SBIFF23 Interview with the director of 'Who are the Marcuses'

WHO ARE THE MARCUSES?

Santa Barbara Film Festival

Interview with Director Matthew Mishory.

By Emmanuel Itier and Roxanna Bina

Q: Tell us about the inspiration and the motivation to put together this fascinating and inspiring Documentary.

Matthew: Even so this was a movie that came to me as a work for hire it had subject matter I had thought about and that were of interest to me. Mark Bennett, who is the executive producer put this project together and I couldn’t believe nobody had done it already. I think it’s movie with so many rich message and themes. It’s around water and technical solutions for the climate crisis. It sounded like an important and very timely film, and I had to do it.

Q: But what was the intention? What were you trying to expose, the themes of this doc?

Matthew: Well, again, the intention was to film water in and out with various cameras to show the importance of water. There was an esthetic connection to the subject matter. It was amazing to also study this desert area which is the most arid place on earth. If we can survive there, we can survive anywhere. Also, there was a personal connection to this story as my grandparents were refugees from Eastern Europe, escaping the holocaust and settling in Israel. And they lived through a time of extreme water poverty way back.  So, water and water technologies became very quickly the priority of the state of Israel, maybe even before the security of this country. And over the last decades, water solutions were implemented to change the fate of the region poor in water. And of course, this can be applied in America in regions where we have water droughts, like in California. And because of the climate crisis it’s spreading all over the world. So, this is a story worth sharing with an audience and everyone since it’s proposing viable important solutions. This is a ray of light, a ray of hope.  

Q: Tell me about the difficulties to put together this film?

Matthew: Well, we started filming in April 2021 with Warren Buffett. We had to go to Omaha and then to Austin and of course a large part was done in Israel. All of these filming sessions occurred at a time where it was difficult to travel due to the covid pandemic and the various border closures. And I had to shoot all over Israel and near the Jordan river and in the Goliath area. On top of this I was the only member of the crew with a dual citizen of the US and Israel and who was able to go back and forth. So, there were practical issues to overcome. Also, with such a vast subject it was necessary to get the key interviews and the important locations for the overall narration of our movie. This was not that simple considering the limitation of our budget. But, at the end, we made it work. We were ambitious and it paid off.

Q: How was it to work with Warren Buffet, he is such a mysterious and iconic businessman?

Matthew: Well, Mr. Buffett really wanted to make this film and therefore he was 100% behind it from the beginning. There is no artifice with him, and he is exactly as he appears to be. He is a very charming and modest man. He is so easy to work with. Initially, I remember we were only given 30 minutes to film his interview. But at the end, because the conversation was so inspiring, we ended up filming for over two hours! The depth of this conversation is really carrying an important portion of our film. This was so crucial to get him for so long on camera.

Q: What do you think is the take away with your film?

Matthew: I think the take is that we have a sense of the possibilities on the table. This is the resolution, that everything is possible if we put the proposed solutions into action. It’s two fold. In one hand it’s about the gift the Marcuses and their gift to find solutions to water scarcity. The impact is not only environmental but it’s also diplomatic. Through solving water problems, especially between various regions and even countries in the world, maybe it’s a driver towards diplomatic progress and peace. I think philanthropy is an important part of the film and it shows we can all play our part to be part of the change we want to see in the world. It’s all about sharing and exchanging solutions. I hope this film will inspire people to get involved.

Q: What does Santa Barbara film festival represent to you?

Matthew: Not only it’s one of the most important film festivals in the world but it’s also a homecoming for me as I went to film school at UCSB. I have been going to this festival, on and off, for so many years. So, it’s a perfect fit for us. This is the first of many but this the one I’m the most excited about.