July 15, 2008 | 3:16 pm

Coming soon to a blog near you—VideoJew returns

VideoJew Jay Firestone leaps out of hibernation with this teaser.

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Tags: comedy, humor, jay firestone, jewishjournal, teaser, video, videojew

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July 13, 2008 | 11:18 pm

AUDIO: Norman Corwin, Radio Zionist (1944)

It's 1944 and the Columbia Broadcasting System announcer gives time-checks in Eastern War Time.

On Columbia Workshop, it's time for a half hour by Norman Corwin, the star hyphenate writer-director-producer of 30s and 40s radio drama.

Corwin, says Wikipedia, 'was among the first producers to regularly use entertainment -- even light entertainment -- to tackle serious social issues.'

While Corwin describes himself as an anti-Facscist, in this broadcast he is Mr. Hasbara, America's Number One Radio Zionist. Framed as a visit to Tel Aviv in British Mandate Palestine, Corwin's script highlights more positive talking points than a JNF appeal!

We learn:

• Yiddish is not Hebrew
• anti-Semitism is a racket
• Jews treat German prisoners humanely
• Palestinian Jews love the Allies (The United Nations)
• Christians can worship freely
• Everything in Tel Aviv is neat and clean and was built by humble Jewish labor
• Jews pioneered the observation of Sabbath
• Folk dancing is hard
• Aviva Har-Zahav means 'Springtime Goldberg'
• It is so totally cool that 'shalom' means hello, goodbye and peace

This is a great period piece! Enjoy!




This episode aired on May 23rd,1944. It's Part 3 of the "Unusual Cities" series. With Myron McCormick, Paul Mann, Joseph Julian, June Alexander, Robert Harris, Olive Dearing, Mortiki Krossover, Margaret Foster, Maurice Wolfser. From the series 'Passport for Adams.' Music: Bernard Hermann.

Columbia Presents Corwin was a CBS radio show which aired 30 episodes between March 7, 1944 and August 21, 1945. Norman Corwin was considered by many to be the "Bard of the Golden Age of Radio". Fans recognized as for his great talents and in 1941, CBS devoted an entire block of the prestigious Columbia Workshop series for his works, known by the title Twenty Six By Corwin.


Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Corwin
http://www.archive.org/details/ColumbiaWorkshop
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Herrmann
http://otrsite.com/logs/logc1015.htm
http://www.freeotrshows.com/otr/c/Columbia_Presents_Corwin.html

Corwin screenshot from http://www.normancorwin.com/

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Tags: audio, british mandate, cbs, columbia workshop, corwin, old time radio, palestine, radio drama, zionism, zionist

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July 11, 2008 | 12:27 am

The Industry, Israel and Idealism with Danny Sussman

I managed to crash (with advance approval) an exclusive event for Birthright Israel alumni at a sushi restaurant in Westwood this week. For Jews who live on another planet, Birthright Israel is program that gives Jews ages 18-26 a free educational trip to Israel. It’s not my fault I wasn’t eligible for the program. I participated on my own a mega-Israel trip when I moved there about eight years ago.

The guest speaker was Danny Sussman, a big,well-connected Hollywood talent manager, representing the likes of Noah Wyle, Jimmy Smits, Chloe Sevigny and John Stamos. He is the Vice Chairman of the Entertainment Division and the
Missions Chairman for City and Valley Delegations of the Jewish Federation; Israel and Jewish causes are dear to his heart.

The room was filled with aspiring writers, directors, producers, actors -— the event was a way to keep Birthright Israel alumni connected to each other and Israel. I didn’t have any headshots to bring, but some actors in the room did. I wonder how many of us came with the hopes of getting discovered through this nice dose of protexia, the Israeli term used to describe using “connections” to get ahead.

We got advice about the industry -— but more so—inspiring words about staying connected to Israel, learning more about Israel, and using our generally narcissism-driven careers to help pro-Israel or other bigger-than-yourself causes.

Ironically, I’m moving to LA to become an actress in part to get away from Israel idealism (see You Don’t Mess with the Orit). So many people discourage me by saying LA is so “plastic”. Great! Bring on the plastic. It’ll be a way to heal eight years of blood, guts, and gore. But it was nice to hear how Sussman has merged his passion for the industry and Zionism -— and that it’s possible, even encouraged -— in a town people regard as shallow.

“To be a good talent representative that’s part of the entertainment community and a productive citizen, you need to feel part of something larger than yourself,” he said. He speaks in whips, charging the room like a bulldozer, imparting us with his wisdom, interspersing the F-word here and there for dramatic effect.

He left his job as a journalist covering the weapons industry to become a talent agent/manager, starting in the William Morris mailroom—degrading, he accedes—but necessary. What pushed him to succeed was his love for Israel and desire to represent it. “I have my own fucking country,” he declared proudly.

He’ll never forget the moment when, as a kid, the members of his synagogue in New York rallied themselves to help Israel during the almost disastrous Yom Kippur War by mobilizing Jewish support and eventually American military support for Israel. “The American Jewish community picked itself up by the bootstraps.”

It’s very refreshing to meet a Hollywood bigwig not shy about his Zionist dedication and even his suspicions of Obama, which he touched upon for several minutes towards the end. I admit, I couldn’t help but wonder if Zionists help Zionists in this biz (disillusioned Zionists included). It’s better than the casting couch!

I don’t know if I necessarily needed his rally cry to support Israel -— I used to be the one who cried—but I appreciate the advice he gave about making it in this town. He described the industry as a “cool, amazing great place filled with landmines an disappointments -— financially, professionally, artistically. Each is an opportunity to do better the next time,” he offered.

As long as actors go into auditions giving their all, making interesting choices, the casting directors will remember them for next time. You also have to be enrolled in an acting class and work on skill. But, beware, “a lot of things in this business are designed to make you quit.”

There’s a lot of dirty work beginners have to swallow. “Be the guy who’s willing to take out the garbage.” Make yourself indispensible. I guess that means that when I get to an extra casting call at 6 am, I still have to “walk and talk” (through pantomime) in the background with a lots of energy even if all I want to do is doze off in “holding.”

As for my personal protexia from this event, he didn’t take me on as a client but he gave me the name of a Jewish commercial agent to whom I can submit headshots once I get them.

I’m not into Jewish tribalism lately -— one reason why I’m leaving Israel—but hey, I’ll take what I can get. I have a cause that’s bigger than myself — or do I?

Yeah.  I do.

‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’—from 1950 film production of “Annie Get Your Gun.”

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Tags: actors, agencies, agency, arfa, danny sussman, film, greedy, headshots, hollywood, industry, management, movies, orit, talent

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July 6, 2008 | 1:17 pm

VIDEO: Extra Extra—Orit travels to Beirut

My Middle-Eastern looks helped get me an extra role as a Beirut café patron.

When the TV show is aired, I doubt anyone will see me—I’m in the back sipping coffee, and the scene has no dialogue.

The Second Lebanon War, I assume, is over in the story, and it’s a peaceful spring day—or is it?

Fortunately (or unfortunately), there was some other action in Beirut.

Recently (fact, not fiction), Hezbollah terrorists started gun battles in the streets in an effort to take over the Lebanese capital. It may take one woman to save the day . . . .

By the way, I am shamelessly seeking my SAG card and commercial/theatrical agent (not to mention a literary one). But not too shameless—so don’t get
any ideas.

I’ll also welcome free advice on the biz (don’t get nasty please).

You can write me at , or post your comments here.

For her second ever casting call as a “background actor”, Orit travels to a cafe in Beirut, Lebanon for an undisclosed TV show. She got a little more than she bargained for…

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Tags: actor, actress, agent, background, beirut, extra extra, hollywood, manager, orit, representation, saq, video

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June 26, 2008 | 2:07 pm

VIDEO: Orit’s Adventures in Hollywood: Extra, extra—view all about it

My initiation into Hollywood has begun—in downtown LA where I booked my first acting gig as an “extra” for a Fox TV pilot.

It was a 12-hour shoot, consisting mostly of walking up and down an office set looking busy.

I met a nice man named Kurt (aka EZ), an aspiring filmmaker, who I was privileged to commission as my personal cinematographer for the day.

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Tags: actor, actress, arfa, audition, background, central casting, extra, hollywood, new, orit, videoblog

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June 24, 2008 | 1:52 pm

You don’t mess with the Orit

So I really wasn't expecting to like the new Adam Sandler movie, You Don't Mess with the Zohan. Why would a heroic Israel counter-terrorist agent who's an expert at whipping evil Arab tuchus give up his heroism to become a hair stylist in New York, as the Zohan says, to make people's hair "silky, smooth?"

It all sounded so silly.

But a few minutes into the movie I already changed my mind. No--it's not silly, not silly at all. In fact, I can really relate to the Zohan.

Since moving to Israel almost nine years ago, my life has been a chronic quest for physical and existential survival. Once the intifada exploded a few months into my arrival as a new immigrant, I went from a wide-eyed Zionist reveling in a relatively peaceful Israel to a searcher grappling with questions of Jewish life and death. How should Israel deal with those bent on its destruction? What are the ethical parameters to the use of force? How should we Israelis conduct our lives amidst these constant threats?

I tried to enjoy my twenties as best as possible even as I mourned the dead and wounded. I toured the country, danced in its nightclubs, prayed at the kotel on a whim--but even in these normalized moments, a fear and frustration permeated my being: fear over getting blown up at any moment and frustration over the government's not doing too much about it.

I concluded, after being a believer in the Oslo peace process, that Israel must fight back and never retreat from its lands. And I fought for what I believed in--through op-eds, articles, and, most impactful to me, venturing into Gaza during the Disengagement. In Gaza I felt most like the Zohan--too bad my targets were my own countrymen. I snuck into the settlements of Gush Katif with a fake ID and flirted with and sang to the soldiers to get them to refuse orders to evacuate Jews. Unlike the Zohan, though, I didn't harm anyone--Jew or Arab.

I lost that fight, and the fight over Israel's internal injustices and external enemies is far from over. But I wonder if I have a standing chance. The collectivism, favoritism, and corruption rampant in both Israeli and Arab governments and society makes it difficult for me to create change. The political system is flawed, and I don't want to fight according to its rules.

Zohan left Israel because he wondered: what's the point? He had caught the wily "Phantom", his Arab terrorist arch-nemesis, but the government traded the Phantom in a deal. And now they ask him to fight again? For what? So they could give the terrorists back? So that all the lives sacrificed in the wars are in vain? Should I fight for harsh retaliation or for the integrity of the land when the government will trade my victories and only make Israel more precarious?

Of course, there is the less intellectual reason: I'm burnt out.

Sometimes I wonder what I would have done I had never became a Zionist or idealist. I probably would have stayed in LA and pursued a career in entertainment. Acting, like the Zohan's hairdressing, was always a little dream that I couldn't pursue in Israel as anything more than a hobby.

But now I'm thinking of moving back to my hometown of LA and becoming an actress.

I told my parents, and they reacted with the same skepticism Zohan got from his: "What, you want to be a struggling actress?" The profession strikes them as so undignified for such a "smart girl like you."

But maybe it's time that I, like the Zohan, fulfill my selfish dreams--take a break from the fighting, the wars.

No matter what I decide, I know my past will come back to haunt me--just like the Phantom came to New York to take down the Zohan. I cannot escape my love for Israel and my desire to fight for the good in it. Either I will return, or the fight will come back to LA, in some way.

Hopefully, I'll find some of my personal and national happy ending in America. The movie, perhaps unwittingly, offers a solution to the conflict: the principles of individualism still sacred in America. In the movie Israelis and Palestinians lived together because they preoccupied themselves with making better lives. In the US, the impartial, unpoliticized police force is charged with keeping order to prevent criminality and violence between different ethnicities.

I believe that ultimately peace will reign in Israel when the governments create the conditions necessary for its citizens to realize dreams with dignity and without fear: whether to become a hairstylist, a shoe salesman, a businessman, or an actress. I speak from experience when I say that living in a country run only by Jews will not bring Jews happiness--and I'm sure Arabs living under only Arabs will not bring them happiness. Feeling safe to pursue our passions (which do not include jihad) will.

I don't know if my journey back to Hollywood will be so "silky smooth." And, unlike, the Zohan, I don't plan to sleep my way to the top. But for now I'll stop trying to be a real-life heroine in the land of Israel. Hopefully, though, I can play one.

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Tags: actor, actress, disillusioned, hollywood, israel, orit, palestinian, peace, sandler, zionism, zohan

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June 21, 2008 | 8:54 pm

‘The God Blog’ is the best blog, Los Angeles Press Club says

I just got back from the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, downtown, where Brad A. Greenberg’s The God Blog, published here at JewishJournal.com, was named best individual weblog at the Fiftieth Anniversary Los Angeles Press Club awards banquet.

I txt msg’d Brad (I think he is gambling in Vegas) with the news and he msg’d back that he was ‘shocked!’

We’re not shocked; we love Brad and we love The God Blog. 

Mazal tov, bro, you deserve it!

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Tags: award, best, brad a. greenberg, individual, l.a. press club, los angeles press club, prize, the god blog, top, weblog, winner

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