MARISA MEYERSON
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Matchmaker,
Matchmaker,
Matchmaker
Matchmaker
Q
: How did you decide to make
your adult life in Metro Detroit?
SF: I was born and raised in
Michigan, so I always knew I wanted
to live here. Plus, my parents grew up
around the Metro area, so it just seemed
natural.
Q: You spend your days doing video
editing at ABC 7 — tell us more!
SF: Well, I’
m a video editor for the
news, specifically promotions. I edit
“commercial-like teases” for stories that
air (usually before the 5, 6 or 11 p.m.,
newscasts). It’
s challenging, but editing is
my passion. I’
m lucky to be able to say I
get to do what I love for a living; plus, it
doesn’
t hurt to be able to see my work on
television!
Q: You also work as a videographer
for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs and
other special events. What do you love
about that job?
SF: First off, I’
m very grateful to my
friend Adam Luger for allowing me to
join his team of talented professionals
who do this job. What I love most is
being able to capture these moments for
people that they will be able to hold on
to and treasure. I feel very grateful to be
a part of their journey and to give them
this gift that they will remember for
years to come.
Q: It’
s clear from your jobs that the
arts and creativity are important to
you. Where else has that been present
in your life?
SF: My grandfather is one of the
funniest people I know. When he was
younger, he was in the arts doing pan-
tomime acts and acting in movies and
commercials. He was always entertaining
us when we were younger. I believe he’
s
where I get my talent from. I mean, the
guy can tell me a joke now that makes
my family and me burst out laughing,
and he’
s 94!
Q: You’
ve performed quite a bit, as
both a musician and actor. What’
s been
your favorite performance?
SF: Hmm. This is a tough one. My
favorite performance as a musician
would be the time my bandmate Josh
Zimberg and I walked into the Leo’
s
Coney Island on Main Street and started
playing “Hey Jude.
” The entire restau-
rant sang along. It was beautiful. We got
thrown out shortly after. As an actor, I
recently performed one of my grandfa-
ther’
s own routines for him during his
94th birthday party as a surprise. The
look on his face was priceless. It made
him incredibly happy, and it’
s a moment
I’
ll never forget.
Q: You have a tattoo that says “Slow
Down” and looks like a road sign. Can
you tell us more about that?
SF: I do! This is hard to explain in a
few sentences, but the gist of it is that
life is too short and hectic — we need
to remind ourselves to slow down when
our thoughts and feelings start to snow-
ball, take a breath and calm ourselves.
As someone with anxiety, I remind
myself all the time to breathe and slow
down when life seems out of control.
Additionally, one of my mother’
s broth-
ers passed away at a young age, and it
was then I realized that life can pass by
pretty quick, so I wear it as a reminder
to myself and to others. I also have two
other tattoos, but those are stories for
another time …
Q: Where would you most like to
travel to that you haven’
t visited?
SF: Probably France. I took French
throughout high school and college, so
I’
d like to try and test my remembrance
of the language where it’
s spoken at some
point. Plus, I hear it’
s a beautiful place to
visit.
Q: How do you like to give back to
the community/others?
SF: I give every year to the Human
Fund and, when I can, I give to causes
that hit home. I’
m trying to reach out
to the community more and hope to be
able to with the aid of The Well.
Q: What’
s your favorite Jewish holi-
day and why?
SF: My favorite Jewish holiday would
have to be Chanukah. It always reminds
me of when my family used to have a big
gathering and we’
d get presents and sing
and dance. It was a blast. My mother also
makes the best homemade latkes on this
Earth.
Q: Fav Jewish food?
SF: Besides my mom’
s latkes, it may
be strange to some, but I love gefilte fish.
My grandmother used to make it from
scratch and it’
s absolutely delicious.
Q: What accomplishment are you
most proud of?
SF: I went on Birthright the summer
of 2010 by myself. This was huge for me
as I never really traveled much, and I got
to connect with my Israeli cousins for
the first time. And not only that, I met
one of my best friends and even stood
up in his wedding.
Q: Would you rather win an
Olympic Medal (for what sport?), an
Academy Award (in what category?) or
Nobel Prize (in what)?
SF: I would definitely want to win an
Academy Award — for either acting or
editing. It’
s honestly a long-term goal. I
think it’
ll happen.
Q: Best movie ever made, hands
down?
SF: It’
s tough, but it’
s gotta be Shrek the
Third. KIDDING! This is another tough
one, but it’
s a toss-up between 2001: A
Space Odyssey, Back to the Future, That
Thing You Do, Shawshank Redemption,
Casablanca and Fargo.
Q: How about a fun fact?
SF: I was a stand-in for Jesse Eisenberg
in the movie 30 Minutes or Less. I got
to hang with him, Aziz Ansari, Nick
Swardson and Danny McBride for eight
weeks in Grand Rapids. My hand is also
in the trailer. ■
Read more at meetyouatthewell.org. Want to
meet Scotty? Email Rabbi Dan Horwitz at dan@
meetyouatthewell.org for an introduction.
moments
30 March 21 • 2019
jn
NJP
(Nice Jewish Person)
Scotty Felsenfeld
Each month, The Well
highlights an amazing
(and eligible!) individual.
The Well has agreed
to share its Q & As
with these amazing
singles with the JN. This
month, The Well has a
conversation with NJP
Scotty Felsenfeld.