Meet the filmmakers
Hilary Lewis Interview
Hilary Lewis, Chief Curator & Creative Director at The Glass House, is interviewed on the subject of architect Philip Johnson's contribution to the design of The Four Seasons Restaurant.
Producer, Michael D Ellenbogen
Michael D Ellenbogen is a film producer and co–founder of Eons Creative, a business consulting, branding, marketing, event design and production company he runs with his wife, Carolina. Currently both Michael and Carolina live in Manchester, Vermont where they are opening stART Space, a contemporary art space for emerging artists, and manage the only cinema for miles around. Jack of Hearts Productions is Michael’s film production company and is actively producing IT HAPPENED OVER LUNCH, the documentary that traces the 57-year history of America’s most iconic restaurant, The Four Seasons. His first feature film production, Ilya Chaiken’s highly praised MARGARITA HAPPY HOUR, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. From 1998 to 2004 he was the Strategic Analyst for domestic theatrical distribution alongside the President of Distribution at October Films/USA Films/Focus Features.
He has programmed, produced, and juried film festivals since 1993 including the Brazilian Film Festival in Miami, the Florida Film Festival, the Woodstock Film Festival, Ashdod International Film Festival (Israel), Manchester International Film Festival (VT), Gen Art Film Festival, Albany International Short Film Festival and the Shorts International Film Festival. In the early 90s Ellenbogen worked with producers Larry Fessenden and Rachel Horovitz and in 1997 he distributed Fessenden’s HABIT throughout North America.
In the early 90s, for fun, Ellenbogen programmed and host Full House: a Night of Movies at the once renown coffeehouse Limbo on Avenue A where filmmakers such as Michael Almereyda, Kimberly Pierce, Tamara Jenkins, and Alan Taylor among many others presented their short films.
Executive Producer, Julian Niccolini
Managing Partner, Four Seasons, New York
Julian Niccolini is a New York City restaurateur who co-owns The Four Seasons Restaurant. A Native of Italy's Tuscany region, Niccolini has lived in New York since 1973 and became a US citizen in 2002.
Described as the "madcap maitre d' of America's most powerful lunchroom" by GQ magazine, Niccolini is known for charming his patrons with a surprising mix of innate hospitality and irreverence for the captains of industry who patronize The Four Seasons daily.
A media darling who is often quoted on the New York Post's Page Six column and who appeared in the Spike Lee film Inside Man, and with Richard Gere in Arbitrage, Niccolini is recognized for his discerning wine palate. His wine list features some of the rarest and most sought after bottles in the world.
Executive Producer, Alex von Bidder
Managing Partner, Four Seasons, New York
In addition to co-owning New York’s Four Seasons, Alex von Bidder is a certified yoga instructor and Co-Author of The Four Seasons: A History of America’s Premier Restaurant and most recently, Wiggens Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons Restaurant; a best-selling children’s book.