90 Seconds of Fame: Marty Huberman on the Festival Trailer

Interview by David Horowitz

Marty Huberman, president of VideoArt Productions, talks with us about the most widely seen film in the Festival -- the 90-second trailer he produced for WJFF 17.


What interested you in doing work for the Jewish film festival?

A couple of years ago we did a pretty nice 10-minute video on the rescue and recovery of the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. I sent it in to Josh Ford, but since the film did not quite meet entry guidelines for the Festival, he needed to decline. But he let me down gently, and told me that he liked it, and when he later asked if I would consider editing a trailer, I immediately said "Yes!"

What other film and media work have you done? Tell us a little bit about VideoArt Productions?

My company, VideoArt Productions, creates videos and documentaries. Among the clients we are now working for are the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the U.S. Institute of Peace. Transformation: Building the Rubin Museum of Art is now airing on public television stations nationwide and Chevy Chase, Maryland: A Streetcar to Home will be broadcast on public television in the region early 2007. When the National Portrait Gallery reopened earlier this year, six films produced by VideoArt Productions were on display, including a film on The Presidency and the Cold War with commentary from Brian Williams of NBC News. We have also done fundraising pieces for a number of local schools.

What were some of the challenges of putting together a 90-second piece for the Festival?

Fortunately, Josh knew exactly what he had in mind. Willie Karell and I had the simple job of editing stills from a number of the films to music that Josh and Jessica Perlman compiled and provided. We added the text, and voila!

And last (a question we're asking all of our filmmakers), if you could have one DC celebrity, political or otherwise, in the audience to see your work, who would it be, and why?

Ben Bradlee has always been a hero. I'd love for him to see our work. As for whom I'd like to interview, I am working on a documentary that would benefit greatly from the participation of former President Gerald Ford, so I am hopeful that we'll be able to make that happen.


Interview by David Horowitz