••• Patron of the New got robbed again, this time by six guys. —DNAinfo

••• American Apparel got hit, too (also by six guys). —Tribeca Trib

••• Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Robert De Niro released a statement attempting to defend the screening of an anti-vaccine film by a discredited former doctor:

Grace and I have a child with autism and we believe it is critical that all of the issues surrounding the causes of autism be openly discussed and examined. In the 15 years since the Tribeca Film Festival was founded, I have never asked for a film to be screened or gotten involved in the programming. However this is very personal to me and my family and I want there to be a discussion, which is why we will be screening VAXXED. I am not personally endorsing the film, nor am I anti-vaccination; I am only providing the opportunity for a conversation around the issue.

Related: People are having fun with #futureTribecadocumentary ideas on Twitter.

UPDATE: The festival released a statement from De Niro, which included this: “We have concerns with certain things in this film that we feel prevent us from presenting it in the Festival program. We have decided to remove it from our schedule.”

••• And for marketing this year, the Tribeca Film Festival is using “a machine called the ReActor. Combining voice and facial recognition technology with motion sensors, the unit records people acting out scenes from famous movies, and sends participants YouTube links of their best performances to share with friends. […] Starting next week, the ReActor will travel around New York City, visiting various festival theaters and local attractions. Mostly, however, it will pass judgement on folks’ acting chops at the Tribeca Film Festival hub, located in Spring Studios at 50 Varick.” Cute idea! If they have anything from Polyester, I’m in. —Adweek