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Lights, Camera, Action: Why the Film Industry LOVES Our Northern Westchester Towns

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Many scenes from the “Gilded Age” were shot at Lyndhurst Castle in Tarrytown
Photo Courtesy of Westchester County Tourism and Film/Flickr

The iconic phrase “lights, camera, action” is often associated with films shot in Hollywood studios or perhaps with actors featured against a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline but Westchester County is starting to get its fair share of film production thanks to efforts from County Executive George Latimer and Westchester County Tourism & Film (WCTF). Despite industry-wide challenges in 2022 and 2023, film production in Westchester still yielded $2 billion in economic activity, 6,796 jobs and $656 million in wages during those two years. The Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild strikes in 2023 and lingering effects from the COVID pandemic significantly halted film and television production activity across the nation and unfortunately in our county but WCTF’s Senior Marketing Manager Sarah Marshall is optimistic about the industry’s future here in Westchester. “This year’s economic impact research showed resilience amidst the strikes and competitive pressures,” she noted.

WCTF provides location guidance, offers technical site visits, and facilitates the permit process for those wanting to film anywhere throughout the county’s 500 square miles. Westchester has actually had a long history with film production – dating back over 100 years to the silent film era. “We have film-friendly, camera-ready communities in Westchester that are receptive to production and welcoming to the industry. They appreciate the economic benefits and the excitement that filming brings. It’s a point of pride for communities,” notes Marshall. In addition to movies, episodic TV shows, music videos, fashion photography and commercials are all shot throughout Westchester. “We get hundreds of inquiries a year,” notes WCTF’s Director Natasha Caputo. Many of the episodic shows have renewed their contracts for the following year and have multiple episodes in a season such as FBI: Most Wanted offering a steady revenue stream for the county.

Film professionals are attracted to Northern Westchester for a variety of reasons. Scenic landscapes abound in Northern Westchester. With rolling hills, forests, and rivers, locations like Muscoot Farm, Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard and Hilltop Hanover Farm provide stunning backdrops for various types of scenes. Northern Westchester towns offer many filming locations including farms, parks, lakes, and small-town settings. This versatility can reduce the need and expense of extensive set building. A mix of historic homes, estates, quaint villages, and modern architecture allows for a wide range of filming possibilities, from period pieces like The Gilded Age to contemporary stories. Northern Westchester’s proximity to NYC means access to experienced crew members, equipment rental companies, and post-production facilities without the high costs associated with filming in the city itself.

Director of the The Gilded Age (HBO), Michael Engler noted: “It’s all about location, location, location. [Westchester has] these magnificent homes and estates which bear the unmistakable imprint of The Gilded Age. We also shoot up there because of the space – land, big parking lots, parks, and pathways. People were extremely friendly and gracious. We all love shooting in Westchester.” Many of the scenes were shot at Lyndhurst Castle in Tarrytown.

Recent award-winning and popular productions that filmed in Westchester in 2022 and 2023 included The Crowded Room (Apple TV+); FBI: Most Wanted (CBS); Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (FX, Hulu); The Gilded Age (HBO); The Girls on the Bus (HBO); Leave the World Behind (Netflix); Life and Beth (Hulu); Maestro (Netflix); Poker Face (Peacock); Succession (HBO); Severance (Apple TV+); and The White House Plumbers (HBO). This past summer, the county earned 32 Emmy nominations for films and television shows filmed throughout Westchester during the past year.

Caputo and her team act as the facilitators for each municipality. Each municipality often has their own town liaison and often it is the town clerk who handles the permit process for filming. Her team however provides permits for all county-owned property – trailways, jails, morgue, parks etc. “A lot of times it is vistas and views here in Westchester but sometimes it can be something more mundane like a garage. We want to increase film activity for the economic benefits here. Filming supports jobs and wages,” Caputo says.

For example, lodging-related tax revenue (sales and occupancy tax) associated with film industry activity contributed $2.9 million to the County and municipalities in 2022.

Filming also can provide a different revenue stream for local businesses. One such example is Pleasantville’s Pace University which has a very modern facility and a lot of acreage. “Pace University is a sought-after filming spot due to its versatile 200-acre campus, modern facilities, and proximity to New York City. The campus offers ample green space and diverse facilities that can accommodate wardrobe, makeup, and craft services,” explains Marshall. Additionally, Pace provides an on-site liaison to assist productions from start to finish. With plenty of room for parking and ancillary production space, the university has also been used as a base camp for HBO productions, including The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Gilded Age, and a not-yet-released film limited series starring Robert DeNiro, called Zero Day and a Netflix film starring Brie Larson that is not titled as of press time.

Another example is Pleasantville’s Club Infinity, a private nightclub style event space that is often used to celebrate Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, fundraisers, corporate functions and birthdays. “We have been involved in a number of television productions through the years including The Blacklist (NBC), Divorce (HBO), the Netflix movie Leave the World Behind and most recently a new series on Apple TV called The Savant. They all used the club as the location to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner for both cast and crew. For Divorce, they were filming in a mansion in Armonk, but they needed to do their cast readings in our Bose Club. “So that’s how I got to chat with Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church and it was pretty cool,” exclaimed Ed Gaynor of Club Infinity.

“The film industry is a very fluid business and a lot goes into filming a live scene,” notes Caputo. Script changes, timing of events and weather can all impact the set.

“There are a lot of freelancers in this business and it is so important to be film-friendly. It’s great when they recall doing a base camp at Pleasantville and they remember that they were flexible, accommodating and were solution-oriented for any challenges that arose because they will [hopefully] remember that for their next project,” Caputo remarks.

Some films or TV shows filmed over the years in local towns include:

Pleasantville

Elementary – Pleasantville Diner
A Netflix film starring Brie Larson (title TBD) – Pace University
The university has also been used as a base camp for HBO productions, including The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Gilded Age, and a not-yet-released film limited series starring Robert DeNiro, called Zero Day

Briarcliff Manor

Greatest Showman, Madam Secretary, The Good Wife, Gotham, The Blacklist – Sleepy Hollow Country Club
The Sinner – St. Theresa’s Church

Chappaqua

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies – private home on Haights Cross Road
Billions
The Sinner

North White Plains

Manifest – Cranberry Lake Preserve
Mr. Robot – Kensico Dam
A Beautiful Mind – New York Medical College

Arc Stages’ Jonathan Evan Goldberg on the Art, Joy, and Possibilities of Improvisation

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At an ‘after party’ following an August improvisation performance at Arc Stages (L-R) First Row: Grace Bennett, Joanna Schaffer, and Rose Pagano; Second Row: Jonathan Evan Goldberg, Mary Noecker, Andrew Laden, and Paul Carousso

When I came across the “improvisational comedy” workshop description for Pleasantville’s Arc Stages, I felt my heart leap. In transition, I thought this could tap my lighter side and get the creative juices flowing. I also had no idea just how much fun I was about to have.

So now, as I write this, I’m well into a second eight-week class working with instructor Jonathan Evan Goldberg. His popular class at Arc Stages began in 2017 when Jonathan, a labor and employment lawyer (by day) moved to Pleasantville with his wife, Tara, an elementary school principal in Rye Neck, from the Upper West Side with their then preschooler.

Each Monday evening class Jonathan runs two back-to- back, 1.5 hour sessions four times a year) with students who engage in goofy exercises (“ice breakers,” as Jonathan calls them) to warm up. Scene work follows with each of the students employing their own unique wit and personality quirks. The results can be entirely unpredictable and downright hilarious.

At the workshop’s end, we ‘perform’ for family and friends on stage at Arc.

So how did Jonathan, an accomplished legal mind by day, come to develop a lifelong passion for improv and become such a popular Westchester-based improv instructor?

Inquiring about his journey, I was delighted to learn of an avant-garde volunteer improv troupe he had launched in the city with friends called Cherub Improv.

But some background, first.

Some 20 years ago, in the midst of an intense legal career, Jonathan shared, an actress friend encouraged him to try improv. A Craig’s list ad for a $10 improv workshop proved hard to resist! He worked with John Swist, “the ‘Ninja’ of improv instruction,” he said, and models his own class today in a similar fashion. “His class was called ‘Quick Thinking Improv’ and had a very nice mix of people; most were like me… not there to ‘make it in the industry’; rather, they were doing it for fun, to laugh and destress… Improv helped me survive a career in which I was slaving away.”

Jonathan also found Improv a way to make brand new “very likable and funny friends” who enjoyed making each other laugh. Swist’s classes often ended in a class show performed on stage at the city’s iconic Producer’s Club.

At the time too, Jonathan, still unclear about his life’s direction, had agreed to getting life coached by his father, Edward Goldberg, the former Chancellor of Higher Education in New Jersey. When I met with Jonathan, his dad had recently passed at Calvary Hospital. He proudly recalled that his dad encouraged him to combine his spirit of volunteerism and passion for improvisation and form a volunteer improvisation troupe.

“Cherub Improv” (cherubimprov.org) was thus born in NYC in 2007. Jonathan assembled a core group who travelled to hospitals, assisted living, and other venues (“wherever laughs were needed!”) to perform and teach free improv comedy. Before long, the troupe boasted scores of volunteers with 15-20 gigs a month. But then Covid hit.

Jonathan vows to bring the troupe back to Westchester, NYC, NJ, and wherever they can travel. “You have a captive audience aching to laugh; they might be lonely or miss their loved ones or have lost friends; it’s not easy.”

“In honor of my dad, I’m going to make it happen,” said Jonathan, all while continuing teaching at Arc Stages–Pleasantville’s beloved theater community that he discovered while playing basketball in an over 30 group at Pleasantville High School. During that time, one of the players, Matt Finkelstein, introduced Jonathan to Arc’s executive director, Marlene Canapi, and the rest of the team invited Jonathan to teach.

States Stephanie Kovacs Cohen, Arc’s Artistic Director of the Educational Stage, “Jonathan is truly a gifted teacher of improvisation. He is very warm, friendly, and clever. He has a great sense of humor… The class is filled with laughter from everyone much of the time.”

Jonathan, adds Stephanie, started this class with just a handful of people and it has grown to two classes of different levels. “The students return because they love what they are learning from Jonathan.”

Understanding Improv

So much to love.

Jonathan offered: “It’s a way for the students to communicate freely, creating something real and funny and spontaneous and insightful…

“The discipline of improv is to ‘say yes.’ If someone makes a statement, the improv actor accepts the role and information in a scene, so that they can work together to build something from scratch.

“Some people are naturally funny… But you can develop skills that make you funnier… Through the warm-up exercises, students feel supported and free to say things that might otherwise be outside their comfort zone.”

Ultimately too, improv is a huge confidence builder that can enhance different facets of your life.

Per Stephanie: “Jonathan imparts the idea that mistakes are gifts on stage–that it’s OK to take a risk, dare, and fall, so that next time when you try, you might fly.

“The students learn skills such as listening, staying flexible, and being in the moment, as well as working as an ensemble, making your partner look good and having a blast while you do all of it!

“The benefits they gain in this class like confidence, focus, and working with others can be useful in life anywhere, no matter what their occupation.”

Jonathan concurs: “No one is singling anyone out for being wrong, or not funny, or not smart… you start to feel, ‘hey I can do this. And if I can do this, I can do anything!”

For more information about Jonathan’s Improvisational Comedy class and about Arc Stages, visit arcstages.org

From the Mouths of Improv Students

A few students explained their own motivation for taking improv and their experiences studying with Jonathan.

Paul Carousso, a Chappaqua resident and CFO at a chemical manufacturing company, who has been studying with Jonathan for five years:

“Jonathan is a fantastic teacher…
I began classes simply to let off some steam, not to take myself so seriously, and to get a little silly. But my favorite aspect of the class is seeing my classmates open up and be unfiltered and freely creative…

“I have seen people who appear shy or reserved outwardly come up with the most wild and crazy scenes or lines. Hilarious.

“My kids are (mostly) grown by now, but after so many years of eyerolls and head-shaking when I’d spout Dad Jokes and act generally silly, it’s so nice to have a safe space to act like a goofball!”

Whitney Harris, a Sleepy Hollow-based screen writer and freelance health and parenting reporter:

“A good friend and writing partner suggested we enroll in Jonathan’s class, so we did it together… I was looking to have fun, challenge myself in a new way, and spark some personal creativity… I’m currently working on a television pilot with my writing partner, and we were very interested in expanding our creative process and meeting like-minded people.

“Improvisational skills make every conversation infinitely more engaging and empathetic… It makes human interaction purely playful and energizing since you’re working together to create funny moments…

“It helped me sharpen my mind, think on my feet, and meet great people along the way. And the occasional boost of confidence from a well-delivered line is priceless.”

Joanna Schaffer, a self-proclaimed introvert who commutes to the class from Brewster:

“A friend in my Toastmasters Club gave a speech on how impactful Jonathan’s improv class had been. He encouraged me to come to a class. That was two years ago, and I haven’t missed a session since… Jonathan makes us all feel welcome and special and talented… I tell everyone… it’s recess for adults.

“Throughout life, I wanted to be a participant, I wanted to step into the circle – be the one cracking jokes or singing a song to entertain everyone, but… I was just too introverted… now I feel I can fully participate in life.

“In our last show, for over three minutes, I shared the stage with one other “player” as we created a scene on the spot – all while performing as if we were in an opera. The laughs were the most powerful feedback anyone could ever hope to receive…”

In Armonk: A Diwali Celebration for Everyone to Enjoy!

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In the heart of Westchester, as the last moments of fall give way to winter, preparations were underway for a celebration that promised to illuminate both the streets and the hearts of our community. Mission accomplished!

This year’a team (L-R): Gowri, Perdeep, Mili, Swathi, Abha, Nila (missing in pic: Kirti)

Gowri Dantu, the organizer of this year’s annual Diwali celebration in Westchester, was driven by a mission to showcase the holiday which signifies the triumph of light over darkness and to unite neighbors of all backgrounds in the process.

“It’s like Christmas, Hanukkah, everything put together in India,” Dantu explained. “We are welcoming the light into our lives, which diminishes all the negativity, the evil. It always comes down to the good winning over the bad.”

Diwali celebrations traditionally feature fireworks, lots of food, and signify the beginning of a new calendar year, particularly for business. Last year, the festivities were held at Indi-Q in Armonk, which was a huge success among attendees, but they had to turn some people away. This year, Dantu noted the larger venue at the Armonk Indoor Sports Center, plenty of catered food, and as always, the great fun: “The more the merrier!” she said.

For Dantu, this year’s festival takes on additional significance. She explains the importance of bringing the community together to celebrate good winning over bad, and light over darkness.

“We hear so much negativity on a daily basis, you cannot even turn on the news. Also, we all, in our community, have stressful lives, whether it is managing multiple kids’ schedules, school schedules, or our own career schedules. Everybody is always in a rush. But at the same time, we have to take time to anchor the thought that something good is happening in life,” she said.

Dantu also noted that the holiday is of particular importance to members of the Indian community in Westchester, many of whom are immigrants or first-generation children of immigrants, who hope to find a space to celebrate their culture and pass it on to their children.

“For me, the most important thing is to bring that culture alive for our kids, so they understand it,” she stated. “And not just for our kids, but for everyone in the community. Living so far from home, we want to share light with the next person and with our kids.”

Dantu described the lively Indian American community in Westchester and the ways that she stays connected. These include regularly attending events at the India Center of Westchester and the Indian American Cultural Association of Westchester (IACAW), as well as supporting the vibrant local Indian arts scene which includes musicians, dancers, and more.

However, she also hopes that members of the community from any background and religion always feel welcome to join the Diwali festivities and take part in the “festival of light.” She described the unifying nature of the holiday, having grown up in a diverse, cosmopolitan area where Diwali was an occasion to spread something sweet to fellow members of the community.

“I grew up where the celebrations start a month before. My parents, my mom start making all the goodies. We send out so many boxes of goodies, whoever comes home or wherever we go we always take them for everybody. It’s about sharing that sweetness and the joy,” Dantu said.  “It transcends religion and race; everyone around just comes together and they celebrate.”

No matter how you choose to celebrate it, the core meaning of the holiday remains the same: maintaining the spirit of goodness despite bad energy that threatens to keep us down, and the individual role we play in uplifting the community at large.

“We all have that power, that little light you can share with your next neighbor.”

Diwali falls on October 31 through November 1, and Dantu’s celebrations are open to all. The North Castle Diwali Dinner/Gala proved to be even bigger this year and extended to the entire community.

According to Dantu, 120 guests arrived in their finest colorful outfits and jewelry for the celebration at the Armonk Indoor Sports Center “and people were pouring in till the last minute,” she shared. 

“Friends hosted pre-parties to get ready in Indian outfits or Sarees. I loved that our non-Indian neighbors got into the spirit and wore Sarees, Kurthas,” she said. “We even had friends from France come in… They ran the marathon in the morning and put on their dancing shoes for the evening – their jewelry- the NYC marathon medal!”

The food by Mumbai Khatta brought the regional street food of India to life. “Many of us expats were lining up for pani-puri cart! Desserts were from  (yours truly) ‘Gowrisbakes’.  I made sure there were gluten-free choices too.”

The vendors included henna artists and a Photo Booth transporting you to cool afternoon at Jaipur’s Amer Fort.

A beautiful classical dance bharathanatyam was performed by Dr. Nalini Rao’s school of dance.

“And our own moms put a Bollywood dance performance overnight working with  DJ Bobby from New York City,” exclaimed Dantu.” All in all , everyone came out and celebrated together. There was great food, drinks like the mango-chili spritz was a great hit, music, dancing, love and laughter all around in true Diwali spirit. The only thing that topped all of this was the little fountain fireworks we had. Kids and adults alike were thrilled. All of this would not have happened without my team – my fellow moms.”

Please save date for next year’s Diwali – Oct 18th, 2025

 

At the 2023 celebration at IndiQ (L to R): Lavanya, Shalini, Deep, Mani, Sneha, Verna, Shilpa, and Pallavi

New Theater Group Inspires Children & Adults to Connect, Grow, & Thrive

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Creative expression is a positive pathway toward discovering your talents while developing social skills, working with others, and increasing confidence. Former professional actors Carmel and Charley Riggs know those are just some of the benefits people receive from the arts. As co-owners of Chappaqua Creative Arts (CCA), the couple strives to promote social development for all ages through theater and education. “The company’s mission is to create a safe space to allow individuals to step into different roles and perspectives, encouraging growth and self-discovery,” said Carmel of the nonprofit theater company. “Drama-based learning helps develop emotional intelligence and creativity in students. We want young and old alike to have fun and foster critical thinking while working together and developing meaningful relationships to take with them on life’s journey.”

Established in 2023, CCA offers classes for children, teenagers, and adults in scene study, on camera scene work, teen improvisation, and adult acting. Since opening, they have produced and directed two children’s shows. “The town and community have been supportive of our program and business. To live, work, thrive, and give back to the place I call home is a blessing,” said Carmel. Charley added: “The energy, passion, enthusiasm, and opportunities to put up great works of theater in our hometown is exciting. We appreciate being a part of a community where we can all come together.”

The couple describes CCA as a place where artists and students can learn to express themselves freely. “We are an inclusive theatre company that’s accessible to everyone to come together to create, learn, and share. Chappaqua Creative Arts was created to establish theatre for the community, by the community. We wish to foster all generations to share their stories and learn how to use their individual voices to lift themselves, others, and society,” they said.

PHOTO BY EVAN TRAINOR

Growing up in NYC, Carmel feels fortunate to have the opportunity to experience live theatre, musical theater, opera, and dance. “I have a mother who gave me every opportunity to study the arts. Theater is woven into my genetic fabric and the experiences I have had shaped who I am,” said Carmel, hoping to do the same for others through CCA. “Performers work at being their most authentic selves in order to bring an audience closer to their character and story. Theatre creates emotional connections – a unique emotional bond between the actors and the audience. The immediacy and rawness of live acting can evoke powerful emotions, sparking empathy, compassion, and understanding.”

Carmel and Charley, who met over 20 years ago while performing in a NYC Off-Broadway production of Rock My Soul, each bring a different dynamic to the company. “While we have different personalities, we’re both nurturing individuals. Carmel came to Chappaqua 26 years ago where she taught and ran Music Together and taught musical theatre, piano, and voice lessons for over twenty years. She was a child performer which landed her at The Juilliard School as a classical singer who performed all over the world,” said Charley. Carmel also earned a BA in Music Performance. Charley, upon graduating from the Actor’s Studio MFA program at the New School in New York, became a founding member of the theater group, Fresh Bread Productions, performed in and directed many off-Broadway plays, and had a 16-year career as a production manager with Madison Square Garden Entertainment, producing shows such as A Christmas Carol and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. “I bring my vast acting technique toolbox to assist actors grow and understand the craft of storytelling while providing gentility toward the vulnerability performers feel while in their growth process.

”Through courageous and imaginative theatrical and educational experiences, Carmel and Charley hope to encourage more creativity and expression in the community. “There’s been a void in Chappaqua that offered an outlet for actors, directors, writers, and designers to explore new ideas and forms of expression for any age,” they said, viewing theater as a powerful educational tool. “Theater nurtures innovation in storytelling, visual design, and performance. It teaches not only literature and history but also empathy, teamwork, and communication skills.” The couple recognizes theater has a far-reaching effect. “Theatre has historically been a medium for social and political growth. It has the power to challenge societal norms, raise awareness about important issues and inspire change. Theater holds significant cultural, educational and social value for several reasons. Theatre reflects society, giving audiences insight into historical and contemporary human experiences, cultures and issues. It helps preserve and showcase cultural traditions, values and histories.”

PHOTO BY EVAN TRAINOR

Looking ahead, the couple has many ideas to expand their presence in the community. Along with offering more performances and classes, they hope to establish an Engagement Program to partner with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to help them develop and share their artistic talents, an Education and Community Engagement Department to develop a teen improv troupe to create additional performance opportunities, and a senior troupe that can take their show(s) on the road.

With the holidays around the corner, they’re planning a large event fundraiser to highlight the value of the arts. “Theater fosters community by bringing people together in a shared experience. It encourages conversation and community engagement, often addressing social and political issues that provoke dialogue and reflection,” said Carmel, adding, “We envision a vibrant community engaged in performance and education where theater artists and patrons alike are seen, heard, and valued. Our long-term goal is to make Chappaqua Creative Arts an international theater hub to introduce diverse cultures and performances from all over the world.”

For more information on how to get involved with CCA in any capacity, call (914) 400-7626.

 

White Bird: How Mark Bomback’s Screenplay Captures the Enduring Power of Kindness

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A must see this holiday season, particularly as Hanukkah approaches, and with many of us still praying for a miracle for the hostages in Gaza (at the time of this writing, October 16, 2024, 101 still trapped after over a year of captivity), is the movie White Bird.

Helen Mirren, playing the grandmother of a teenage boy named Julian, sets out to share some profound lessons about bullying and exclusion – but ultimately also about the power of kindness – by finally relaying ‘her story’.

In so doing, Mirren transports us all to the terror-filled period of Jews running and hiding and being subject to humiliation, round ups, deportation and genocide in Nazi-occupied France.

The portraits of characters you may well retain the most, however, are those of the courageous ‘righteous’ gentiles (Gillian Anderson offers a particularly poignant performance) who risked their own lives to save Jews. Stellar portrayals by newcomers Ariella Glaser and Orlando Schwerdt depict teenagers around whom the story of survival revolves.

The terrible hate and meanness depicted in the movie would leave anyone despondent. But it’s the acts of kindness that leave you breathless and hopeful for humankind.
White Bird, an amalgam of several stories, according to one of its executive producers and its screenplay writer Mark Bomback, was born from the graphic and groundbreaking best-selling novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

The book’s message was ultimately about the value of being kind to other people, said Bomback, a father of four in Chappaqua. “It’s a miracle that the book became so popular with such an uncynical message,” he said.

“There’s a tendency, not just among groups, but even among individuals, to be callous to one another, to close yourself off, whether through social media, or because you are aligned with one group,” Bomback continued, “and to decide that you can’t possibly interact with the other group, yet it’s kindness that is ultimately more powerful than any other action that people can take.”

Consider Orlando who plays the original Julian with polio who is mocked by his classmates prior to the Nazis arriving. “There’s a primal impulse to belittle or marginalize someone else to make ourselves feel more secure,” noted Bomback. His evolving relationship with Arielle proves how erroneous that impulse can be. Later, we observe how the Nazi extermination plans include anyone who they considered genetically inferior.

Bomback explained that the movie’s agenda “isn’t to traumatize the audience. It is to put them in a head space in which they are very aware of the amount of pain and cruelty human beings are capable of but ultimately you can still celebrate the power that kindness has,” he said, adding that kindness is in fact one of the most useful weapons we have at our disposal to combat hatred.

I asked Bomback if he anticipates success for the film at the Box Office. He said after producing such a movie, “success becomes secondary… everything that comes after creating it is a bonus”. Bomback’s father-in-law, notably, was a Holocaust survivor who recently passed away. “I felt some degree of authority and accountability in trying to tell this story.”