Special Report ON THE COVER Hollywood Invasion from page A13 "I talked to people all night long. I had a hundred conversations:' Glass said. "I think getting together like that helped them all think a little more fondly about Detroit. I told them I came home to start a new chapter in my life, to be part of a community and raise a family" Jordan Glass with L.A. residents Darren Rogow and David Boorstein, both from West Bloomfield see if I could succeed on my own," Glass said. "It was like a vacation living out there, but you can only live a vacation life for so long." Glass, who serves as on officer of the board of Federation's Young Adult Division and a campaign co-chair, was among par- tygoers at the Stone Rose Lounge. He flew to L.A. for the event as an ambassador of sorts to share his experiences. Hollywood Dreams Many of the young people in the crowd say they can see themselves following a similar path someday, but for now, they're pursuing Hollywood dreams. That's why the evening's keynote speaker, screen- writer/actor/director/producer Michael Binder (who is Jewish and grew up in Birmingham), was another big draw. Binder is remembering his roots in his own way. He told the group he hopes to spur Michigan's economy by bringing moviemaking here. "He said everything he writes takes place in Michigan; he still feels very con- nected to Detroit:' said Dan Greenberg, one of the local Federation staffers in the crowd. "His last movie, The Upside of Anger, was supposed to take place in Grosse Pointe; but it was too expen- sive to shoot here so they had to film it in London. He wrote a letter to Gov. Granholm, starting the push to give tax incentives to filmmakers." Michigan recently raised its movie tax credit to 42 percent, the highest in the nation; big stars including Clint Eastwood and Drew Barrymore already have Michigan-based films currently in production. Over the last few months, movie crews have been popping up in various locations around Metro Detroit. Aspiring actress Marisa Stober, 23, of West Bloomfield moved to L.A., but has sud- denly been flying to Detroit for auditions and casting calls. "It's really ironic:' Stober said. "It's excit- ing because I still have agency representa- tion in Detroit so I'm taking advantage of the opportunity. Plus, it's a great excuse to come home more oftee Taking Action Giving young Jews who've moved away a great excuse to come home permanently is the ultimate goal of the outreach effort, but Bob Aronson says that's not the pri- Hollywood Invasion on page A16 L A. Stories: Young Detroit Jews Go West Michele Sushin Age: 27 Hometown: West Bloomfield Job: Aspiring fashion sales/marketing executive "The main reason I moved to L.A. was for job opportunities. Unfortunately, at the time I decided to move [in October 20071, Detroit had limited employment opportunities and I knew I would have to move to a bigger city in order to grow my career. There are a Michele Sushin lot of Detroiters here and I've run into some people I haven't seen since high school. My new roommate is a fellow Detroiter, Jenny Greenberg, 29, of Oak Park. We all have that common bond that we grew up in Metro Detroit, went to Hebrew school, camp or high school together and came out here to pursue our dreams." my wife, Audrey, here and I'm currently working at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center specializing in spine pain management. I still follow the Red Wings, Tigers and Lions and I'm in daily contact with some of my clos- est friends who are in Jason and Audrey Berkley Metro Detroit. Some of the things I miss most include Franklin Cider Mill doughnuts on an October afternoon, Buddy's Pizza and Lafayette Coney Island — but I definitely don't miss the snow!" Marisa Stober Age: 23 Hometown: West Bloomfield Job: Aspiring actress Jason Berkley Age: 39 Hometown: Farmington Hills Job: Doctor "After completing a fellowship in epilepsy at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, I moved in 2002 to be closer to my parents and sister, Elizabeth, an actress who's been settled in L.A. for many years. I also felt a change would be good for me and I was right. I met A14 September 4 • 2008 Marisa Stober "I've known my whole life that I wanted to move to L.A. to pursue an acting career and that's why I graduated from the University of Michigan a year early and moved in January 2006. Still, I feel a very strong connection to my hometown and Jewish roots. There's no place else that gives me the same warm, familiar, easy feel- ing. I get a sense of comfort and stability every time I return, and sometimes its actually hard to leave again. I hope that the city continues to revive itself so that one day young people will stop moving away from Detroit and instead be able to pursue all of their dreams and aspirations in their hometown. I can hon- estly say I'm very proud of where I come from and of my Jewish identity; it has made me who I am today." Renee Simlak Age: 36 Hometown: Southfield Job: Jewelry designer "I moved to Los Angeles in June 2001, right before 9-11. I was 28 years old and ready for a big change in my life. There was nothing holding me back and it just felt right. I have some family members in L.A., but at the time I only had one friend that I knew of living Renee Simlak there. That friend introduced me to many new people and, boom! — now I have so many incredible friendships. But I also still maintain many special friendships in Michigan. The one thing I'll always know is that wher- ever I go, the Jewish community I came from will always be as strong as it was when I moved away. I'm lucky to come from such a dedicated, unified com- munity."