For decades, some of the most legendary films and television shows made in New York City were powered not just by stars and directors, but by the crews behind the scenes, the camera operators, grips, electricians, and technicians who quite literally got the shot. A new book, Cinematic Immunity: An Oral History of New York Filmmaking As Told by the Crews That Got the Shot, shines a spotlight on those unsung professionals and tells the story of East Coast filmmaking from their perspective for the very first time.

The book includes firsthand accounts from sets of classics like The Godfather, The French Connection, Do the Right Thing, The Sopranos, and Law & Order, revealing the challenges, chaos, and camaraderie that shaped the city’s film industry. Joining us now is the author, Michael Lee Nirenberg.