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