Locally filmed coming-of-age dramedy from Rochester native Jess Zeidman showing at Little
A teen dramedy from a Rochester native screenwriter — a movie partly filmed in Rochester — is now showing at he Little Theatre.
The coming-of-age story about Jewish teenagers, written by screenwriter and Rochester-area native Jess Zeidman, used Temple Beth El as a filming location. A recent New York Times review of the film, "Tahara," wrote: "The Hebrew-school comedy 'Tahara' mimics the zinging pleasure of overhearing teenagers chatter as they walk home from school: It’s gossipy, delicious and a tad cruel."
"Tahara" showed in 2020 at the local ImageOut festival, and Zeidman then answered email questions from the Democrat and Chronicle. She did so again last week. What follows are some of the answers from Zeidman in 2020 and from last week.
Why did you want to make your film in Rochester?
Zeidman: I wrote this script as a film set in Rochester, NY, specifically at Temple Beth El where we filmed. So, when the ever-generous (and I mean REALLY GENEROUS) Executive Director Debbie Zeger gave us the go-ahead to film there, we decided to go for it. In the spirit of independent filmmaking, finding the perfect location is worth its weight in gold, and Temple Beth El is truly a dream to film in. ... I want to specifically shout out the Rochester Institute of Technology whose incredible film students brought their talent and energy to our set every day of the fifteen days we filmed at Beth El.
What has happened with film since Image Out?
Zeidman: Since Image Out, we played a few more virtual festivals and continued on our long, complicated distribution journey that involved a lot of rejection and reconfiguring. Thankfully, Film Movement became our incredible distribution partner that believed in our team and our project deserved a theatrical release and now we are playing in theaters across North America
How does it feel to have it back in Rochester for a run at the Little?
Zeidman: Exciting and surreal! The Little is one of my favorite places back home and a huge source of inspiration for both the films make and the artistic communities I am involved with. The idea that artsy, angsty Rochester teens will be able to go see "Tahara" and then chat and gossip and mess around at Java's is almost too much for me ! It is the coolest thing I could have ever imagined growing up and it's a true honor to be programmed at a theater that means the world to me and shaped me as a filmmaker but also as a person.
What's next with you - more films planned?
Zeidman: I started a production company called Bumpy Toad that focuses on fun, weird, impactful indie projects. I began directing in collaboration with my romantic and artistic partner Justin Linville — we made two shorts earlier this year that will be out next year. I'm juggling a few writing projects for features and TV pilots and a novel that is in desperate need of an edit. And I'm producing another queer indie dramedy called "Summer Solstice," that we're filming in the Hudson Valley next month... not as far up as Rochester, but still has that New York State energy I know and love.
What do you hope to be next with "Tahara"?
Zeidman: I'm hoping that when it's safe enough to travel with the film consistently that we can screen at schools, libraries, and community centers all over — I would love to have a real teen talk back (and lead it a little differently than the one in the movie).
Can you give me a brief bit about Rochester connections? Where did you grow up? What school?
Zeidman: I grew up in Rochester, specifically Pittsford, and I graduated from Pittsford Sutherland High School in 2014. The Little is where I learned to love film and spent most of my weekends there as an angsty teen trying to figure out who I was.
As someone whose life has always centered around theater and film, I was involved with Rochester Broadway Theatre League, Geva Theatre (which staged my first play ever in 2013, also about toxic friendships!), Eastman Community School of Music, and Writers & Books.
So much of who I am as an artist is due to the thriving communities I got to explore while growing up in Rochester and I hope to continue to be a part of the artistic community in any way I can. Or, I'll put it this way: I don't think "Tahara" will be the last film I make in Rochester!
Contact Gary Craig at gcraig@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at gcraig1.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 'Tahara' movie by screenwriter Jess Zeidman playing at Little Theatre
