Documentarian Heather Quinlan’s film in progress, If These Knishes Could Talk, is all about how the NY accent has changed as the city has changed:
what it is, how it’s evolved and if it’s disappearing as the city changes. I’ve been lucky enough to film low-level mobsters and highfaluttin’ writers, actors and directors, including Pete Hamill, Amy Heckerling and James McBride.
Quinlan includes a deaf man’s perspective, seen illustrating the New York accent in sign language. She is currently trying to raise funds to complete the film, including doing editing and post-production work.