Shoah Ambassadors Premieres

OUR COMMUNITY

SAMANTHA OTTO, VISIONALIST ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS

After more than two years of production, Shoah Ambassadors, the Holocaust documentary film directed and produced by Keith Famie, premiered at a community showing Nov. 11 at the Novi Emagine Theatre.

The film is a new take on telling the Holocaust story, focused on educating youth about the horrors and atrocities of the genocide through ambassadors Curtis Bates and Hailey Callahan, who tell the story through their own unique artistic expression.

In attendance were Bates and Callahan, many of the Michigan-based Holocaust survivors involved in the film, supporters and executive producers, the Detroit Children’s Choir and many members of the community in a packed theater.

Shoah Ambassadors also made its debut on DPTV/PBS Nov. 18. DPTV/PBS is airing it a second time on Sunday, Dec. 12, at 9 p.m. as part of Jewish Heritage Night.

Before the showing, Dan Alpert, retired senior vice president of Detroit Public Television (PBS), and Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, gave opening remarks about how important the film will be for the younger generation in learning about important events like the Holocaust. Famie then offered his thoughts on the film and thanked attending supporters.

The showing was a huge hit, and after the film, many attendees went out of their way to seek out pictures and autographs from Bates and Callahan.

Priscila Lozano, a 14-yearold Novi High School student in attendance, plans to learn more about the Holocaust after seeing the film and to spread the film’s story and messages to friends.

“I really liked it. It gave me a different person’s point of view on how the Holocaust happened and everything they went through,” Lozano said. “It was really moving.”

Holocaust survivor Irene Miller speaks all over the country telling her story and the Holocaust story at large, but she said taking part in the film and seeing it all put together was still an emotional experience for her.

Shoah Ambassadors After two years of production, Holocaust fi lm debuts in Novi. Premieres DANNY SCHWARTZZ STAFF WRITER SAMANTHA OTTO, VISIONALIST ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS TOP: A packed audience enjoyed the film’s debut. ABOVE: Ambassadors

Curtis Bates and Hailey Callahan sign Shoah Ambassadors movie posters for those in attendance.

“Not too many of us Holocaust survivors are left alive, and it reminds me how important it is to reach out to young people and pass on to them the responsibility to tell this story,” Miller said. For both Bates and Callahan, whose respective families were in attendance, it was a life-changing experience. Both ambassadors plan to continue spreading the film’s message. “This is my first time seeing it all the way through, so it was wonderful seeing hard

SAMANTHA OTTO, VISIONALIST ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS

Producer/director Keith Famie and survivor Irene Miller. Ambassador Curtis Bates hugs survivor Irene Miller.

Ambassadors Curtis Bates and Hailey Callahan flank survivor Rene Lichtman.

continued from page 26

work come to life. I’m happy it touched people more than anything,” Bates said.

“It’s definitely a very overwhelming feeling, in a good way,” Callahan added. “It’s a lot to take in, but I’m just still very honored to be a part of it, especially seeing how huge it all is now. I hope it reaches a lot of people.”

For Famie, after almost two and a half years of working on the project and seeing the premiere come to fruition, there’s a feeling that the work really begins now.

“Now we have something that’s extraordinary, that we know is powerful and educational, so now how do we get it into the general, social and societal pathways to be absorbed by the educational community on all levels?” Famie said. “That’s where our focus is, how do we start doing showings in New York and Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles? How do we create a momentum now and let that momentum carry forth the

power of this message and the power of understanding?”

Famie is in the process of reaching out to major organizations across the country, film festivals and various potential broadcasting venues to see how far they can reach with it.

“Not just locally, not just nationally, internationally. We want to see this as a global film, and I think it has that potential,” Famie said. “I think Curtis and Hailey resonate with their peer group really well. Shoah Ambassadors now has a whole new meaning and I hope that from this film, we create thousands and thousands of new Shoah ambassadors. That will be the real power of this story and film.”

“IT’S DEFINITELY A VERY OVERWHELMING FEELING, IN A GOOD WAY”

— HAILEY CALLAHAN

SAMANTHA OTTO, VISIONALIST ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS

Famie and the Shoah Ambassadors team are still raising the necessary funds to ensure the film production will be seen internationally. To learn more about the film and/or to support, visit shoahambassadors.com.

Expo Michigan’s 10th Annual Holiday Entrepreneurs Expo

The 10th annual EXPO Michigan Marketplace, hosted by the Oakland County Business Association of Michigan, is back for 2021 with more crafters, special events and more fun things for people to do and see. The event, which runs on weekends from Nov. 26 through Dec. 24, will be held at the 30,000-square-foot West Oaks Shopping Center 1 & 2 at 43480 West Oaks Drive. This year, anyone who makes a purchase through www. autismspeaks.org will receive free admission to the fair.

As in previous years, this expo will feature handcrafted items by Michigan artisans from across the state — many with disabilities, local businesses, and more, including artists, authors, crafters, designers, direct sales, homebased businesses, small businesses and services.

Admission is $5 per person for those 12 and up, and twofor-one coupons are available online at www.expomichigan. com. Attendees can print a coupon and redeem it at the event. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

This year’s event will feature over 100 exhibitors, Michigan Super Star talent show with cash prizes, Amazing Animal Acts and food vendors.

For vendor information, advance ticket sales and to learn more, visit www.expomichigan.com or contact Shirley at 248/599-2461 or expomichigan@gmail.com.

It’s not too late to save a life in Israel this year.

For more than 90 years, American donors have provided vehicles, training, and supplies to Israel’s national paramedic and Red Cross service, equipping them to treat the sick and injured under the most difficult circumstances and to save lives. In fact, this past year Magen David Adom’s 30,000 EMTs and paramedics have been on the front lines in the fight against coronavirus while also contending with terrorist and rocket attacks, riots, car accidents, and other threats to Israeli lives. If you want to make a real difference in Israel, no other organization has a greater impact on its people than Magen David Adom.

Make an end-of-year donation at afmda.org/saving-lives-2021

afmda.org

Photo by Kobi Gideon / FLASH90