Arts & Entertain Call for Nominees for the 16t h Annual Berman Award At The Movies for Outstanding Professional Service created by Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Bee Season Eligibility for Nomination: All Jewish communal professionals employed by local constituent agencies of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, who have been working in the Detroit Jewish community a minimum of five years, may be nominated for the Mandell and Madeleine Berman Award. In his Academy Award-nominated documentary, "Spellbound," filmmaker Jeffrey Blitz profiles a suspenseful battle mired in the English language. ERIN PODOLSKY Special to the Jewish News Criteria for Selection: The recipient of the Mandell and Madeleine Berman ANAiard shall manifest the highest standards of Jewish communal service. The professional must have made a contribution to and for the general good of the Jewish community, demonstrating creativity, dedication, knowledge and care in the provision of services to the Jewish community. Moreover, in awarding the Berman Award, consideration shall be given to special professional innovations that reflect quality professionalism. First consideration is given to agency professionals, followed by Jewish Federation staff and agency executive directors. 11, Nommation ProcesS: To receive a nomination form, please contact Kari Alterman at the Federation, 248.203.1470; email: alterman@jfmd.org. Names of the nominees will remain confidential, and they may be renominat ed in subsequent years. Send nominations to: Kari Alterman-Confidential Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit P.O. Box 2030 Deadline for Nominations: June 13, 2003 Presentation Date: August 20,2003 at a reception of the Jewish Federation Board of Governors Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-2030 or FAX to: 248.205.2559 Jewish federation This is Federation orMatopollm Deck Visit us online: www.thisisfederation.org Since 1986 7 1 807 0 STEVEN TARNOW, C.R. PREFERRED BUILDING CO. (248) 626-5603 Fax 248-932-0950 Residential & Commercial Remodeling Building Quality Into Every Project With Unmatched Personal Service. 5/30 2003 74 NAM Featuring Andersen Windows Licensed & Insured But there are surprises, too, and it is these stories that are especially touching. The embodiment of the American dream, Angela Arenivar makes it to the nationals against all odds: She comes from a tiny town in Texas, growing up as the daughter of Mexican natives who came to this country illegally decades ago. Her father never learned to speak English and works as a ranch hand; it's Angela who wants to go all the way, not her parents. Their reaction upon learning they'll be going to the nation's capital for the finals is wonderful to watch. ust days after the 2003 Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee crowned its latest orthographical genius, a new film, Spellbound hits theaters across the country to capitalize on an American tradition so ingrained in our consciousness that the national com- petition is televised on ESPN. Tracing the study habits and person- al backgrounds of eight would-be National Spelling Bee champions, the documentary chronicles the action as 249 spellers trying to make it to the top of the 1999 heap are whittled down to a single win- ner. Directed by Jeffrey Blitz, the film profiles Bee finalists Harry Altman of New Jersey; April DeGideo of Pennsylvania; Angela Arenivar of Texas; Ted Brigham of Oklahoma; Neil Kadakia of California; Nupur Lala of Florida; Emily Stagg of Harry Altman during the 1999 National Connecticut; and Ashley Spelling Bee. White of Washington, D.C. Ranging in age from 10 to As for some of the other contestants, 14 and attending sixth through eighth there are those who have been to the grade, this diverse group of young big dance before. Nupur Lala was a Americans is followed by Blitz and his contestant in 1998, as were April camera crew as each prepares for the DeGideo and Stagg, and others are big Bee. just keeping up the family tradition, Blitz celebrates each small victory like Neil Kadakia, whose sister also along the way, as the spellers move from local to regional to national com- was a speller on the national stage. Most prepare for the Bee for months petition. before it actually happens, devoting He also devotes time to introducing their after-school hours and summer us to the spellers' families and the vacations to words like "insouciant" environments they are growing up in, and "equipage. many of which have a profound effect There is only one Spellbound star on them. whose study habits we don't get to see. The stories of the individual spellers Harry Altman never expected nor are sometimes what you'd expect. sought out fame. According to him, it Emily Stagg comes from a well-to- just kind of happened. do community in Connecticut and "I wasn't even supposed to be in the says she is in the Bee just because she movie," says the Spellbound star, who likes the competition. made it to both the 1999 and 2001 Many of the spellers are driven by National Spelling Bees. parents, who do everything from drill Now 16, he appears in the Academy them for hours each night to hire Award-nominated documentary as a tutors to help with foreign language sixth-grader who makes it through and etymology. "