Little Parents, Big Pregnancy

We've had a lot going on here. I developed and executive produced a new show called LITTLE PARENTS, BIG PREGNANCY about the Hennons, a wonderful couple who are dwarfs, having their first child. Got great ratings. Heartwarming and funny. TLC picked it up and aired it and they have ordered another hour. Will keep you posted. It was the highest rated show on Discovery Health's baby week.

We are in the midst of shooting a brand new show about the King family, who are also "little people" and they are about to adopt a dwarf child in Albania. All moving material and inspirational folks. A must see!

Little Parents, Big Pregnancy on Discovery Health

Outtakes- Becky's tatoo

Craig Bowling

This coming Thursday in NY I'm screening MY NOSE and doing a seminar.  Here is the link 

to it.  If you are interested in attending, please RSVP.  And you are not in NY but interested in the event, please let me know and you can include where you are located that would be great.  

http://www.kirschenbaumproductions.com/seminar.htm

This event has come about due to the reaction this short film gets from the audience. I realize I am not alone when it comes to having a critical parent and somewhere, somehow I have managed to learn how to handle the situation and actually turn it around and have loving, joyous relationship with the person who was "in my eyes" my torturer and enemy. 

And now I am going to cut and paste an email announcement of the seminar into this box and see if it works.

Save the Date ...

It’s this Thursday
Reserve NOW for this FREE Evening!

Based on the incredible response to my short film MY NOSE (about my mother’s relentless campaign to get me to have a nose job), I realized it’s time to launch the following fun and enlightening seminar.

The Journey of MY NOSE
Learning to accept and love a critical parent


Date: April 30th
Time:  7:30 PM  
Location:  55 Bethune Street, West Village, NY
                  Westbeth Artist Community Room

RSVP: info@kirschenbaumproductions.com

MY NOSE speaks to many no matter what your issues are with your parents. The film continues to play worldwide.  When I’m at screenings I am surrounded by people telling me how much they relate to my story and sharing their story.  Come ready to share yours.

This seminar is not about getting a nose job..

INCLUDES SCREENING OF MY NOSE at 7:30.

I will show you how to:

• deal with critical parents
• regain self-confidence
• reduce anxiety
• open yourself to more joy and love
  

 “You don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there.”    E. Cole



All following seminars there will be a fee.   Take advantage of the launch and be part of the birth
and development of a powerful event. 

Winter still here

Yesterday it was windy and icey. Today a bit milder. Haven't done any winter sports as of yet. Miss playing in the snow, going skiing, and enjoying the winter wonderland of the mountains. I did make it up to the Nevele Hotel in January when I was participating in a Limmud conference. Oddly enough, it was a bit of a challenge since it was a record cold weekend and the heat was not working in the hotel. There was much chaos. They lost a tower where they putting up over a 100 people and I was one of them. Many folks left. I have heard great things about these Limmud conferences and it was an unfortunate situation. The Nevele was quite depressing. I had been there in my youth. In fact, there is 8 mm footage of me at the Nevele as an infant. To tell you the truth, I don't think they did any renovation and it's falling apart. I understand it's different owners who probably bought it some years ago hoping that gambling would be coming to the Catskills which it hasn't. The place is decrepit. There is even a website thenevelesucks.com. Too bad. Anyway, I did manage to meet some interesting folks from those that stayed and bundled up. It was freezing inside too. I am a real believer in dressing in layers and had many with me. I'm going to see if I could upload a pix. Later.

On a different note, I went to a friends wedding who is an orthodox Jew. First time for me.  I snuck in a picture.  Check it out.  It was very interesting experience.  I was only there for the ceremony not the dinner and dancing afterwards.  Too bad.   It was extremely interesting. 

New Year

Already 2009. Since I last wrote I've taken a few trips. One to Europe and Asia with Mom shooting MY NOSE: THE BIGGER VERSION. We were in Venice when it started snowing and then changed to rain. The streets flooded and they put out walkways. It was quite an experience but nothing like three days after we left. The entire city was under water. Did you see the pictures? In some cases, the water was up to people's waist. Water in buildings, homes. We would have been trapped. We had an opportunity to connect with several interesting people on our journey that I had pre-arranged. In Venice I was interested to learn about the Jewish population there and the history of the Jews. Met Riccardo Calimani, an well known and prolific author. One if his books is about the Venice Ghetto which was the first Jewish ghetto. We visited the synagogues, met with the president of the community and the chief Rabbi. There are only around 460 Jews in Venice. For that matter, the number of Venetians is rapidly declining. Many are leaving since it is becoming more difficult there to make a living. I hadn't been to Venice since I was fifteen, when I went to study. That was a few years ago. I was amazed to see how many Chinese were living there and doing business. In fact, they are manufacturing imitation Murano glass items and leather goods and selling it for much less than the Italian made goods. It is wiping out the local Italian made products due to pricing. An Italian businessman who owned a leather goods shop on the Rialto Bridge was so upset. His family goes back generations making high quality leather bags. When mom questioned him about his higher prices, he was offended. He looked at me and told me the story and asked that I boycott the Chinese merchants. You know, my heart went out to him. When we went to eat in a restaurant there was no Italian in site working there. All I could see were Chinese and Bangladesh. I am all about diversity and growing and living in NY, there can't be a place in the world anymore divers than here. However, I was saddened and missed the Venice I knew of the past. The culture I enjoyed visiting and experiencing.

Mom's Birthday

I asked mom if it was okay to share the film I made for her birthday. She said,
"Sure". It probably won't be all that much to those who don't know me and her.
Here's the link. It's around 16 minutes. There are a couple of moments when you think
I'm ending the film but I really don't. So to be safe, keep it going until there ain't no more.
http://www.kirschenbaumproductions.com/Mom.mp4

Also, a reminder, I am reading some material from the beginning of a show I'm working on
November 3rd, Monday at the Telephone Bar and Grill. There are four writers and it last one hour
all together from 8:00- 9:00 PM at 149 Second Avenue, NY (between 9th and 10th Street).

Have a great day!!!

My Nose + Reading

In addition to working.. I did some great bike trips. One was out to the Rockaways - Breezy Point. I'm including a pix. My camera of choice for the last few years has been my cell phone - the Treo - yes, I will upgrade soon but I'm really enjoying the immediacy of these images.

Now for other news - MY NOSE has a long life with no bumps like my real nose has. It continues to be found and plays festivals all over the world. It will be playing this Sunday, October 26th at the Jewish Women's Film Festival in NY at the Goldman-Sonnenfelt Family Auditorium at the Jewish Community Center, 334 Amsterdam Avenue at 74th Street in Manhattan. the National Council of Jewish Women (NY) is the organizer. http://www.ncjwny.org/film_festival.htm

Now if you are in Israel you could see MY NOSE at the Jewish Eye - World Jewish Film Festival in Ashkelon, Israel-
It plays October 22nd and October 27th/

click this link for all screening details http://www.kirschenbaumproductions.com/screenings.htm

About MY NOSE:
A single woman, her mother and her nose creates a dangerous love triangle.
Looking one's best has its place. But what do you do when you think you look good and your mother is convinced what you need more than anything else is a nose job? MY NOSE is a funny, personal documentary that will explore my mother's preoccupation with my nose, the intricacies of the mother/daughter relationship and what drives people into the plastic surgeon’s office.

“Dazzling self-confidence” Washington Post
“A big little movie” Thrive
“Hilarious romp” Jewish Week

You can view a trailer and learn more at
or www.kirschenbaumproductions.com/mynose

By the way, my mother cannot understand why My Nose is considered a Jewish film and I have to admit I was also shocked. When I made it and perhaps you don't know that this was really cut as a promo in efforts to raise money and attract a broadcaster to make it longer, a more in depth film- it was selected for the IFP market in NY - a film market. It was then that Annette Insdorf, a great woman, a film critic and academic who I sent it to in hopes of connecting with an angel and instead she responded asking if she could start recommending it to film festivals as is. I said it was a just a promo and she pointed out that it's a great stand alone short. So I smacked on credits, replaced the music with original music I had the rights to and sent it out. The rest is history. The film has been playing all over the world in regular festivals - and many Jewish film festivals which I quite honestly never knew a thing about and never knew there were so many. You know considering Jews, which I am one of, are a minority in the world, I'm amazed at how many film festivals there are. I guess we just love to create.

What makes my film a Jewish film? Me, my nose, my mom??? I do know when MY NOSE was programmed at a event with violent, narrative films with primarily black casts - I was so concerned that my film shouldn't be there and the audience which was primarily black would hate my film. That's not what happened. I was surrounded by people coming over to me telling me how much they enjoyed. So I guess the issues I touch on in MY NOSE transcend the Jewish world. I was relieved to know that. Everyone has a nose and a mother, right?

One more thing, I am working on a live show. Yup.. I'm just in the writing phase and the very beginning. It's time for me come forward in front of a live audience. Apparently, I have enough chutzpah to be honest about all the stuff I've been through and spill the beans, and hopefully done with humor. I will incorporate film - yes, I have lots of archival footage since my folks bought the 8 mm camera when I was born. I just made a film for my mom's bday. it's a biggie but I can't tell you how old. She tells all my friends and family but does not tell her friends that she hangs out with in Boca. I am sworn to secrecy just in case someone reads this blog and it gets back to her. Let's just say she looks great for her age and is quite swift in her mind, too. Where was I? Oh, if only I had my mom's memory and eyesight for that matter. I need glasses - progressive and serious reading glasses. Mom does not. I ask her to read things for me. What's wrong with that picture?

Okay, so if you are around in NY on November 3rd at 8 PM, I will be reading at the Telephone Bar & Grill, 149 Second Avenue between 9th and 10th Avenue. It's over at 9 PM.

That's it for now. Write- I would love to hear from you and if you want to get my newsletter email me. I write just a few a year. And friend me on Facebook.
Have a great day, week, month. Until next time.

Oh, Chelsea is doing great. Sorry not to mention her. I will add a pix. Just a minute. Let me find it on my computer.

Melting Pot

When I came back from Israel I sunk myself into developing and shooting a new project called MELTING POT. We shot two shows so far - a wonderful Haitian family where Yanick who is the mom and cook brings us into her world and kitchen and then we shot Rabbi Raskin and his beautiful wife Shternie who does the same. The Raskins are Lubavitch and I have seen them numerous times since we shot this summer.. been invited over for Shabbat meals and holidays such as Sukkot, and tonight I'm heading over for Simchat Torah. Let's just say the Raskins and Yanick have now become friends. That's what the show is about.. I enter people's home of various cultural backgrounds - homes you would normally not be invited into unless you were part of the family, community or a friend. I learn how to cook a traditional meal and stay for dinner and learn family secrets and traditions.
Here's what people are saying about MELTING POT:


“I would watch "Melting Pot" in a minute. You nailed it. It's exactly the kind of show that we need to promote world community. Even though I HATE cholent. What is so wonderful about it is the non-slickness of your encounters and your being menschy (femenschy??) with the people. This is so good.”

We are all excited about it. We are looking for the outlet to broadcast on. I want to introduce you to them visually.

The picture of Rabbi Raskin holding something up with his fork - is him eating cholent - a bone which he takes out the bone marrow and says to the camera, "People kill for this." Yum, have you ever eating this. By the way, Rabbi Aaron Raskin founded the Chabad center in Brooklyn Heights and his wife founded Kiddie Korner a school for kids. They are both amazing people. The shot of the Rabbi, Shternie and me is when we are looking into the crockpot for the meat in the cholent. By the way, cholent is the dish orthodox prepare for the Shabbat. They prepare it in advance since you can not cook during Shabbat and it stays warm on either a low flame which is not touched at all during the Sabbath or in a crockpot. No lights, no fire, no TV, no work, no money exchange during Shabbat. It's a day of rest.

Yanick is the gorgeous Haitian woman. Look at her smile. Yanick is a great cook and baker and she has a catering business. This woman never sleeps. We cooked down in the basement where she built a second kitchen - pretty smart - why make the one upstairs dirty. I learned how to make beef oxtails with eggplant and black rice. The rice is black from mushrooms. Her grown kids, siblings and grandchildren all showed up for dinner. Boy, I learned a lot about their culture and family dynamics. They explained to me how important education was and that the parents work hard to make sure their kids have higher education. Yanick's kids all do. Much love in Yanick's and the Raskin's family.

I love this show and not because I created it but because I love meeting people from different worlds and getting to know them well. We are living in a diverse world. Ignorance breeds prejudice. You might work in the office with people from different ethnic backgrounds.. but unless you are invited back home, you don't really know about their traditions. It's time to go behind close doors and learn about each other. We are all essentially the same - we all have the same basic needs and we all want to be loved.

I always say that if everyone got a good hug each day, there would be less crime. Boy, am I on a rant here. This show is filled with love and humor - and entertaining and educational at the same time.

If this sparks your interest, please comment. I will be looking other stories - Would love go to an Amish family, a Native American reservation and so on. And we are looking for business partners/investors to take this to the next level. Sponsors... etc. Please let me know.

You can view the trailer at http://www.kirschenbaumproductions.com/MP/FINALPROMOVO.mp4

Much is going on in my life now - and thank God my creative juices are flowing. More in the next entry.

Photos of Israel

My skill of inserting photos in the place you want them with a nice caption to go along side of it, is a bit limited.
On that note, here are four pictures from Israel. You will see one of mom and me who are in the tunnel by the Western Wall, mom having breakfast with our friend Isaac Danker (check out how healthy the food is. Lots of fresh vegetables.) Yes, for those who are Israeli, Isaac is the grandfather of Ron Danker who at 23 years old has become Israel's heart throbe: singer and actor, quite talented and gorgeous, then there is a pix of the Gaza Strip behind the wall, a view of the Western Wall from above as a few Orthodox Jews look out.