20171121

"Fauda" on Netflix shows complexities of Israel's wrestling with jihadist aggression

Israeli TV panelists: Tsakhi Halevi (Fauda), Udi Segal (Mossad 101)
Michael Gordon (C.A.A.) and Danna Stern (YES TV Israel)
YES-TV's Fauda and Reshet 13's action drama television series Mossad 101 had their second season premieres at this year’s 31st Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles on November 15th and 16th. Each screening was followed by a panel discussion which featured creators, actors, and distributors of Israeli shows discussing the effects of these programs going international. 

In “Mossad 101” (“Hamidrasha” Hebrew for “The Academy”) cadets from every level of Israeli society undergo intense training to join their country’s elite, classified intelligence service, the Mossad.

Fauda, which means “chaos” in Arabic, follows a close-knit unit of Mista’arvim, the commando unit of the Israel army whose soldiers are trained in the language, dress and mannerisms of Palestinians, and whose undercover work is hailed in Israel for scuppering terror attacks and guiding military operations. The show won six Ophir Awards, including Best Drama Series, at the Israeli Academy Awards. 


CNN: Netflix says it has found the next "Homeland"


Two-years ago, Israel Film Festival organizer Meir Fenigstein introduced "Fauda" to American audiences- which led to C.A.A.'s TV agent, 
Adam Berkowitz, selling the subtitled action/suspense series' rights to Netflix.   This year, the Fest debuted the 2nd season opener to Israeli series "Mossad 101," which of C.A.A. TV intends to sell the format rights to internationally. 




Video playlist includes interviews with Fauda actors Lior Raz and Tsakhi Halevi- and classic Israeli-American actor/director Mike Burstyn. The Fauda actors are joined for a post-screening panel discussion moderated by Itay Hod, entertainment editor of Hollywood's The Wrap news-site, leading a discussion with Fauda co-founding producer Avi Issacaroff, actresses Laetitia Eido (Dr. Shirin), Rona-Lee Shimon (Nurit), composer Gilad ben Amram, director Rotem Shamir. The panel was introduced by Sam Grundwerg, Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles.

Iconic Israeli actor, Mike Burstyn, says that the Israeli TV and film productions are as good as any international productions- and for a fraction of the Hollywood budget. Productions like these, he says, have made greater international recognition of Israel's predicament in the past 5-years than in the previous 50-years. 

20171111

On 100th anniversary of US entry to WWI, French Consulate honors N. American WWII veterans

Christophe Lemoine, French Consul-General to Los Angeles, commemorates the 100th anniversary of US entry to World War I by welcoming North American WWII veterans of liberating France to their 2017 Bastille Day celebration at the French Consul's residence. 



Bob Johnson, an American Knight in French Legion of Honor has volunteered for over 18-years in veterans recognition programs.


Eric Weider, Canadian-American businessman and historian, discusses Canada's role invading Normandy and fighting Nazis to liberate Europe in World War II. 



Knight of the French Legion of Honor, Jerry King, a 10 Battle-Star earner who was involved in Sainte-Mère-Église in the Allies quest to liberate France impresses Eric Weider's wife Janet. 



Michael Reagan on U.S. veterans; his father, the late Pres. Ronald Reagan's legacy in Normandy; dismay at millenials' ignorance about Allies fighting to free Europe from fascism.



Filmmaker, Doug Stebbleton, discusses his documentary, "Heroes of the Second World War" at L.A. screening for veterans, including many World War II vets, in Los Angeles. He mentions their screening at the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy.

20171110

Living history: WWII heroes recognized in documentary and dinner by Thousand Oaks Republican Women Federated

Veterans' advocate Bob Donovan introduces Larry DeCuir to Michael Reagan
A number of World War II veterans of Southern California received recognition early this summer, when California's Thousand Oaks Republican Women Federated (led by Beatrice Resifo and Rosemary Licata) hosted a dinner "Honoring the Heroes of World War II."

Reagan Foundation leader, Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan, and his colleagues, producer Jay Hoffman and director Doug Stebbleton screened and discussed their documentary film "Heroes of World War II." Some of the Normandy Invasion and the South Pacific vets told their stories in the movie. Their stories and those of other vets there were read aloud to applause. (Please step through the clips in this video-playlist)



Michael Reagan on U.S. veterans, Pres. Ronald Reagan's legacy in Europe.

WWII US Pilot Elmo Maiden relates his story of "The Heroes of World War II."

Vietnam vet Bob Donovan on "Honoring Heroes of WWII" event with Michael Reagan.

US' Nagasaki bomb-fuser, Larry DeCuir, 95, looks back (and forward) at 72nd commemoration.

Pastor Barney Leone, Navy fueling veteran of Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor, Okinawa, and the Philippines.

USAF Brigadier General Dan Pemberton narrated the stories of the veterans' history.