Filmmakers Discuss Challenges of Making Comedy Amidst National Trauma
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
The creators of the new Israeli comedy "Giv'a 338," a remake of "Giv'at Halfon Ein Onah," discussed their challenging four-and-a-half-year production. Director Erez Ben Harush and screenwriters Ilan Rosenfeld, Maya Sobol, and Eyal After detailed chaotic filming, including an unconventional method for actor Eli Yatzpan to deliver lines and a difficult scene requiring real slaps. The team halted work after the October 7th attacks, questioning the viability of a military comedy during wartime, but ultimately resumed, finishing the film amidst ongoing conflict. "Giv'a 338" was released in August, with the filmmakers suggesting humor is vital for national recovery.
The story in 7 lines · by baba
- Filmmakers of "Giv'a 338" faced challenges making a military comedy after the October 7th attacks.
- Actor Eli Yatzpan used an earpiece to receive his lines during filming.
- A scene required actors to endure cold water and deliver real slaps.
- The film features a cast including Eli Yatzpan, Shahar Hason, and Tal Friedman.
- The production spanned four and a half years, including work during wartime.
- The comedy aims to be universally critical, with humor applied equally to all.
- "Giv'a 338" was released in August.
The creators of "Giv'a 338," a contemporary remake of the beloved Israeli film "Giv'at Halfon Ein Onah," recently shared their experiences making the comedy during a challenging period for the nation. Director Erez Ben Harush and screenwriters Ilan Rosenfeld, Maya Sobol, and Eyal After discussed their four-and-a-half-year production journey on the "Extra" podcast, detailing a chaotic set and the difficulty of making people laugh when the country is grieving.
The film features a cast including Eli Yatzpan, Yael Poliakoff, Shahar Hason, and Tal Friedman. Yatzpan initially hesitated to join, sending the 250-page script back with a note comparing its length to legal filings. He eventually agreed, but only on the condition that he wouldn't memorize lines, leading to an unconventional solution: a personal assistant whispering his dialogue to him through an earpiece, a method inspired by Molière.
Another scene, involving actors Dvir Ayelet Hashahar and Yana Yanina, required a makeshift spring using a fiberglass tub filled with sand, as no natural spring was found in the desert filming location. The actors had to endure the cold water, with the crew attempting to heat it with kettles. A fight scene between them also presented challenges, requiring a stunt coach. Ultimately, director Ben Harush instructed Yanina to deliver real slaps, resulting in a take that was both painful and convincing.
The filmmakers also addressed the humor in "Giv'a 338," which aims to be universally critical. They cast Gal Linker, an actor with Down syndrome, for a role, emphasizing that the humor is applied equally to everyone, including Linker, who embraced the shared comedic approach. However, the most significant challenge was writing a military comedy after October 7th. The team halted work following the attack, questioning how to proceed with a comedy when soldiers were being killed and hostages were held. They eventually resumed, working through missile attacks and air raid sirens, even editing the film in safe rooms.
Despite the production's hurdles, including personal life changes for the creators, "Giv'a 338" was released in August. The filmmakers suggest that in times of conflict and hardship, humor might be a necessary tool for national recovery, echoing the sentiment from the original film that laughter is possible even amidst war.