November 11, 2009 | 10:28 am

Jewish Women in Hollywood and Me

Posted by Joan Hyler

Women in Film and specifically Jewish Women in Film and TV has long been my passion - so much so, that Hadassah founded the Morningstar Commission an advocacy and policy group, a group of influencers in the entertainment industry that we started over ten years ago.  I was the first Commission Chairwoman, now it is ABC eminence Olivia Cohen-Cutler who has had a profound effect on many high level ABC series such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Brothers and Sisters.” 

We have often given Awards to high level nationally known women such as writer Wendy Wasserstein and HBO’s Sheila Nevins.  We have been joined on the Board by a cross section of notable industry insiders like attorney Patti Felker, actress/writer Laraine Newman, producer/writer Linda Shayne, writer/director Lynn Roth, and Manager and activist Susan Zachary among others.

It is notable too, that CBS Head Nina Tassler has just been named head of the Jewish Federation’s Entertainment Division.  Nina recently was in Israel along with former Fox Head and current Indie Film and TV producer Gail Berman where they taught in a program that is a joint project of the LA Jewish Federation and Tel Aviv. Long term head of Sony Pictures Amy Pascal has also been active on Jewish issues and Women’s issues and we hope they will all join us as we at Morningstar set our agenda for 2010.

0 Comments — Leave your comment

November 6, 2009 | 2:43 pm

‘The Little Traitor’ and Me

Posted by Joan Hyler

“The Little Traitor,” a feature film starring client Alfred Molina, has just opened in L.A. It is based on the Amos Oz novel “The Panther in the Basement,” which has long been a favorite of mine and Fred Molina. So much so, that we tried to buy it a few years ago when we had a deal as producers at Sony Pictures.

To our chagrin, the movie rights had already been optioned by Monte and Marilyn Hall whom had engaged screenwriter/director Lynn Roth to co-produce, write and direct. As luck, or “Divine Providence” would have it, Lynn is a friend of mine and fellow Board Member of the Morningstar Commission and was running a program for the Jewish Federation in Tel Aviv. Before you could say “Divine Providence,” Mr. Molina was in costume, shooting the movie in Israel and loving every second of his time in Israel accompanied by his wife actor/writer Jill Molina.

Go see this movie, and while you’re at it go see Mr. Molina in “An Education.” 

I am kvelling for him.

0 Comments — Leave your comment