NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
A Film Series by Short Stay Studio
Some of the best conversations
happen right after the credits roll.
Neighborhood Watch is a community film series rooted in one simple belief: watching something together — really together — changes the way you experience it.
We didn’t build this for passive audiences. We built it for people who want to feel something and talk about it afterward.
Born in a Newark apartment, built into a cultural institution — three years in, the series continues to grow because the community keeps showing up.
“What most people would call a hangout, we called the beginning of something.”
WHERE IT STARTED
It started with a couch, a projector,
and a premiere of The Vince Staples Show.
Kaishon Way, founder of Short Stay Studio, opened his apartment to a small group of friends in the spirit of something simple: quality film, real company, good food.
No tickets.
No pretense.
Just people gathered around something worth watching.
Within a year, that apartment held a monthly audience of 20–25 regulars. A resident chef. Handcrafted charcuterie. Specialty sandwiches. Hot food from local restaurants.
Hospitality was always part of the experience.
THREE YEARS.
300+ ATTENDEES.
35+ FILMS.
ONE COMMUNITY.
None of the intimacy left when the scale grew. That’s the thing we protect the most.
HOW IT GREW
Year two pushed the series into its first major chapter
A 12-week residency, our first formal sponsor partnership with Mentor Newark, and a larger community venue with theater seating for up to 50 people.
What started in an apartment became a recurring cultural gathering space for artists, designers, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, musicians, and neighbors across Newark.
We added:
Short Stay Shorts
weekly DJ sets
local vendors
specialty food experiences
post-screening conversations
late-night community energy
SHORT STAY SHORTS
A dedicated short film platform spotlighting local and emerging filmmakers whose work deserves a room full of people paying attention.
Award-winning projects.
First-time screenings.
Stories that otherwise may never have reached audiences.
WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH IS
Film is the catalyst.
Community is the point.
Neighborhood Watch is not:
a networking mixer
a bar with a projector
a passive movie night
It is an atmosphere.
A room full of people who came to be present — to watch, react, talk, and connect.
❋
This is what three years of building looks like when it finally gets outsideTHIS SUMMER, IT MOVES OUTSIDE.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AT THE YARD
[ DATE ]
[ TIME ]
The Yard — Newark, NJ
Outdoor feature screening
Short Stay Shorts showcase
Live DJs
Curated vendors
Signature raffle
Food by The Yard
Part of the North To Shore Festival.
Limited capacity. Community first.
You come for the movie and stay for the conversations
ABOUT SHORT STAY STUDIO
Short Stay Studio is a multidisciplinary cultural platform
rooted in hospitality, design, art, and intentional gathering.
We create environments where artists, entrepreneurs, makers, and culturally curious people can meet, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships in real life.
Engineering Arts & Entertainment.