Port Jefferson Woman Pushes TV Pilot on Suburban Homelessness

A Port Jefferson woman who penned a television pilot about suburban homelessness, in hopes that she can dispel myths that the problem is mostly an urban one, is hoping to take her show to a wider audience.

Corinna Mendis, a St. Charles Hospital physician assistant, produced the first episode of her show, “Not in My Neighborhood,” independently, and filmed it entirely at the Pax Christi Hospitality Center in Port Jefferson. It premiered at Theatre Three last summer.

Now, Mendis is looking for a distributor, the writer told Script Magazine in an online video.

See the full interview above, or click here.

In the interview, Mendis acknowledges that the Port Jefferson shelter is a sore spot in town, and spoke about how the first day of shooting was met with “irate picketers,” protesting against the house.

Mendis, who said they shelter has done a lot of good for many people, also acknowledged that many people choose to sleep in the woods near the shelter.

Despite the serious subject nature, Mendis said the show is a comedy.

“I felt like if I added some laughter it would make the subject matter a little more tolerable,” she said in the video.

Click here to watch the pilot episode on Mendis' YouTube page.