48 | JUNE 16 • 2022 

befriends single mom, 
Domino (Dakota Johnson who 
is also a producer on the film), 
and her autistic daughter 
(Vanessa Burghardt). Cha 
Cha Real Smooth is a charming 
story of unconventional love, 
relationships and finding one’s 
path.
“I was definitely the truth 
speaker for all bar and mitzvah 
scenes on set, and I was proud 
to do it,” said Switch, who first 
had a bat mitzvah in Israel on 
top of Masada followed by her 
Michigan bat mitzvah at Adat 
Shalom Synagogue.
For the PICTURESTART 
company website, Switch 
features her bat mitzvah photo 
as one of two headshots.
“I chose that photo because 
it was a pivotal moment in 
my childhood, and I’m proud 
of my 13-year-old self. It 
isn’t easy learning two Torah 
portions,” Switch says with 
a laugh. She graduated from 
the University of Michigan in 
2010 from the school of public 
policy.
Armed with the memories 
of her Joe Cornell dance 
classes and the Star Trax MC 
at her own bat mitzvah party 
at the Hotel Baronette, Switch 
was expertly prepared to 

ensure authenticity to the film. 
From the seating chart, to the 
hora, to the candlelighting 
ceremony,” said Switch, who 
lives in Los Angeles with her 
husband, Sean Perrone, and 
their 20-month-old twins. 
“I was also texting my mom 
[Andrea Switch], asking her 
details about the Hamotzi and 
challah cutting for the actor 
who played the zaydie.
“I take pride in the fact 
that the bar mitzvah parties 
in the film feel accurate 

and representative of my 
childhood in Michigan. I hope 
Jewish audiences appreciate 
the attention to detail.”
When the movie premieres 
on Apple TV+ on June 17, 
Switch will be temporarily 
living in New Jersey with 
her twins for another film 
production. 
While she won’t be 
attending a red carpet, Switch 
looks forward to having a 
pizza party with her two 
stepsisters who live in the area.

“I love the creative 
fulfillment of making movies 
and feeding my passion,” 
Switch says. “It’s a great feeling 
to know that Cha Cha Real 
Smooth, a project that I love and 
cherish, will be in Apple TV’s 
good hands because marketing 
and distribution is a big part of 
a film’s success.” 

Cha Cha Real Smooth premieres on 

Apple TV+ and exclusively at the Maple 

Theater on June 17. For tickets, go to 

www.themapletheater.com.

RIGHT: Cooper Raiff and 
Dakota Johnson star in 
Cha Cha Real Smooth.

BELOW RIGHT: Actress 
Vanessa Burghardt and 
her movie mom, Dakota 
Johnson.

BELOW LEFT: Jessica 
Switch had her bat 
mitzvah in Israel 
and at Adat Shalom 
Synagogue.

ARTS&LIFE
FILM

continued from page 47

