Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Jewish series mirrors American immigrant story
Click image to enlarge
   |
BY: MARILYN H. KARFELD Senior Staff Reporter
“The Jewish Americans,” a three-part documentary premiering on WVIZ/PBS Jan. 9 at 9 p.m., explains how Jews shaped America and how America shaped Jews, says executive producer Jay Sanderson, CEO of JTN Productions (formerly Jewish Television Network).
“It’s not just a great Jewish story. It’s a great American immigrant story,” says Sanderson, whose company conceived the six-hour documentary. JTN then approached WETA, the PBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., to co-produce it, and hired award-winning filmmaker David Grubin to write and direct the saga of Jewish struggles and extraordinary successes in America. As the project moved forward, Thirteen/WNET in New York became involved as well.
Sanderson was scheduled to answer questions about the series after a 52-minute screening of highlights from the documentary on Jan. 3 at The Mandel Jewish Community Center.
From beginning to end the production took two years to complete, Sanderson says. Grubin interviewed dozens of American Jews in fields ranging from history to entertainment and combed hundreds of archives researching the series.
“David went through his own personal journey,” Sanderson says. “He’s Jewish, but didn’t strongly identify with a particular kind of Judaism. This (production) opened doors for him as well.”
Initially a four-hour series, the documentary expanded to six hours to encompass the “depth and breadth of the Jewish experience in America,” Sanderson says. Still, choices had to be made. Famous Jews, such as composer George Gershwin, were omitted. However, the boxed DVD set will include additional material, Sanderson notes. A companion CD and book were released in late October.
The producers hope the series will begin a conversation between Jews and non-Jews, says Sanderson, who expects the documentary to reach tens of millions of viewers of all faiths.
Financing the over $4 million project was “not a hard sell,” Sanderson says. “PBS thought it would take us five years to raise the money. We raised it in a year and a half.”
On the other hand, Sanderson says, raising such sums is always challenging, particularly because the “Jewish community hasn’t grasped the power of the (television) medium to tell its story. The Jewish community tends to be more focused on how many people are sitting in a room. This (documentary) has a ripple effect. It’s going to be shown for years on TV. After they see this, everything we do will be easier to raise money for.”
If viewers think they can’t devote the time to watch all six hours, Sanderson recommends watching the first night. He hopes that episode will grab viewers and keep them in their seats for the next two.
Some parts of the Jewish experience are going to make people uncomfortable, he acknowledges. Jews owned the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in which brutal working conditions led to the tragic 1911 fire. Jews fought on both sides in the Civil War, and they owned slaves, who served at Passover seders. The documentary discusses the Ethel and Julius Rosenberg espionage case at length and mentions Jewish gangsters.
“If we want to be taken seriously by others, we have to be honest about our strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures,” Sanderson says.
His favorite segment in the whole series is part of Cleveland’s Jewish history: the story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who created the Superman character. “Two young guys, frustrated in their hopes and dreams, were reflecting on their own lives. Two nerdy kids who couldn’t get the beautiful girl created an alter ego, Clark Kent. Opening up his shirt and he’s Superman … (as if saying) if only they knew the real me.”
Superman is about “recognizing you are different, but at the end of the day wanting to be accepted,” Sanderson continues. “That story, born out of a Jewish neighborhood in Cleveland, is powerful and funny. It tells everything of the Jewish experience.”
mkarfeld@cjn.org
WHAT: “The Jewish Americans” three-part documentary
WHEN: Jan. 9, 16 and 23 at 9 p.m. on WVIZ/PBS
FOR MORE INFO: www.wviz.org
“It’s not just a great Jewish story. It’s a great American immigrant story,” says Sanderson, whose company conceived the six-hour documentary. JTN then approached WETA, the PBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., to co-produce it, and hired award-winning filmmaker David Grubin to write and direct the saga of Jewish struggles and extraordinary successes in America. As the project moved forward, Thirteen/WNET in New York became involved as well.
Sanderson was scheduled to answer questions about the series after a 52-minute screening of highlights from the documentary on Jan. 3 at The Mandel Jewish Community Center.
From beginning to end the production took two years to complete, Sanderson says. Grubin interviewed dozens of American Jews in fields ranging from history to entertainment and combed hundreds of archives researching the series.
“David went through his own personal journey,” Sanderson says. “He’s Jewish, but didn’t strongly identify with a particular kind of Judaism. This (production) opened doors for him as well.”
Initially a four-hour series, the documentary expanded to six hours to encompass the “depth and breadth of the Jewish experience in America,” Sanderson says. Still, choices had to be made. Famous Jews, such as composer George Gershwin, were omitted. However, the boxed DVD set will include additional material, Sanderson notes. A companion CD and book were released in late October.
The producers hope the series will begin a conversation between Jews and non-Jews, says Sanderson, who expects the documentary to reach tens of millions of viewers of all faiths.
Financing the over $4 million project was “not a hard sell,” Sanderson says. “PBS thought it would take us five years to raise the money. We raised it in a year and a half.”
On the other hand, Sanderson says, raising such sums is always challenging, particularly because the “Jewish community hasn’t grasped the power of the (television) medium to tell its story. The Jewish community tends to be more focused on how many people are sitting in a room. This (documentary) has a ripple effect. It’s going to be shown for years on TV. After they see this, everything we do will be easier to raise money for.”
If viewers think they can’t devote the time to watch all six hours, Sanderson recommends watching the first night. He hopes that episode will grab viewers and keep them in their seats for the next two.
Some parts of the Jewish experience are going to make people uncomfortable, he acknowledges. Jews owned the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in which brutal working conditions led to the tragic 1911 fire. Jews fought on both sides in the Civil War, and they owned slaves, who served at Passover seders. The documentary discusses the Ethel and Julius Rosenberg espionage case at length and mentions Jewish gangsters.
“If we want to be taken seriously by others, we have to be honest about our strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures,” Sanderson says.
His favorite segment in the whole series is part of Cleveland’s Jewish history: the story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who created the Superman character. “Two young guys, frustrated in their hopes and dreams, were reflecting on their own lives. Two nerdy kids who couldn’t get the beautiful girl created an alter ego, Clark Kent. Opening up his shirt and he’s Superman … (as if saying) if only they knew the real me.”
Superman is about “recognizing you are different, but at the end of the day wanting to be accepted,” Sanderson continues. “That story, born out of a Jewish neighborhood in Cleveland, is powerful and funny. It tells everything of the Jewish experience.”
mkarfeld@cjn.org
WHAT: “The Jewish Americans” three-part documentary
WHEN: Jan. 9, 16 and 23 at 9 p.m. on WVIZ/PBS
FOR MORE INFO: www.wviz.org
 |
||
| ‘Eccentric’ comedy: moving away from the center for laughs |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of clevelandjewishnews.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments. Registration is free.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
