COURTESY OF KEITH FAMIE

46 | JUNE 17 • 2021 

much, was going to go in the 
can, but I just refused to let it 
go.
” 
Famie believes a silver lining 
created from COVID was that it 
forced him to think creatively of 
different ways to tell the story. 
“
Albert Einstein said, ‘In the 
middle of difficulty lies opportu-
nity.
’ I think it forced me to really 
think through stuff,
” Famie said.

YAD VASHEM EMAX
One of those different ways to 
tell the story will see the ambas-
sadors touring Yad Vashem, the 
World Holocaust Remembrance 
Center in Jerusalem, in a live vir-
tual experience. 
On June 23, from the Super 
Emax theatre at the Emagine 
Theatre in Novi, Callahan and 
Bates will be given the virtual 
tour to gain a deeper under-
standing of the atrocities of the 
Holocaust. The live event will 
have production crews filming 
on both ends, with the footage 
to be used to build a story about 
Yad Vashem in the film.
Local Michigan high school 
groups of students will be pres-
ent for the session, where they 
will also become part of the doc-
umentary. A Zoom link will be 
offered to schools statewide so 
other high school students can 
join in to watch as part of their 
history programs.
Famie says the film is in its 
final phase, with the Yad Vashem 
filming, filming of one of Bates’ 
songs and a few sit-down inter-
views with Callahan and Bates 
left. Famie and his crew will 
then start laying out the film, 
with possible catch-up filming to 
complete. The goal is to have the 
film ready for November, with 
the airing date on Detroit Public 
Television (PBS) to be deter-
mined, with additional plans for 
it to be released internationally.
From his time working with 
the survivors on the film, Famie 
believes the film concept and 
filming execution has resonated 
with them. 

Zosia Gross, 9, recites 
the English version of the 
Jewish prayer “Eil Malei 
Rachamim” while her father, 
Hazan Daniel Gross, sings 
in Hebrew with Cantors 
Neil Michaels and Pamela 
Schiffer, and Cantorial 
Soloists Kelly Onickel and 
Stephanie Michaels.

continued from page 45

ARTS&LIFE
ON THE COVER

“WE NEED TO KNOW AND REMEMBER WHAT 
HAPPENED, HONOR THE LIVES LOST AND 

MAKE SURE IT DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN.”

— ARTIST HAILEY CALLAHAN

