Several top-tier Hollywood executives met in Jerusalem with President Rivlin and discussed Israel’s role in the entertainment industry.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin welcomed a delegation of leading Hollywood producers and executives at his Jerusalem residence on Sunday.
The delegation included prominent Hollywood figures such as Adam Berkowitz, head of the television department at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA); Daniel Grover, talent agent at CAA; John Landgraf, general manager of FX Network; Christophe Riandee, vice CEO of Gaumont International Television; and Doug Herzog, former president of Viacom Music and Entertainment Group, among others.
During his meeting, Rivlin discussed the history of television and film in the Jewish state and lauded Israelis who have made breakthroughs in the entertainment industry.
“For many years we have been watching your shows, and now you are also watching Israeli shows. We even have Israeli superheroes,” Rivlin said, referring to Israeli actress Gal Gadot’s “Wonder Woman” film, which earned about $404 million in North America to date and grossed over $800 million worldwide. Gadot was also recently ranked number one on The Hollywood Reporter’s Top Actors list.
Rivlin was asked by the delegation about the recent prize awarded to Israeli film “Foxtrot” at the Venice Film Festival, which drew strong criticism from Israel’s Minister of Culture Miri Regev for its purported negative portrayal of the IDF.
“I did not watch the film but I’m going to watch it, I do not know if I will like it, but I will watch it as I try to watch every Israeli film,” Rivlin said.
By: JNS.org