PROCESSING
Support COWBOY FROM MINSK with a Tax-Deductible Donation!
Click to DonateShalom U'vrachot/Peace and Blessings
Several years ago, I started to write a short story about a joke. Fast forward and 26 scripts later, I'm pleased to introduce you to the Torah-centric TV Series COWBOY FROM MINSK.
About the Series
COWBOY FROM MINSK (CFM) is the story of Dov Ber Kroll (DB), third-generation blacksmith of the best-selling family saga Wondering Jew, by Isaac (Ike) Featherman, DB's great grandson and series narrator. The first ten episodes, while scanning (archivally) nations and continents, covers the years 1902-1914, right up to the start of WW1--and G-d willing, Season Two.
Events that transpire are filtered through the timeless traditions of Torah. It is a worldview that understands the G-dliness of every object and action; a process by which to give fuller meaning to life and, when necessary, to make sense out that which is seemingly incomprehensible.
DB evolves from shoeing horses in Minsk to riding them as King Kroll & The Kowboys (K for Kosher) in Hollywood's nascent film industry. After his stint in the Russian Cavalary during the War against Japan 1904-1905, he emigrates to Palestine where he traces the footsteps of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs--as a postal rider.
In the larger picture, however, he perceives himself as answering the Messianic Calling for the Ingathering of the Exiles; more practically, though, his footprint has more to do with promoting boots-on-the-ground Zionism, i.e. Aliya or Emigration to the Holy Land.
Stylistically, the narrative of CFM borrows freely from Judaism's story telling tradition, re-enactiong Biblical and Talmudic tales, Kabbalistic and Hassidic anecdotes, and, after arriving in the US, American lore--albeit with a Jewish hook.
Most importantly, CFM is a love story--actually a story of many loves: Love of the Creator and Scriptures; Love of the Land and the People of Israel; Love of Family and Frends and, the Love of his Life, the radiantly beautiful photographer Shifra Kaspi.
According to tradition, man is but half a soul, becoming complete only through the institution of marriage. And charming Shifra, creative in so many ways, is revealed to be the better half! But it is their journeys together, throughout the Middle East and America, that inspires hope and mutual respect for all who enter their orbit.
Meanwhile, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction: For all the light generated, an equal measure of darkness fills the void. Violence, unfortunaley, intersects frequently--lives are on the line constantly.
* * * * * * *
"Ambitiious in scope and agressive in its subsequent execution, there are aspectives of this piece that could take off in propulsive fashion. This narrative has all the makings of an historical epic just waiting to be let out into the world." (We Screenplay)
Read the Script for Episode 1!
(You can find the scripts for episodes 2-10 below)
Special Gifts for Your Donations
As a special gift for donations of $275 or more, you’ll receive a hand-signed limited edition print of your choice of my original artwork from http://lifschutz-art.com.
Here are a few samples (Art images can be enlarged on website)
For donations of $18, choose:
MOM Musical Album - Featuring 13 original tracks
HAG: The Story of the Hasidic Actors Guild (In English with Hebrew Subtitles)
MOM: Confessions of a Male Orthodox Model - A Musical Morality Tale
Or Get All 3 for $50
After donating, email Izzi at [email protected] to request your video or album.
Meet the Writer / Producer
Sitegag punchline for a scene in HAG, reused as an ad in MOM
Yisrael Lifschutz has served as an actor and/or consultant (and sometime insultant) on a number of Hollywood features of Jewish interest, including The Chosen, Sidney Lumet's Stranger Among Us, A Price Above Rubies, Brooklyn Babylon and was a producer of Darren Aronofsky's now inide cassic Pi.
Izzi also served in similar capacities for PBS's production about Jewish Humor and the network's monumental Civilization & The Jews. As for TV fare, Izzi was featured on Unsolved Mysteries.
Izzi's first film, The Return: A Hassidic Experience, focuses on Jews like himself, who after riding out the 60's, return to the fold. The Return was aired on PBS and won a Red Ribbon in the Life Style Category of the American Film Festival.
Izzi's mockumentary about his life in Hollywood, HAG: The Story of the Hassidic Actors Guild, won a first-prize in Israel's Jewish Eye Film Festival, and was the lead story in Haaretz' entertainment section. HAG airs on JLTV, an all-Jewish Television Network.
Lifschutz has recently completed MOM, which was acquired by JLTV.
Lifschutz is also an artist whose drawings appear in his films, as illustrated by the record cover below used in MOM.
Lifschutz as the "face" of the marketing campaign for his production of the Jewish Basketball Hall of Fame
Mission Statement
Cowboy From Minsk, an action-packed epic romance, is an attempt to reach out and/or strengthen our co-religionists with regard to their Divine Inheritance. Throughout the 10 episodes, CFM also endeavors to fulfill the Commandment of informing non-Jews about the universal Seven Noachide laws. All of which has been designed to entertain and enlighten viewers for the purpose of hastening the coming of Mashiach, speedily in our days.
A Scene from MOM: Confessions of a Male Orthodox Model
Dream Sequence: A funny thing happened on the way to the Music Hall of Fame: The Izzman loses his voice. During a "chance" encounter (a shofar blowing contest) with Kenny Vance (r.), of Kenny Vance and the Planotones and an original member of Jay and the Americans, the latter reveals that he was the "voice" of actor Armand in "Looking for An Echo." Well, if it was good enough for Armando, it's good enough for the Izzman. After an alleged vocal cord transplant, the Izzman begins to lip-sync Vance's vocals. This measure of deceit wieghs heavily on our protagonist whose nightly dreams are invaded by Vance the Ventriloquist. It isn't long before the truth wills out, and an embarrassing scandal dominates the headlines. All of which leads Izzi to publicly do tshuva, repentance, but more aproriately a realignment with the Source of Everything.
Read the Scripts
(Click to Download)
All donations are Tax-Deductible through our Fiscal Sponsorship with From the Heart Productions (www.fromtheheartproductions.com), a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization.
Donations will be used to further develop the project to help secure investors and partners, allow us to reach more of the global Jewish community in support of this project, and help us to educate and build bridges with other religious communities who read the Old Testament.
Thank You!
Thank you for your support of Cowboy from Minsk.
If you'd like more information or to discuss investor opportunities, please contact Yisrael Lifschutz (917)499-5381or [email protected].
Donate via Credit Card or eCheck
Yisrael Lifschutz
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