Experiencing Interruptions?

YidLife Crisis: An Anticementish Episode

While revisiting their childhood suburban landscape, Chaimie & Leizer are thrust into lively debate coming from both left and right sides of the cheesebagel. #CheesebagelsForPeace

  • Jamie Elman
    Director
    YidLife Crisis, CHEWDAISM: A Taste of Jewish Montreal
  • Eli Batalion
    Writer
    YidLife Crisis, APPINESS
  • Jamie Elman
    Writer
    YidLife Crisis, Crazy/Sexy/Awkward
  • Eli Batalion
    Producer
    YidLife Crisis, APPINESS
  • Philip Kalin-Hajdu
    Producer
    Game of Death, APPINESS
  • Jamie Elman
    Producer
    YidLife Crisis, CHEWDAISM: A Taste of Jewish Montreal
  • Jamie Elman
    Key Cast
    "Chaimie"
    House MD, Curb Your Enthusiasm, YidLife Crisis
  • Eli Batalion
    Key Cast
    "Leizer"
    YidLife Crisis, APPINESS
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 19, 2019
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jamie Elman

A native of Montreal and graduate of McGill University, JAMIE ELMAN has appeared on many of television’s most acclaimed series including Mad Men, Curb Your Enthusiasm, House M.D., Criminal Minds, Without A Trace, CSI: NY, The Closer and The Young and the Restless. He also played Luke, the resident piano-playing record store guy and boyfriend, for three seasons on NBC’s award winning and critically lauded drama American Dreams. His breakout role was Cody on the FOX/YTV hit teen sitcom Student Bodies.

Elman’s starred in California Dreamin’ (Grand Prix, Un Certain Regard, 2007 Cannes Film Festival) opposite Armand Assante, When Nietzsche Wept (2007), portraying a young Sigmund Freud opposite Ben Cross, Shattered Glass (with Peter Sarsgaard, Chloë Sevigny and Hayden Christensen, 2003), The Chicago 8 (with Orlando Jones, Danny Masterson and Phillip Baker Hall, 2011), Saving Lincoln (with Tom Amandes, Penelope Ann Miller and Bruce Davison. 2013), and Random Encounters (with Michael Rady and Sean Young). Elman has done extensive voice work for video games such as Star Wars: The Old Republic and animated films including Disney’s highly acclaimed Wreck-It Ralph and the blockbuster Frozen. A creator in his own right, the actor wrote and starred in the web series crazy/sexy/awkward, produced by Howie Mandel and purchased by Shaw Media. He recently starred opposite Jodi Balfour in the finale of the beloved Canadian series Bomb Girls.

Jamie is also an accomplished blues and jazz pianist and singer who has recorded with Ben Harper, Natalie Maines and Rickie Lee Jones. He lives in Los Angeles.

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Director Statement

Dear friends - If you know who we are, you know that we’ve always tried to make you laugh as we laugh at ourselves and explore the complexities of modern Jewish identity and spiritual crises in the 21st century (while eating our way through our hometown of Montreal). Lately, unfortunately, things seem… tense-ish, no? In light of recent events, and the endless barrage of antisemitism, racism and xenophobia flowing like diaflukhes in our newsfeed, we present to you our Season 3 finale, An Anticementish Episode. It’s our plea for civilized conversation, even as we raise the red flags of paranoia and fear that are all too real, both online and out in the real world. It’s also a call to action, to be aware, and to rebel as necessary. It may be ‘dangerous’ territory, but perhaps risk (read: “chutzpah") is what is needed in times like these.

We have recently been named Ambassadors for Peace in Montreal (!), and have released the episode just before International Peace Day. Our ask is that you share this episode widely through your networks, with our hashtags #CheesebagelsForPeace and #YidLifeCrisis. Our hope is that by continuing to push the discussion of combatting antisemitism to the fore - even (or especially) through the 'Trojan horse of Comedy' - maybe we can educate, stimulate discussion and, maybe, still have a laugh while doing it.