"Last autumn on a series of weekend nights I went to The Crossroads of the World with a camera and a tape recording of an Opera I love. I played the Opera and shot film for hours at a time. Later in the editing room, I removed what merely documented and braided the sublime."
- Jim Jennings, quoted in the catalogue of the 43rd San Francisco International Film Festival

"As a teenager, I started making films in the late 60's with a 16mm Keystone camera that my father's family had used to make home movies in the 30's, 40's and 50's. Since graduating from Bard College in 1973 as a Film Major, I have lived in NYC, making films on and off, while simultaneously being employed in unrelated fields. On more than one occasion I tried and failed to make a film in Times Square. A year ago while walking through there at night, I was inspired to try again. The filming was done on consecutive weekend nights. Between weekends I would have the 100-foot roll or two developed and project them once or twice. Propelled by 'chords' and 'melodies' that tantalized me, I would then go back for more in the editing room, after exhausting the shooting process, I freed my 'Lullaby of Broadway.' On the two occasions I've screened Painting the Town, I dedicated them to Ken Jacobs, whose work and encouragement I am grateful for."
- Jim Jennings, catalogue of the Filmmakers' Co-op