloons. Up until the 1970s, the hotel was for White people only, hence the name. Residents sleep in four by six foot rooms, big enough for one cot. These rooms have no ceiling of their own, and are placed side by side, connected above by chicken wire. The stories from the flop are often sad, tales of broken down families, estrangement and addiction. It's the last stop for many.

Meet the Characters

Maria
23, lives in Germany, but considers the world her home. Maria gets on planes to go from one side of the world to the other the way one in New York travels on the subway to cross town. She is a gypsy of sorts. Her pants are stained with different colored paints and she is always slightly disheveled. She is striking, with energetic eyes set in a face that is both innocent and happy. When Maria swings into the lobby of the hotel, the space is instantly jolted with energy. Slender yet strong, Maria is quick to flirt with any and every resident of the hotel. Maria considers the White House Hotel her home in NYC. She stays free of rent in exchange for artwork done for the hotel.

Meyer
Meyer is a former corporate lawyer. He and a group of investors bought the hotel in 1998. His knowledge of the law, thrifty nature and keen ability to buy out tenants has made the transformation of the hotel possible. Meyer has single handedly transformed this former flophouse into a youth hostel. Meyer is constantly looking to improve the hotel, cut costs, and create a bond with whoever he meets. Meyer takes a fervent and peculiar interest in his permanent residents, saving a letter of Mike Powell's handwriting, having Shadow's calendar on his wall, and recounting stories of past residents.

Mike
Mike Powell, 53, lives on the third floor of the White House Hotel. He is a man of imposing physique, large and well trained in martial arts. There is a sword hanging from his wall. Mike believes that martial arts influence every action in his life. He earns his rent money by playing $5 games of chess. He no longer enjoys chess, and simply sees it as a means for making money. Mike is most passionate about calligraphy, the art of writing.

Mike has no alcohol or drug addictions. In many ways, he is in the White House Hotel largely because he feels like an outsider in a capitalist society. He does not have a great deal of competitive spirit, and does not harbor any great ambitions. For Mike, the true test of a person is whether or not they can enjoy their solitude. If one is not at peace with one's self, then one is not at peace with God. Mike says that while he has never had problems being at peace with himself, he has problems being at peace with others.

Paulie
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 300 lbs, Paulie is the biggest resident of the White House Hotel. Instead of the standard 7 by 4 foot cubicle, he needs a "suite" which consists of two cubicles put together. Paulie, at 51 years of age, is the chief plumber of the hotel. He has been plumbing since the age of ten. For many years Paulie was the chief plumber at the Waldorf Astoria, where as many as 150 men worked under him. A few years ago, Paulie slipped at work and broke both his legs. Crippled for months, he fell onto hard times and found himself in the homeless shelter across the street from the White House Hotel. Meyer Muschel, owner of the White House, gave Paulie a cubicle and a job in October of 2004. Despite his imposing physique, Paulie is a joker at heart. He laughs almost as frequently as he complains about his work. He says he's the best plumber in New York, doing the work of three men.

Shadow
Sir Shadow is 6 feet 4 inches tall and well dressed, carrying himself with a large air of confidence. He commands attention. People speak of his great talent as an artist, his ability to, move his pen almost unconsciously across a page and create images of people that capture the raw emotion of the human spirit. Shadow's art is called "one line art" because the drawing consists of a single stroke of the pen. He draws people dancing, jazz musicians performing, and lovers embracing. Many of his works can be seen in galleries throughout Harlem as well as the hotel lobby.

Tom
is a very neat, 61 year old Irish man. For six years he has been living at the hotel. Everyday Tom hopes he can get out of the White House Hotel. He doesn't want to die there. Tom is up and awake by 5 a.m. He showers, then heads to the bodega next door where breakfast is $3, where he completes crossword puzzles. Tom says the puzzles keep him from slipping into dementia. Tom doesn't pay rent at the White House Hotel because he serves as the Fire Safety Inspector. Once or twice a week he walks from the forth floor to the basement, checks every light bulb, and every corner, and keeps a log of violations in his notebook. On Tuesday nights, Tom plays bingo at the Orange Valve bar.

Learn more at www.whitehousefilm.com