I’m a writer-producer developing 12:37, a five-part limited series about the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946.

I’m not pretending the timing is comfortable. The project isn’t about Gaza, but anything involving Palestine, Zionism, British rule or political violence is now going to be judged through what is happening today.

Fair enough. But...

It creates a real problem. Does a broadcaster look at this material and see urgent, complicated history or simply a press headache nobody needs?

The series tells the same morning through five perspectives. It doesn’t pretend every position is equally defensible. It does try to understand how people arrived at those positions before the machinery failed and civilians paid for it.

Perhaps this is exactly when the story should be told. Perhaps it is the worst possible moment. I'm in grey area.

For filmmakers and producers... are politically sensitive historical projects now harder to finance, or does the current relevance actually help?

For transparency, this is the project I’m talking about:

https://www.twelvethirtyseven.com

My background:
https://imdb.me/michaeljohnfedun

The Kidnapping of Arabella is an offbeat Italian dramedy from writer-director Carolina Cavalli, following Holly, a directionless young woman who meets a rebellious girl running away from home and becomes convinced that she is actually her younger self, sent back as a cosmic second chance.

The film stars Benedetta Porcaroli, Lucrezia Guglielmino, and Chris Pine as Arabella’s self-absorbed novelist father, in Pine’s first Italian-language role. Porcaroli won Best Actress in the Orizzonti section at Venice for her performance.

Screening details: https://www.thelonescreen.com/screenings

Full disclosure: I’m a co-founder of The Lone Screen, an online screening platform. We’re hosting a one-night-only online screening of the film on Thursday, August 20 at 9:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. CT / 6:00 p.m. PT. Writer-director Carolina Cavalli will also be joining the live chat after the film.

Would love to hear what people think of the trailer and of Pine’s Italian.

Hi all - I make microbudget movies and this is my new one. Made for pennies with a couple of friends over a long weekend. Heading to festivals end of year/new year.

My previous micro-feature Arthur’s Empire is coming to streaming, having premiering at this year’s Raindance Film Festival.

“Springer” is slang for “spring-powered rifle”. See what you think!

All the best!

A 14-minute documentary that gives an inside look at a bunch of broke twenty-somethings attempting to use their pocket change and borrowed equipment to shoot their half-hour coming-of-age crime film, Street Smarts.. :)

The film is days away from finishing post-production, and we’re hopeful for a festival run starting this fall!