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