The AaronCohens

Team, You should read the piece in this week’s observer.  It’s really created a buzz here in New York.  Check it out.

Guys, I’m finally getting a chance to do some blogging and the first thing I did was put a Previews page in with all of our “official” footage so far.  You can see it on the righthand side under Pages.  It’s called “Previews”  You can find it here.

The poet Matthew Zapruder is one of my oldest friends.  He and I were deeply influenced by Christopher Guest and he knows what I want to do.  Here are his thoughts on what will happen with this film.

….. Things will develop because it’s an experience you haven’t had yet, are in the middle of having. I think the real issue will be something way beyond the surface humor of it, which is of course important. That and the charm and hilarity of some of these “ordinary” guys who are singled out by you because of the very ordinariness of their name (when you let them talk these ordinary guys just become stars!) are the engine of the film, driving it towards something deeper that you can’t (and shouldn’t) know yet. The experience itself will reveal what’s great about the film. That I think is how great documentaries work, the journey of discovery for the film maker is experienced by the viewer

11:58am

Here’s the film.  Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Team, I’ve completed the previews thanks to the good work of AFC and those that showed up in December.  We will go live Monday and see how it goes from there.   I’m heading out to LA next Thursday to start the LA portion of movies meetings.  Meeting with people in NYC next week.

Hope to here what people think as we roll this out next week.

Aaron

There will be more of this kind of thing, but here’s a sample of what’s going on around the Aaron Cohen homepages.

Batya Orchaim at 2:12pm January 6

That’s the spirit! Join the team. Kill kill kill!

Aaron Cohen at 2:29pm January 6

i didnt say death to innocent palestinians, i said death to my enemies, if that really is ur wedding video on ur profile with all that music…hamas murders their own people for listening to music…what a shame u didnt have ur wedding in gaza.

Batya Orchaim at 2:55pm January 6

Just because you do not agree with what I believe, doesn’t meant that it’s wrong. You’re sitting here PRAYING FOR DEATH of human beings. That’s ignorant, and indicitive of the warmongering philosophies that has ruined the middle east.

I have just completed my first ever editing session as a prospective movie director.  Of course, NPR has  already labeled me a filmmaker and I wouldn’t want to challenge their journalistic accuracy.  No doubt, I was out of the comfort zone and it felt exhilarating.   I don’t have much to compare it to, but here are some notes.

For those of you who don’t know, two months ago I decided I would try to make a film.  It’s been a longtime dream of mine and in the aftermath of selling menupages, it seemed like the right time.   I know a lot of people who want to make movies and never follow through.  I don’t want to be one of those people.

The Aaron Cohens is a film about men named Aaron Cohen and my quest to gather them in New York for a festival that explores their differences, commonalities, and the complex, rich, funny, and entertaining lives they live.  I’m particularly interested in their relatsionships with their mothers and will be inviting the Moms as well.

We started filming last month just before xmas to get a feel for how things would work and 9 Aaron Cohens graced us with their presence at Katz’s deli.  Their compensation:  a pastrami Sandwich.

The editing process is very intense and collaborative.  You have to watch all the footage over and over again.  Essentially what Aaron Fisher Cohen (my cameraman, editor and director of photography) and I did was watch the tapes on our own, take notes on what we liked and then compare the notes.  We basically marked up all the comments and moments we liked and started grouping them into themes.

The Aaron Cohens

I asked the same questions to all the interviewees:  Do you have any nicknames?  What does being Jewish mean to you?  Have you ever googled yourself?  Some questions (mostly about moms and girlfriends) popped more than others did. We started weaving together the themes that would make the best two minutes of film.

We have some challenges.  We shot at Katz’s and I failed to tell them we were coming.  That was a little awkward, but with an assurance to be aggressive purchasers of their fine meats I managed to finagle the back corner for our troupe.  However, that corner was right next to the kitchen so the interviews are continuously interrupted by the clanging of dishes and the salsa music that played throughout the night.  Some would say it adds to the charm.  I would say it makes it harder to hear.

To be clear, we are making a tease for The Aaron Cohens that gives people a sense of what we would do if we pursue a full-length feature film.  Then we show that to professional in the industry and see where it goes.

After the first day of serious editing, I would say that we have some funny and poignant moments.  While our journey has just begun, The Aaron Cohens has great potential.  Well at least potential.  Look, I laughed out loud.  Really.  More than once.

Aaron

hey… tape is just so so… happy new year… you were funny though

7:00pmAaron

you’ll have plenty of shots to get these guys in front of camera.

7:00pmAaron

agreed.

7:01pmAaron

quieter location, experience — it will add up. you will not lack for aaron cohens.

7:01pmAaron

it’s time to start thinking about producers…. and a plot… and I’m curious how you want to be involved

i’m open

you seemed pysched

7:02pmAaron

i’m happy to be a consultant … and have been telling all kinds of people about the project.

7:02pmAaron

reactions?

7:02pmAaron

they think it’s hilarious. very positive.

7:02pmAaron

the crew that was at the filming is now looking at miriam and thinks she’s cute

well i’m only taking consultants who get some kind of credit so they can get in IMDB… we have to consider your credit

7:03pmAaron

glad we’re all in agreement.

7:03pmAaron

i see she’s the same size as my wife

7:03pmAaron

no worries at all.

she’s smaller, actually.

7:03pmAaron

it’s a little weird with the gds and the same day and everything

7:03pmAaron

i know, fated.

7:03pmAaron

what does she weigh?

nina is 95 on a good day

size 0

7:04pmAaron

i only know in grams.

7:04pmAaron

that’s funny

7:04pmAaron

XS, XXS …

7:04pmAaron

exaclty

but who cares because she will never let you buy clothes

so what’s the difference

7:04pmAaron

exactly.

7:04pmAaron

screenplay material

7:04pmAaron

i’m off to another jewish deli to meet a buddy. keep me posted — and keep the faith.

7:05pmAaron

this is like a ” twins” scene

cool