ACROSS MANY OCEANS

The South African Jews of San Diego
A Documentary by Isaac Artenstein, Cinewest Productions.

Dear Pamela,

It was exciting to discuss  Across Many Oceans: The Jewish South Africans of San Diego with you.  There is definitely a rich story to tell: from Eastern Europe to South Africa to our Pacific Shores.

I will have the community tell its own story (I don’t use a narrator’s voice). By conducting in-depth interviews with a variety of individuals focusing on their family’s journeys, I will tell the larger story of South African Jews in San Diego.  This will result in a genuine and engaging on-screen portrait.

We cannot underestimate the power of sharing this untold history through cinema. Those in the community who choose to partner with us through their contributions will experience a genuine mitzvah when the completed documentary becomes a reality and is shared with audiences.  It will be a lasting legacy as well as a gateway for all to understand the unique yet universal story of South African Jews.

On a personal note,  the greatest value I bring as a professional filmmaker is my passion and understanding of the subject matter, and my ability  to articulate the larger themes. I will additionally support the effort by providing in-kind services and resources. My goal is to deliver an uplifting, inspiring documentary that will speak to audiences of all backgrounds, while highlighting the strong sense of identity and the pride that comes with being a South African Jew.

It’s the beginning of the year and the same creative team I used for “Ends of the Earth” and “Challah Rising the Desert: The Jews of New Mexico” is available.  We can complete the documentary in four months and have gala SAJAC premiere towards the end of the year. This documentary will have a similar scope to that of my recent “Ends of the Earth: A Portrait of Jewish San Diego” which premiered at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival in 2018, and aired in 2019 on KPBS TV.

Sincerely,
Isaac Artenstein
cinewest.net