An Industry Case Study
Narrative | Dramatic Features
Film Name: The Tattooed Torah
Genre: Animation, Short Film
Length of film: in word(s) / number(s)
Date: October 2019
Director: Marc Bennett
Producer: Lisa Effress
Writer: Based on the Children’s book by Marvell Ginsburg, Film: Story by Greg Ferkel, Screenplay by Brett Kopin, Marc Bennett
Animators: Animated by Jeffrey Pittle, and Christian Robins
Production Company: 11 Dollar Bill
Budget: $400,000+
Financing: Private with Melinda Goldrich of The Goldrich Family Foundation and Beth & Jeffrey Kopin being the lead investors.
Shooting Format: Animation
Screening Format: 1.78
World Premiere: Chicago Jewish Film Festival
Awards: NA
Website: http://www.thetattooedtorah.com
The Official Trailer for The Tattooed Torah
Watch The Trailer for The Tattooed Torah directed by Marc Bennett
A Short Biography of Marc Bennett
Marc Bennett has spent his life creating powerful images and stories in print and on film. As an artist and photographer, his work is at exhibitions throughout the United States. Bennett has formed a unique artistic and philanthropic partnership with Soroka Medical Center. There a monumental version of his artwork, The History of the Star of David is under installation.
His artwork is a part of the public collections of Yad Vashem, Holocaust Museum LA. Also at the California Afro-American Museum, Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation and the Sinai Temple in LA. The Jona Goldrich Center for Digital Story Telling at USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education. Plus the Holocaust Documentation & Education Center & Museum in South Florida.
As a director, he has helmed feature films, documentaries, music videos, and national commercials. His credits include the feature film Should’ve Been Romeo starring an eclectic ensemble cast. They include Carol Kane, Ed Asner, Michael Rapaport, Mary McCormack, and Natasha Henstridge. Evan Handler, Kelly Osborne, and Paul Ben-Victor. The short films From Fairfax with Love and Mother’s Day, and the documentaries Life Matters. A Journey of Hope and Survival, the award-winning Hot Flash Havoc, narrated by Goldie Hawn. And The Beach Boys 50 which stars five of the original Beach Boys including Brian Wilson and Mike Love. Also, a serendipitous interview he directed with O.J. and Nicole Simpson. Which shot two weeks before the infamous crime in the Academy Award-winning documentary, O.J.: Made in America.
The Marc Bennett Interview
indieactivity: What is your film about?
Marc Bennett (MB): The Tattooed Torah is an animated film based on the renowned children’s book. The book has been educating young children about the Holocaust for generations. It is by The Goldrich Family Foundation in association with USC Shoah Foundation. Ed Asner is the main narrator and it directed by Marc Bennett.
Tell us about the festival run, marketing and sales?
Marc Bennett (MB): We are very excited about every film festival we have been chosen to be a part of. And having the film seen by audiences around the world. So far we have been an Official Selection of 25 Festivals, winning awards at 4. The reactions have been extremely positive. The story, animation, Ed Asner’s narration, and the film score recording took place in Moscow. The 60 piece orchestra and a 20 piece choir, got rare responses.
Our first film festival this past March in Chicago was live and had a wonderful turn out. And a Q&A with the production team. That was right before COVID-19 hit. All of the festivals since then have been virtual, which is great that the film is getting out there. And festivals are figuring out how to adapt to this challenging time. But we do miss the in person interaction with the audiences. We also did a few private screenings in Chicago before COVID-19 at a Holocaust museum. And at the school where the actual Torah that is in the book and movie lives.
These was exciting because we were able to watch the film with adults as well as 100s of children. And the most rewarding part of it all was seeing how incredibly engaged and interested the kids were. With this very emotional and sensitive subject.
In January of 2021, the film will launch on USC Shoah Foundation’s educational platform. In partnership with Discovery Education. Making the film and accompanying educational program available to children through schools and classrooms around the world.
Give the full Official Synopsis for your film?
Marc Bennett (MB): The Tattooed Torah is an animation film based on a renowned children’s book. It has been educating young children about the Holocaust for generations.
Over the last 3 decades, the beloved children’s book by Marvell Ginsburg, “The Tattooed Torah,” has been a powerful resource for Holocaust education for children all over the world. The book recounts the true story of the rescue and restoration of a small Torah from Brno, Czechoslovakia, and teaches the Holocaust not only as a period of destruction but also as an opportunity for redemption.
Marvell was the director of Early Childhood Education for the Board of Jewish Education in Chicago for many years, and is the author of numerous books and articles. The adaptation of “The Tattooed Torah” into an animated short film is a three-generational endeavour, initiated by Marvell’s daughter, Beth Kopin, who first had the dream to transform this book into a film, and is one of the executive producers. Beth’s son Brett, the co-screenwriter of the screenplay, is currently a rabbinical student in Los Angeles.
The film brings illustrator Martin Lemelman’s rich artwork to life, and will allow this story to reach a much broader audience all over the world. It is essential to continue teaching the lessons of the Holocaust to young children in an impactful and palatable way, so such horrific events are never forgotten and never repeat itself.
The film is presented by The Goldrich Family Foundation in association with USC Shoah Foundation, executive producers Melinda Goldrich and Stephen Smith, produced by Lisa Effress of 11 Dollar Bill, animation by Jeffrey Pittle and Christian Robins, original score by Daniel Alcheh and recorded by The Bow Tie Orchestra and Choir of Moscow, co-written by Brett Kopin and Marc Bennett, story by Greg Ferkel, directed by Marc Bennett, and narrated by Ed Asner.
Development & Financing?
Marc Bennett (MB): I was part of a juried Judaic art show at Moriah Synagogue in Chicago for my art project “The History of the Star of David” when I was introduced to Beth Kopin. She wanted to adapt her mother, Marvell Ginsburg’s, renowned children’s book “The Tattooed Torah” into an animated film. Marvell was the former Director of Early Childhood Education for the Board of Jewish Education in Chicago. The book, written over 30 years ago, became a powerful resource for Holocaust education for children, teaching difficult lessons in an impactful and palatable manner.
Beth showed me a copy of the book and explained the story to me. I saw the magnificent illustrations and thought that the story was so simple and engaging for young children that I immediately said to her, “I will do it!” I have always loved projects that involve children and I truly believed this was an important story that needed to be told, now, more than ever.
I contacted my friend Melinda Goldrich of the Goldrich Family Foundation for the main funding, Stephen Smith at the USC Shoah Foundation for educational distribution, Ed Asner for narration, and my good friend Lisa Effress and her company 11 Dollar Bill to produce the film. Everyone believed in the project and enthusiastically joined the team.
We then did a Spanish version of the film with narration by Fernando Allende and the voice of the young boy by his son Adán Allende. Four years later with the help of our amazing donors, and production team we completed a film that we are all extremely proud of. We hope you enjoy the film and will help us with our goal of having it impact children and adults all around the world.
Festival Preparation & Strategy?
Marc Bennett (MB): We have an amazing film festival consultant, Nancy Collet of Cinema Collet, that helped us develop a strategy and execute it. It makes a huge difference having an experienced professional guiding you through the enormous film festival landscape. We have been in 25 festivals so far, have won awards in 4, and are waiting to hear from about 30 more. We also just entered the film into the Academy Awards for animated short film.
The Release?
Marc Bennett (MB): We released the film via the film festival circuit and in January of 2021 the film will be launched on USC Shoah Foundation’s educational platform in partnership with Discovery Education, making the film and accompanying educational program available to children through schools and classrooms around the world.
Advice from the Filmmaker?
Marc Bennett (MB): Be passionate about your project, surround yourself with experienced professionals, and give it all you got.
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