Jewish Federation’s Master Class Premieres in Los Angeles

Hollywood Veterans Share Insights with Israeli and L.A. Filmmakers

Danny Sussman, Dana Lustig, Arik Kneller, Lisa Preiss-Fried, Joan Hyler & John Fishel

Filmmakers who hone their craft on opposite sides of the globe recently convened in Los Angeles for the 9th Annual Master Class in Cinema and Television, a program of The Jewish Federation’s Tel Aviv/Los Angeles Partnership and Entertainment Division. This ten-day seminar, which was held in Los Angeles for the first time, brought together gifted up-and comers from both L.A. and Israel for a once in a lifetime encounter with some of Hollywood’s most successful entertainment industry veterans.

Co-Chair Danny Sussman with Israeli animator Alex Orrelle

“The Master Class is an unparalleled opportunity for experienced filmmakers to share our knowledge and expertise and also to bolster a burgeoning Israeli film industry,” said producer Marc Platt, who serves as honorary chair, along with co-chairs Joan Hyler and Danny Sussman. “Hosting this year’s master class in Los Angeles has given us the opportunity to engage a number of individuals who may not otherwise have connected with Israel.”

The Master Class is intended to help the already accomplished participants take their film careers to a new level. In fact, the program boasts a number of film success stories: the creators of Favela Rising, 39 Pounds of Love, Sweet Mud and The Champagne Spy (just screened at the LA Film Festival) all participated in this program and credit their participation for having a huge impact on their careers. In a few cases (Keep Not Silent, 39 Pounds of Love), producers teaching a class were impressed enough with a project to sign on as producer and help bring an Israeli-made film to the U.S. stage.

American filmmaker Tripp Reed with Israeli filmmaker Eitan Lodner

The celebrated Master Class is being held in Los Angeles for the first time, having evolved significantly over the past eight years from its beginnings with workshops in Tel Aviv. This year’s Master Class also coincides with a year-long cultural celebration of the Partnership’s 10th Anniversary.

Participants attended intimate seminars and meetings with studio heads, network executives, producers, writers, directors, actors, talent managers, agents, and entertainment lawyers. Highlights included a discussion with Director Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes, Up Close & Personal), a workshop entitled “Anatomy of a Hit Show – CSI” with Executive Producers Jonathan Littman, Richard Lewis, and Ken Fink and star George Eads, Q&A with writer David Sacks (The Simpsons, 3rd Rock From the Sun), a crash course on public relations with legendary publicity guru Howard Bragman, and Q&A with Nina Tassler, President of CBS Entertainment.

For more information on the Film and Television Master Class, please contact Meredith Weiss at (323) 761-8305 or MWeiss@JewishLA.org.