"I had a wonderful time making this picture. This does not mean that you'll enjoy it."
On his global tour of cities that are not his native New York, Woody Allen has limited his movie-making to Europe: Spain (Vicky Christina Barcelona); France (Midnight in Paris); Italy (To Rome With Love); and the U.K. (Match Point).
A new campaign brought forth by the Jewish Journal (via LA Observed) begs the acclaimed director to shoot a film in the Israeli cities of Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
“Here’s this week’s not-so-crazy idea: Let’s all pitch in, just a few dollars each, and fund Woody Allen’s next movie — in Israel,” editor Rob Eshman writes of the Journal‘s effort, dubbed, “The Woody Allen Israel Project.”
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So far, about $900 has been pledged with 45 days to go toward the goal of raising $18 million.
“That’s what an Allen movie costs,” says Eshman. “A work of art — did I neglect to mention he is the Chaplin of our time, the greatest living filmmaker in the world? — that will enable Israel to enter the world’s imagination in a way a billion dollars of hasbara couldn’t possibly buy. All Allen asks for is funding, and complete control over his project.”
He continues: “As far as I know, Allen himself has never been to Israel. For a man who has done much to define the image of ‘Jew’ in our time, this needs repair.”
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Allen, meanwhile, has just released his latest romantic comedy, To Rome With Love, co-starring Penelope Cruz, Alec Baldwin and Jesse Eisenberg; next up is an as-yet-untitled project featuring Baldwin, Cate Blanchett and Louis C.K. that will be filmed in San Francisco and New York.
As for Israel, watch a clip of actress Noa Tishby pitching the country on the Journal’s behalf.
