Cast
IMBD
Muatsem Mishal (Daud)
Muatasem is a Palestinian American who lives in Staten Island, NY. He previous acted in the short Daud, also by Joel Fendelman and Patrick Daly, where he first developed the character he played in David.
Q. How did you get involved in David?
A. I got involved in David by meeting Joel at the Arab American Association of New York (AAANY) in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. A woman who worked there named Asmi introduced him to me and we started talking - he gave me his card and told me to tell my parents to call him about being in a film. My family didn't believe me at first, but they gave Joel a call and invited him for dinner at our home. We first made the short film "Daud" was made. Several of months after that, Joel had the idea of making "Daud" into the feature film David. I was all in for it! Joel sent me the script. My family and I read it, and we agreed to it officially.
Q. What do you do when you are not acting?
A. When I am not acting, I usually hang out with my friends, play with my Playstation 3, ride my electric scooter, and one of my favorites, hang out with my brother Mahmoud.
Q. What was main thing you brought to your character, and took away from playing your character?
A. I brought to my character Daud a sense of responsibility to family, because I come from a big family and I am responsible to them. Something I learned from Daud is that you should always be yourself, because when you're yourself people will respect you and accept you for who you are.
Q. What was your favorite moment during production?
A. To be honest my favorite moment was every day of filming - even in the hot weather! If I had to choose one day of filming it would be the day we went to Coney Island. The reason Coney Island topped everything else is because we went on rides, we played with the bumper cars and went to the beach, which I really needed on a hot July day like that. I also felt like we all got closer together on that day.
Q. What was the most difficult thing about your involvement in the film?
A. The most difficult thing would probably be when Joel asked me to cry for a scene. It was really hard to get myself to cry. I finally did... but Joel didn't put it in the film!
Q. How do you connect with the stories in the film?
A. Well there are something I can connect to like I am a Muslim, I do pray, I do like to be with my friends and family, and last, but not least, I love hummus like Daud does.
Q. Any other comments you would like to make?
A. Well on the last day of filming, when I was about to go home, I cried because we became so close and we became more than a cast, we became a big family. I was happy to finish the movie, but I miss everyone.
Maz Jobrani (Daud’s Father)
Maz Jobrani is a founding member of The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, which aired on Comedy Central, had his own Showtime comedy special, Brown and Friendly, and has done standup comedy around the world, including the Middle East where he performed in front of the King of Jordan. Maz starred in the films Friday After Next, 13 Going on 30, and The Interpreter. On TV he was a regular on ABC's Knights of Prosperity and FOX's Life on a Stick. He also recurred on ABC's Better Off Ted. Maz has guest starred on Curb Your Enthusiasm, 24, ER, NYPD Blue, and most recently on Traffic Light. He has performed his standup on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Lopez Tonight. He has also been featured on NPR, CNN, The BBC and in print in The New York Times, Time Magazine, and Newsweek.
Q. How did you get involved in David?
A. My manager, Ray Moheet, found it and put me in touch with the filmmakers. I really liked the message they were trying to get across and after a few phone conversations about some of the content I came on board.
Q. What was your favorite moment on set?
A. Well I loved the very positive energy we had throughout my few days with the crew. But I've got to say my favorite moment was when I did my "why did the chicken cross the road" joke with one of the actors who had no idea what the hell I was talking about. We've got it on film and I laugh every time I watch it.
Q. How do you connect with the stories in the film?
A. I really loved the message of the film. I also could relate to the role of a strict father and his wife and kids. Although my father wasn't as strict growing up he did have some of those tendencies so it was very relatable.
Q. What did you bring to the role of Daud's Father?
A. I enjoyed playing Daud's father because it allowed me to show some range with the character. I think after talking to the writers and producers we all agreed that we would give the father an arc that would basically redeem him at the end. I was very proud of that message.
Q. Other comments you would like to make?
A. Joel Fendelman for President!
Dina Shihabi (Aishah)
Dina is a NY based actor enrolled at NYU’s graduate acting program. She has worked on a number of theatrical productions, and as a dancer (hip hop, street jazz and contemporary). David is her first feature.
Q. How did you get involved in David?
A. I was performing in a play with Gamze Ceylan (my mother in the film) and she came up to me one day and said that this new film she had been cast in was looking for someone to play her daughter. She then put me in touch with Joel and Julian, I auditioned and the rest is history!
Q. What was main thing you brought to your character, and took away from playing your character?
A. I was born and grew up in the Middle East so I brought first hand experience in that culture to my character. What I got out of it was more appreciation for the freedom I have been given by my parents and how lucky I am as an Arab girl to not only be able to be living in America but to be pursuing my dream as an artist, which is for the most part unheard of where I come from.
Q. What was your favorite moment during production?
A. Hanging out with Muatassem who played Daud. I absolutely adore him and think of him as a brother.
Q. What was the most difficult thing about your involvement in the film?
A. The most difficult part of the film was wishing there could have been more time to work on everything! It was a wonderful learning experience.
Q. How do you connect with the stories in the film?
A. I felt that I could really relate to Aisha’s struggle in proving that Stanford was the right and only choice for her. I had to really prove that I was committed to life as an Actor in order for my parents to really take my passion seriously.
Q. Any other comments you would like to make?
A. As an Arab actor living in America, I am so excited about the many projects dedicated to voicing our culture and stories. I look forward to being a part of more stories and hopefully one day sharing some of my own.
Binyomin Shtaynberger(Yoav)
Q. How did you get involved in David?
A.This remarkable meeting and subsequent journey started when we met Joel Fendelman at a local kosher diner. I was at the right place - at the right time. My father calls it - serendipity. It was certainly by chance that my family and I were enjoying lunch, when Joel Fendelman introduced himself and his crew, about his plans for a movie involving a Jewish and Muslim boy. A discussion progressed to a meeting, followed by yet another meeting. We reached a mutual agreement and I was given consent to participate in the movie.
Q. What do you do when you are not acting?
A. My priority has always been to do very well in school. Everything after that is Sports, Sports and more Sports.
Q. What was the main thing you brought to your character, and took away from playing your character?
A. I would describe this in several words - realistic, genuine, authentic. I just wanted to be myself and portray my character in a positive light.
Q. What was your favorite moment during production?
A. The basketball scene and enjoying time at the park.
Q. What was the most difficult thing about your involvement in the film?
A. The conflict between Jews and Muslims is very old, but to me it was simply, foreign. As a thirteen year old you don’t dwell on these topics, that's for adults. I did believe at the time, that it was a great chance for me to further my understanding of the differences that exist between the two people. The conflict between Jews and Muslims is often considered to be a very delicate issue to tackle, and even just to discuss. Once I read the script to the movie, I recognized that I would have an opportunity to deal with this intricate topic. To have the ability to reflect an unbiased message that Jewish and Muslim children are able to coexist with one another, it was something I was unable to dismiss.
Q. Any other comments you would like to make?
A. Shooting the movie was a wonderful experience and that's what made it worthwhile. Moreover, it was a great experience to be able to learn about a different culture, a different religion and more about life in general. In fact, after meeting Muatasem, the boy who plays Daud, I realized that we have many similarities, more than I originally thought. It truly was an eye opening experience.
Gamze Ceylan(Daud’s Mother)
Gamze is a NY based actress and a graduate from the William Esper Studio. She has work on eight independent films, as well as numerous roles in NYC theatre productions. She is Turkish, and lived for years in Germany and the UK.
Q. What did you bring to the role of Fatima?
A. I think I brought some warmth to Fatima, rather then being a stern parent. I appreciate my own mom more by playing a mom!
Q. What was your favorite moment on set?
A. When I got a shoulder massage from Muatasem!
Q. How did you connect with the film?
A. I connected with the film on many levels. For example, the daughter wanting to live life and be free, that is me in real life. I had to insist on my freedom, encourage and reassure my parents to let go a little so I can grow and evolve, and that I will not be lost and have a bad ending somewhere, but that I'll be fine and strong and stand on my own two feet; that I am capable. That is hard for any parent, but for a family from a Muslim culture, where family is EVERYTHING, it is even harder to let go. I know it comes from love, but we all need room to grow.
Michael Golden (Moshe)
Michael has been acting for several years in student films, shorts, and commercials. David was his first feature film.
Q. What do you do when you are not acting?
A. When I’m not acting I’m playing and listening to music (drums and guitar) or I’m with my friends or family. My free time plays a big part in my acting career because it gives me time to do regular “kid stuff” and to take workshops and classes in acting.
Q. What is the main thing you brought to your character, and took away from playing your character?
A. When I read the script and thought about the character, he seemed like someone who didn’t want to be replaced as Yoav's friend but didn’t want his friends to see that he felt this way. I applied that to his character.
Q. What was the most difficult thing about your involvement in the production?
A. The most difficult thing about my involvement in the film was perfecting how I wanted to say my lines and my facial expressions because, considering it was my first feature, I didn’t want to settle for less than perfect.
Q. How do you connect with the stories in the film?
A. I connect to the stories in the film easily because everywhere you go you see people trying to fit in and not showing who they really are. I also see in my group of friends, occasionally, some of us having problems with the others but we always get over it.
Daniel Luttway(Mendy)
Daniel has starred or been featured in more than a dozen TV and film projects. He most recent credits are on stage where he is starring in “FAME”, the musical. Other film credits include lead roles in the short films Alan Smithee, Salt Water Magic, and Regretting Sarah. Musical theatre credits include; the York Theatre's Family Fiorelli (Barton), APACs Ragtime (Little Boy) and Children of Eden (Young Cain) and the Gallery Players Caroline or Change (Noah) and Tommy (Tommy, Age 10). Daniel is also a member of Kids4kids, a performance troop that plays to sick children in area hospitals.
Q. How did you get involved in David?
A. My mom saw the ad on a web site and I auditioned and it turned out I was in. I was super excited but it was during a time I was supposed to have camp. I drove back and forth from Connecticut for each day we shot. It was a four hour round trip. It was a big commitment but it was worth it.
Q. What was main thing you brought to your character, and took away from playing your character?
A. I brought sort of a happy Jewish boy to a character. Typical kid, comes home every night to a happy family who gets changed from the experience of being with a different type of boy who I had no idea about. Experiencing this character and being in the movie helped me learn how serious people get about religion and how a boy thought he had to lie to be friends with someone of another religion. It just shouldn’t be like that.
Q. What was the most difficult thing about your involvement in the film?
A. Probably commuting back and forth to Connecticut. Seriously, it was probably the scene where we find out that he wasn’t Jewish cause it was hard to play such an ignorant boy in that scene cause I would have treated David a lot differently. I would have accepted him and said its ok and that he doesn’t have to lie to be friends with us.
Q. How do you connect with the stories in the film?
A. I don’t really. I feel that friendship and religion shouldn’t oppose each other. We should work together and influence each other in a positive way. Religion should teach people to love and accept each other.
Q. Any other comments you would like to make?
A. Working on David was an amazing experience for me. It was great to hang out with the guys. The Production staff, Joel, Patrick and Julian, were really cool and nice to us. I hope to do it again some day!
Markus Goldberg(Dovi)
Markus lives in upstate New York, and has been involved in acting for several years. David was Markus’ debut in a feature narrative. Markus auditioned for the role of one of the Jewish boys, and had a callback for the part of Moishe. In order to get the role Markus needed to cut his hair and put on a more conservative look! Being Jewish, working on David was a great experience to engage with different religious situations and locations.
Q. What he does:
A. I love watching movie, making movies, being in movies!
Q. Favorite production moment:
A. Riding the Cyclone at Coney Island!
Q. Most difficult aspect of production:
A. The heat! It was really hot both outside and in the interior shots in the yeshiva classroom.
Jared Kirsch(Yosef)
Jared is thrilled to be part of this amazing Movie! Jared is an actor in film, voice over, television and theatre. Some credits include various roles in off off Broadway productions, musical theatre, live performances, music videos, feature, independent, indie and silent films. Jared enjoys playing sports, traveling, acting and singing.
Q. How did you get involved in David?
A. I saw a casting call and applied to audition. When I got a call back I was excited that I got another chance to show my acting skills. When I found out I got a part in the film I was thrilled to hear the news and couldn't wait to start filming.
Q. What was the main thing you brought to your character, and took away from playing your character?
A. One thing that I brought to my character was my comedic and improv skills. Something that I took away from my role was that you should stick with your friends no matter what.
Q. What was the most difficult thing about your involvement in the film?
A. Having patience when filming the Movie because there are a lot of times where you are waiting around for your scene but you have to stay relaxed and focused. But it is always worth it!
Q. How do you connect with the stories in the film?
A. I can connect because there is a lot of diversity in my community, schools and among my friends that I deal with on a daily basis. I learned a lot about tolerance and acceptance among different backgrounds and religions through this experience.
Q. Any other comments you would like to make?
A. I would like to thank all the people who enhanced this experience and made it a fun time and great movie. And thank you to the Directors and Producers for letting me have this amazing opportunity!
David Mandelbaum(Yeshiva Rabbi)
Q. How did you get involved in the project?
A. I met Julian (one of the producers) through my wife who was his vocal coach. He asked me to audition.
Q. Any other comments you would like to make?
A.The film is what I believe art should be about-tikkun olam. It is a privilege to have been a part of it. David Mandelbaum has been producing, and acting in experimental theater in New York for over 35 years. He has worked at La Mama, etc., Theater For The New City, The Common Basis Theater and numerous others. He began his career in Yiddish theater with The Folksbiene, and was featured in their Off-Broadway productions of Yentl, The Lady Next Door, and The Capricious Bride, as well as many readings and outreach performances. He appears in the recently released indie film, David. In 2007 he, with Amy Coleman, founded New Yiddish Rep, and premiered its first show, an adaptation by him of the Holocaust classic, Yosl Rakover Speaks To G-d, directed by Amy Coleman, and has since performed it at the First and Second Montreal International Yiddish Theater Festival, as well as in Rome, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. In its short history New Yiddish Rep has work shopped and developed The Essence: A Yiddish Theater Dim Sum, written and directed by Allan Lewis Rickman, and The Big Bupkis: A Complete Gentile’s Guide to Yiddish Vaudeville, starring Shane Baker. It has presented original film, concerts, performance art, and art exhibitions. It initiated and co-sponsored the Jewish Artists For Haiti benefit immediately after the earthquake. It has recently implemented a weekly Yiddish theater workshop and continues to co-sponsor Yiddish cultural events with organizations like The Congress for Jewish Culture and Yiddish Farm.
He currently works full time, as artistic Director of New Yiddish Rep, researching, developing, producing and promoting new projects, like the upcoming Transformative Yiddish Theater Festival. He also cheerfully paints, hangs lights, hangs curtains and runs supertitles, lights and sound for all NYR productions that he isn’t acting in.
Noam Weinberg(Yeshiva Teacher)
David is Noam’s first acting experience in a feature film. He has experience writing and directing plays, and when he is not acting he is the Principal of Judaic Studies in North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Great Neck New York.
Q. How did you get involved in David?
A. I got involved in David after seeing a casting call and I decided to follow my dream of acting on screen. I went down to the city one day, did an improved audition and it's all history from there. It was the first real film casting call I went on. I was pretty nervous but at the same time it is something that I love to do and always wanted to do.
Q. What was main thing you brought to your character, and took away from playing your character?
A. I think I brought a youthfulness to my character which I hoped to portray. It’s important to me that people see teaching as an art and one which you need humor, love and lots of energy to do! I think that what I took away from my character was the importance of seeing each person as an individual with unique struggles and stories. A student is much more than a body filling a desk!
Q. What was your favorite moment during production?
A. My favorite moment was when all the parents of the kids came onto the set to watch one of the scenes being filmed. It made me feel like they were seeing me as the actor that I always knew I could be.
Q. How do you connect with the stories in the film?
A. I connect with the film on a deep level. My father is a Holocaust survivor who came to America as a young child. I am a first generation American and while I didn't have the same struggles that David did, I could certainly understand him. In addition it is a story that also deals with identity and ethnic pride. In a time when so many youngsters shun their ethnicity, I was happy to be a part of a project that made people think about what it means to be part of a community and family.
Q. Any other comments you would like to make?
A. I am blessed to have had this opportunity to work with such an amazing cast and crew. I hope our paths cross again so that we can tell another important story.
Akram Basuni(Rami)
Akhram is an aspiring actor from Brooklyn, who spends his time in college and working as a lifeguard when he is not traveling for auditions. Playing Rami was his first acting role.
Q. How did you get involved in David?
A. I met Joel at the Arab American Association in Brooklyn before I knew anything about David. He told me about his directing and I told him I'm interested in building a career as an actor, and didn't think it would go past that. Then Joel called me one day for an audition for a film he was working on, next thing I know I was on set of David!
Q. What was main thing you brought to your character, and took away from playing your character?
A. One main thing I brought to the character was the appearance of an Americanized Arab boy, but one whom has a more traditional Muslim character when it comes to issues like family and marriage.
Q. What was your favorite moment during production?
A. My favorite moment would have to be first stepping foot on set. It was my first official moment as an actor, my beginning to a career I've been trying to climb, with David being my first step.
Ayse Richardson(Rami’s Mother)
Ayse is a New York-based actor and writer of Turkish descent. Her acting credits include appearances in Law & Order, Sex and the City, The David Letterman Show, What Would You Do?, Oh Boy (short film she wrote which was in Cannes, 2008), independent Film Book of Truth and Lies (her character won a best comedy award), and O Jerusalem at the Flea Theater directed by Jim Simpson. When not acting she writes, teaches young kids drama, and has a company – the Turkish American Repertory Theater & Entertainment.
Q. What was main thing you brought to your character, and took away from playing your character?
A. I tried to be realistic, based upon watching neighbors in Turkey, for the matchmaking scene. I saw my character as a strong Muslim woman who runs a business and wants the best for her son. Instead of playing a character I wanted to bring the character to life with those qualities, based upon my real life experience.
Q. What was your favorite moment during production?
A. Almost every moment because I got to work with my dear friend Gamze and an absolutely sweet and hardworking group of people!
Q. Any other comments you would like to make?
A. I believe we all can make the world a much better place with love and respect for one another. It doesn't matter if you are Muslim or Jewish or Christian or if you don't believe anything. Love and respect will bring us a better world.
Marjorie Austrian(Yoav’s Aunt)
Marjorie is a New York based actor with years of experience. Her most recent film project was a role in Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock, and she has done both television and commercial work. When not acting she sells hot dogs in Times Square. Q. What is the main thing you brought to your character? A. I think I brought an honesty concerning a real life situation, and I took away the realization of how much it really affected me. My scene was difficult as it forced me to re-live the embarrassment of the situation I told the boys about in my scene (which was a true story from my life).
Q. What was your favorite moment on set?
A. My favorite moment was working with the two boys in my scene. They were so real and natural.
Q. How did you connect with your character?
A. I connected very much with the stories in the film. I have good friends who are Muslim, and I have witnessed situations that occur in the film in real life; in particular the sister wanting to attend college in California. I also brought in some of my real life experiences into my role and dialogue.
Q. Any other comments?
A. I thoroughly enjoyed working on David...the cast, crew, producers, director were fantastic!
Lara Gedzelman(Yoav’s Mom)
