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Filmmaker and LAMG member David Notowitz has a lot to kvell about. As Producer, Editor and Director of Photography on the highly acclaimed feature documentary Carpati: 50 Miles, 50 Years , David's vision can be seen on the big screen in theaters nationwide.
Carpati is about the past and present life of a man in the Carpathian mountains (south-west Ukraine) who for thirty years has been the ice cream man of a remote town, and the guardian of the synagogue. Carpati had its world theatrical premiere May 24-June 18, 1996, at Center's Walter Reade Theater in New York, and continues to open around the United States. Great reviews have appeared in the New York Times, New York Post, New York Jewish Week, Los Angeles Times, and other papers across the country.
David grew up just south of San Francisco on the Peninsula. "My home town is San Carlos. It's between San Francisco and San Jose. Basically, San Carlos is just a continuation of all the towns surrounding it and is one bug suburb of San Francisco - very comfortable, beautiful, less traffic, and much better air!" He attended college at UC Santa Santa Cruz. "I studied Theater Arts with an emphasis in Film and Video production."
West Los Angeles has been home for David since June 1989 - two weeks after his college graduation. "I moved here to 'make it' in the film business and to make the films I feel passionate about."
David has done just that, having earned numerous entertainment industry credits in his varied career as a filmmaker. "The specific job description changes from job to job, so sometimes I'm strictly the editor, and sometimes I produce, direct, shoot and edit the whole project. With Carpati , my newest film, I produced, shot and edited the piece. Yale Strom, my partner on the project, directed it and wrote the music as well as produced it with me."
Some of David's other credits include producing, directing and editing a series of television commercials for Numis International (a Jewelry store in San Francisco) that have aired for over four years; Editor of Waging Peace , a documentary that aired on the Disney channel; Producer, Director, Editor of Voices of the Shoah , a Rhino records five set CD; Editor of Once abused, Now Accused , an EMMY winner as best documentary and nominated for a Cable ACE award; Writer and Editor of TEAM , an anti-smoking video for teens; Editor and Sound Editor of The Last Klezmer , a feature documentary that won two awards at the 1994 Berlin Film Festival, was nominated for a Cable ACE Award, won a Hometown Award, and broke box-office records at New York's Lincoln Walter Reade Theater along with being named by Michael Medved as one of the top ten films of 1994; and many more credits too numerous to list.
Currently, David is working as the Producer, Director and Editor of 7 Years down the Road, a documentary shot from New York to Santa Monica, three weeks at a time, over the course of seven years. The story details a cross country journey that takes a snap shot of America as we approach the end of the millennium. The film is slated for a theatrical release in mid-1999. David smiles, "All rights are currently available."
In the course of his work, David finds many uses for his computer. "I use the Mac for work all the time. I often cut documentary films, and I never intended to edit these using my home office system, but I have done many titles, credits, and graphics for my projects using my Mac at home. I created all beginning and end credits for my current film playing in theaters right now, Carpati . I usually do all my work in Adobe Photoshop , but I used LogoMotion once to create a NOTOWITZ PRODUCTIONS flying logo for the end of the project."
Another important way that David uses his Mac is to keep a very up to date database of contacts that he accesses many times daily. "I also write all the time on the Mac - from business letters to columns to publicity writing to writing a script. I also do a great deal of my budgeting and planning on the Mac. Finally, when I edit a big project, and they may want to use the AVID digital editor, of course then I use a Mac. I go into a professional facility in this case and we rent it."
David's introduction to Apple computers began in his early teens. "I grew up in Northern California, and my father, with great foresight, bought me an Apple II+ when i was in the seventh grade. I've used Apple computers ever since."
Computers have evolved somewhat like cars - at first there were so many obvious differences between a Ford and a GM and a Chrysler. Now, often the only difference between cars is not the maker, but the amount of dollars you are able to spend. Unfortunately, this is beginning to happen between Mac and IBM. I say 'unfortunately' because I loved the innovations that Apple brought to our lives, the amazing tools they developed, and I miss that energy now. The Newton might become this...
David is self-taught in the use of computers. "I read all the manuals that came with the Apple II+ before the computer arrived, and knew how to set it up, and program it when it arrived. From there on out, I've taught myself through reading and just crash using." The only classes that David took were specialized ones. "I took a few classes to learn how to use the AVID editing system."
Regarding programming, David programmed and designed the World Wide Web site for his film Carpati <http://remember.org/carpati> "It has all kinds of interesting areas on it. The most useful; page is a regularly updated screening schedule for Carpati . You can hear samples of the soundtrack, view photos from the film, listen to a piece of narration by Leonard Nimoy, read stories about the production and details of the technology used. Also, there is advice to aspiring filmmakers and interesting background on Leonard Nimoy. Take a look at it!
David's first Macintosh computer was a Mac Plus that he bought for writing and database management. "It was an amazing tool! I was also designing and laying out simple newspapers on it." His computer setup today consists of a Power macintosh 7100AV (66MHz), a StyleWriter II printer, and a 28.8 Teleport platinum modem.
The commercial software programs that Davis uses most are FileMaker Pro, PageMaker, ClarisWorks, Eudora Pro , Adobe Photoshop , Netscape and Final Draft 4.0 (script writing program) "Using FileMaker Pro , I keep close track of my 1700 contacts - business and friends. In my work I run into a lot of people, and I am not very good with names. This helps me keep notes, remember everyone, and maintain these many important contacts. When events warrant, I'll send out a mailing to a few hundred people with a letter describing my recent work and where it can be seen."
As for shareware and freeware software, David uses the freeware client for FirstClass along with other programs. "At this point, my favorite programs are Program Switcher 4.2.0, and Auto Menus Pro . I started this search after beginning to experience problems in my right hand due to computer overuse. The biggest problem seemed to be overuse of the mouse, and especially the mouse button. These two shareware programs seem to be solving the problem by allowing me to use the mouse less and the keyboard more."
Along with logging into the LAMG BBS, David has an Internet account with Leonardo.net. "I learn and play on the internet using this account. I am also currently on The Vine, a FirstClass BBS for filmmakers."
A typical day of work for David depends on what project he is working on and what it entails. "Currently, I work out of my home, but this is not always the case. It really depends on each project, each situation to determine what I do and how I work. I never have a typical day, which is part of the fun. Some days I have to be out in the city at meetings and doing errands, and other days I don't look out the window until 3:00 p.m."
When he has free time, David has many interests, "I love to bike ride to the beach. I take photographs of nature and my friends. I see movies of all kinds, and I do Israeli Folk Dancing twice a week."
David defines his long range goals, "I would like to have a happy family, kids, and health to enjoy them. I also want to continue directing, producing and writing feature films of which I am proud." Thoughtfully he adds, "And to understand the purpose and meaning of life." Smiling, David says, "This is reaching, I know, but hey, I'm an artistic kind of guy."
When asked to provide advice to others who are interested in pursuing a career like his, David says, "I refer you and your readers to my web site. I put all this advice there, but in short, if you are not ridiculously driven to be a filmmaker, especially one like myself, an independent filmmaker, then don't do it. It is extremely difficult , but also extremely rewarding . Every day you will learn more about people, the world and yourself. You will learn about those issues and events that have made a difference, and you will be inspired, moved to tears, angered. You will grow more than you ever thought possible, and you will come away each day with a new respect for the simple, basic things in life - the every day things that bring you joy."
Those are very thoughtful words of advice from LAMG member David Notowitz, a very talented filmmaker and every bit an artistic kind of guy.
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