chelsea on the rocks is a documentary film directed by abel ferarra. the film documents the chelsea hotel and the personalities and artistic voices that have emerged from this legendary hotel and residence in the heart of new york. the 12-story, 250 room chelsea hotel was originally built in 1883 as manhattan’s first cooperative apartment and was the tallest building in new york until 1902. it was converted into a hotel and residence in 1905. once considered an untouchable, impenetrable tower for writers, artists, musicians and mavericks, it has been recently claimed as a boutique hotel venture for a management company who shows disregard for its formidable history. the officially landmarked hotel is recognized as an american cultural icon and is renowned for the people who have lived and created art there, including sir arthur clarke, bob dylan, stanley kubrick, arthur miller, joni mitchell, dee dee ramone, larry rivers, dylan thomas, mark twain, tennessee williams, milos forman, janis joplin, donald sutherland, patti smith, philip taaffe, dennis hopper, andy warhol, edie sedgwick, viva, william eggelston, eugene o’neil, jane fonda, leonard cohen, robert mapplethorpe, tom waits, sam shepard, charles bukowski, julian schnabel, jasper johns, viva, quentin crisp, jimi hendrix and many others. beyond the famous are the little known who have made this their refuge in new york-- countless writers, painters, directors, costume and lighting designers, galleryites and curators, and those who are just always there with no visible means of support. each of these characters fill out a cast that makes this story come together with the best of new york architecture, history, art, comedy and tragedy all through the eyes and passion of acclaimed auteur abel ferrara. the project intertwines in-depth interviews with current and past tenants, recreated scenes of events that occurred at the chelsea and archival footage. ‘chelsea hotel’ attempts to break the documentary mold and create something truly original that captures the essence of its iconic stature

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