Spotlight on a Village Storyteller
Roger Paradiso’s My Hollywood Circus
By Kim Kroll
Paradiso on the set of Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding. Photo courtesy of Steve Sands and Greenwich Street Productions.
Greenwich Village has always been more than just a neighborhood. It has been a stage, a canvas, a writer’s desk — a place where stories are born and nurtured by a community that has long championed independent voices. From the bohemian poets of MacDougal Street to the playwrights who transformed off-Broadway theaters, the Village has remained a haven for artists determined to make work on their own terms.
Carrying that spirit forward is Roger Paradiso, a filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer (and a Village View founder!) whose career bridges the glitter of Hollywood and the grit of independent film. This fall, Paradiso is inviting his neighbors — and supporters far beyond the Village — to join him in bringing two projects to life: his new memoir, My Hollywood Circus, and his independent documentary trilogy on the Kennedy family.
From Hollywood Sets to Indie Streets
Paradiso’s name may not be on the marquee, but his fingerprints are on some of the most beloved films of the last four decades. He worked on Moonstruck, Annie, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, among others. In My Hollywood Circus, Paradiso pulls back the curtain on these productions with a mix of wit, candor, and deep affection for the chaotic art of filmmaking.
“It was a circus,” he says with a laugh. “That’s the only word for it. Big studio movies, indie experiments, the late-night rewrites, the near-disasters that somehow turned into classics — I wanted to capture all of it.”
The book is more than just Hollywood gossip. It’s a meditation on creativity, survival, and the often unseen labor that goes into making films. For anyone who has ever dreamed of being behind the camera, or simply wondered what really happens after the director calls “action,” Paradiso offers a front-row seat.
Searching for Camelot
Parallel to the book, Paradiso has created an ambitious film trilogy about the Kennedy family. Searching for Camelot seeks to explore how the Kennedy legacy still resonates today.
“This isn’t nostalgia,” Paradiso explains. “It’s about ideals — about what the Kennedys meant when they spoke of service, sacrifice, and vision. These are questions we’re still wrestling with as a country.”
The trilogy blends archival footage, interviews, and Paradiso’s distinctive storytelling style. Like his book, it aims to spark dialogue — not just about the Kennedys, but about the larger story of American democracy.
A Village Tradition of Independence
True to his roots, Paradiso is taking an independent path to share these works. This fall, he launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the marketing and distribution of My Hollywood Circus and Searching for Camelot.
The campaign offers pledge rewards familiar to anyone who has tuned into a PBS fundraiser — signed books, exclusive digital content, acknowledgments in the published edition, and even the chance to be named a “Kickstarter Angel” for donating without accepting a reward. Early supporters will see their names printed in the book before its wide release.
“Independent artists need communities,” Paradiso says. “The Village has always understood that. It’s never just been about the art — it’s about people believing in the art enough to keep it alive.”
For Paradiso, the Kickstarter is more than a fundraiser; it’s a continuation of a Village tradition in which creativity thrives not because of corporations, but because neighbors, friends, and audiences step up to sustain it. It is grassroots financing, not corporate.
How to Get Involved
The Kickstarter campaign for My Hollywood Circus and Searching for Camelot will be live this fall. To learn more, visit kickstarter.com/projects/rogerparadiso/my-hollywood-circus or contact Paradiso directly at myhollywoodcircus@gmail.com
As Greenwich Village continues to evolve, projects like Paradiso’s remind us that its heartbeat remains the same: a community of artists and supporters willing to take risks, tell stories, and keep the flame of independent culture burning.
Roger’s Hollywood Highlights
Over a career spanning decades, Roger Paradiso has worn many hats in the movie business — producer, writer, director, assistant director and coffeemaker. His credits include:
Moonstruck (1987) – Academy Award-winning romantic comedy
starring Cher and Nicolas Cage.
Annie (1982) – A big-screen musical classic beloved by generations.
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) – Sleek remake of the 1968 crime caper starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo.
Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding (2004) – Hilarious film adaptation of the long-running immersive stage hit.
Searching for Camelot – Paradiso’s independent Kennedy family trilogy.
How to Support
Projects: My Hollywood Circus (book) and Searching for Camelot (films)
Rewards: Signed editions, digital collectibles, acknowledgments in the book
Contact: myhollywoodcircus@gmail.com
or kickstarter.com/projects/rogerparadiso/
my-hollywood-circus
