He has worked in television since graduating from Boston University in 1992. He recently finished a screenplay and is currently working on his first spoken-word CD as well as a pilot for an issue-oriented television show. Which of the three mediums is the greatest challenge?

"It's hard to make intelligent television in an era when the five highest rated shows per week on cable start with wrestling call letters," laments Pamphilon. "There are a lot of smart people forced to spit out double cheesburger's of bullshit to satisfy a marketing demographic a focus group deemed moronic. I mean we're all stupid sometimes, but c'mon, a major problem with most of what you see on television is that it doesn't give the viewer the benefit of a doubt upstairs."

So what do you enjoy the most?

"Spoken-word poetry."

He moved to New York five years ago from San Francisco with $200, a one-way plane ticket, a job interview, and a floor to crash on at his cousin's Alphabet City apartment.

"Growing up in the Bay Area was cool, but I always felt there was something that drew me to the East Coast," Pamphilon said. "The energy. The aggression. The desire. It's less passive out here. New York's about having balls and chasing your dreams rather than dealing with all that 'what if' fallout down the line."

-END-

I'M FEELING NEW YORK

I'm feeling New York
as I pass by a disheveled man
In his hi-rise cardboard castle
He gently wipes the sandcastles
From his ladies early morning eyes
I'm feeling New York
as I see a young boy
Straining to pee through a chain link fence
His father gently nudges his bottom forward
All the while I wonder my dad
Never taught me to properly piss in public
I'm feeling New York
as I head to a job
Which guarantees nothing except that
I won't wait on line for my check every two weeks
I smile at the inane reasoning of my boss
Meetings, meetings, we're all about meetings

Let's meet, let's talk about it
Let's get paid to talk about everything
While saying absolutely nothing
Office policy?
Beat the dead horse into submission
And have a meeting after the wake
I'm feeling New York
as I limp across the street
The crosswalk which reads, "WALK"
While a truck descends on me
Honking--singling me out
Heads turning/truck approaching--coming at me
"Fuck You! Read the sign," I say pointing
Oh, now that really felt New York

I'm feeling New York
as I bump into a bitter man
Ten years my senior
His contorted face, tight lips, drawn eyes, angry soul
What's his story?
Why's he pissed?
Too many meeting's in his twenties?
Or too much waiting on line for that check in his thirties?
I'm feeling New York
as I pass the same faceless people
Their emaciated frames/slumped
Married to concrete
"There are eyes behind those extended hands"
I used to say
When I'm really feeling New York
I'll forget I ever thought this way

Copyright Sean David Pamphilon

 Sean David Pamphilon is a 29 year-old Brooklyn based writer/producer/director/essayist/poet who has been nominated for two Emmys for writing and producing. He also received a Cable Ace nomination for his short film entitled "Before and After Jackie," which commemorated the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.