Glow Films Israel
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Glow Films Israel is the Jerusalem based video and film production company of London born filmmaker David Goodwin.
11/03/2022
𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠!!
Let's get one thing clear from the off. I absolutely love what I do for a living. Always have. Being a filmmaker and media guy, being constantly creative and a massage therapist to my imagination is a very blessed way to spend my days. No matter who the client or how big or small the task in hand, I embrace with a full body hug and squeeze the process of producing something from nothing that aims to achieve an important objective for the people who have hired me. The most important thing in a production is the people involved and the journey we collaborate on together to tell a particular story. So yeah, this calls for a hearty baruch Hashem and huuuuuge thanks to the Big H!
This past Tuesday I visited Laniado Hospital in Netanya for a short sesh of filming and to scope out a new filmmaking project. For those who know me well so they know that I have a very special connection to the original founder of the hospital, the Klausenberger Rebbe, and his incredible life story. Let's just say that he has been top 5 most influential people on my life, certainly with regards to what it truly means to be a Jew and how to approach one's life. Laniado Hospital stands, flourishes and cares for people simply because of this one man's extraordinary selfless commitment - after being shot by a N**i on a death march - to one day build a medical establishment should he survive the hell of the holocaust. Laniado Hospital is the result of that spoken dedicated choice. Every atom, molecule and cell in that building is kadosh - holy - in the sense that an ordinary, physical human being chose to use his days on earth to help others, to elevate suffering and to make better the life experience of thousands and thousands of men, women and children, no matter what their beliefs, behaviours, religion or race. Holiness (kedusha) is not something spooky or mysterious in the "other world", it's not something beyond the reach of a simple man or woman and it's certainly not detached from our physical reality. It's right here where we walk, talk and reside when you choose to do a simple act of goodness. God and his gift to us called goodness is manifest when human beings choose to be Godly.
What touched my soul in such an incredibly deep, profound and moving way on Tuesday was because, as the pictures below show, I stood in Laniado's brand new Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Over the past years I have be involved in creating 2 films focused on the NICU - one for the Laniado UK office and the other for the Laniado USA office. The latter took me into the empty shell building of the unfinished NICU in 2018 which stood awaiting further funding (of which my film focused on) in order to complete the job and transform potential into reality.
To stand as I did in the same places where I stood holding my camera a few years ago, shooting and interviewing the wonderful head of NICU Dr Aryeh Simmons and head nurse Eti Litig, to look around now and see high tech, state of the art life saving medical equipment, to take in the gorgeous colours on the walls, the contemporary decor and relaxed atmosphere, to be able to breathe freer in the roomy space that replaces the old cramped, pokey department.... well, it was an overwhelming, emotionally positively charged and joyous experience. I kept on saying to Aryeh and Eti "this is a dream come true" and they agreed. To know that now little babies will be cared for in this amazing environment and their parents and families will have a greater sense of ease in what is a highly stressful situation, is literally the stuff of dreams.
These special, unique moments - the culmination of so many people's hard efforts and generosity of spirit and money - tell you everything you need to know about how good this world can be and sometimes is. Words cannot express how grateful and appreciative I am to Hashem and to the people at Laniado for giving me the responsibility to help in the little way I did. The Klausenberger's heroic strength, born out of his magnificient Jewish faith and trust in Hashem, truly lives on through the dedication of the amazing Laniado staff.
My NICU film from 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28-m2jKZs0w&t=4s
𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁: Atera
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Tel Aviv, Israel
𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: Working from scripts written by the client, the goal was to quickly turn around a few different versions of a commercial for the purpose of driving Atera's software sales via social media. Commercial would be seen on as Facebook and YouTube ads plus other web based platforms.
𝙎𝙚𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚: http://bit.ly/atera-commercials
A PRODUCTION TALE
(It's a long read so if you're interested in just watching my film then just press play :))
It all began on Tuesday April 25th, just a few short weeks ago......
I get an out of the blue call from the PR guy at Laniado Hospital in Netanya. I know him through past films I've been blessed to make for Laniado UK at the hospital.
"David, the American Friends of Laniado have their annual gala dinner and require a video to be shown on the night." Not the first time my ears have been tinkled with those words. "The thing is ....the dinner is quite soon ..... it's on May 7th .... that's in 12 days time"
Ahhhh, I thought. Better get a move on then :)
Wednesday April 26th, start schmoozing (Manhattan time) with the wonderful head of American Friends of Laniado, Rabbi Spitzer, whom I discovered early on in our convserations stood loyally by the late Klausenberger Rebbe's side for many decades. Any opportunity to learn more about the amazing Klausenberger Rebbe ztl, well I'm right there! One of the most influential and inspiring Jews I've ever encountered. Despite never meeting him, the Rebbe's incredible life story and monumentous achievements against the backdrop of the holocaust are constantly with me.
Thursday April 27th, I hot-tail it to Netanya to scout out the place, to schmooze with the wonderful people there and to work out what exactly I'm gonna do for this film. The clock is ticking. Rav Spitzer gave me certain requirements that needed to be featured but how exactly I did it was my call. A day at the hospital, as always with Gilla Shorrick in the PR department by my side making everything happen, and I was winging it back to J'lem having booked Danny "drone guy" Schectman to fly around the hospital in 4K the following day.
Friday April 28th, peg it back to Netanya early doors to meet Danny and Gilla for some drone time in the clear blue skies of Netanya. Fantastic and highly enjoyable 3 gorgeous hours spent up in the air - for anyone who wants an awesome drone operator look no further than Danny. Brilliant. Back to J'lem for Shabbat Kodesh with the plan to film in Netanya on Sunday and Monday to get what I need.
Saturday April 29th, motzei Shabbat. Get all the gear ready for the shoot. Gotta get some kip cos very early start in the morning to get up to Netanya before rush hour kicks in aroudn Tel Aviv.
Sunday April 30th. Leave home at 530am, pick up my good friend and assistant for the shoot, Emanuel Neuman, and head off for the sunny coast of Israel. En route the most important stop was an absolute must. It is my minhag (custom) to daven to Hashem by the kever (burial site) of the late Klausenberger Rebbe ztl when I'm on a job to help the hospital he committed to build on a death march all those years ago. So at 7am-ish we arrive at the cemetery and spend some important and uplifting moments by the Rebbe's side. As always a moving, powerful and beautiful experience. As always, my levels of emunah (faithfulness) and d'veikut Hashem (connection to Hashem) get a turbo boost! Ok, we're ready - let's go on.
Following a couple of great days filming, laced with a nice healthy dose of focused urgency (as the clock remains ticking), late afternoon on Monday May 1st, Emanuel and I arrive back in the kedusha of Yerushaliyim. That day was Yom HaZikaron, that evening was Yom HaAtsmaut. My week was all about editing.
Due to the time factor, the decision was made on day 1 of shooting that I would use and modify the 2013 film I made for Laniado UK which focused on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the hospital and then add on a new section at the end. With these things one has to be realistic and creative - but realistic first. The goal is to deliver a film on time so that was the plan.
Click below to see the result that was completed baruch Hashem on time with a decent enough time to spare that nobody was quacking in their boots :) It was well received TG, did what it was suppose to do, moved people and everyone was happy.
Thanks, hope you enjoy it.
THE END
If you feel you are in a position to help Laniado Hospital out please go here to donate, thanks!
www.laniadohospital.org
www.laniado.co.uk
www.laniado.org.il
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