MENSCH Fundraiser, a Half-Hour Pilot

MENSCH is a half-hour comedy about an immigrant Jewish family in 1960s suburban Chicago, centered on their youngest son, Freddy, as he navigates adolescence, community, and cultural identity as a child of Holocaust survivors. He’s rye in a white bread world.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The pilot’s goal is to explore inherited trauma and expand representation of Holocaust survivors. Created by a grandchild of survivors, this series examines connections to a history that’s not so far removed, and brings forth the tension and humor in reconciling personal identity with family legacy.

THE INSPIRATION:



MENSCH captures a unique moment in time as the children of Holocaust survivors come of age, balancing the weight of their heritage with the pressures of assimilation.

As a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, I’m drawn to stories that touch on cultural history and intergenerational memory. Hollywood loves to lean into the "Jewish trauma drama," but it’s essential to celebrate the humor that also defines our survival.

I wanted to write a story that shows what it means to live with trauma as a survivor, not a victim, and how that trauma is passed down. This story celebrates life, with all of its comedy, from the point of view of an American immigrant Jewish family in the sixties.

My father, the original Freddy, was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany and immigrated with his parents to America in 1949. He was raised in Skokie, Illinois, by two Holocaust survivors, a background that became an indelible part of my family's narrative. MENSCH is inspired by his journey, yet it goes beyond historical trauma, centering instead on resilience, humor, and the challenge of balancing the new world with the old.

In a post Holocaust world, the cultural revolution of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll is a nightmare for anxious Jewish parents trying to hold on to tradition with a white knuckle grip. I wrote this comedy series to capture the laughter, familial love, and cultural friction that shaped my father’s adolescence and, by extension, my own.

Our aim is to blend history with humor, bringing to life an immigrant family whose quirks and struggles are as universally relatable as they are specific. MENSCH isn’t only a Jewish story, it’s an immigrant story. This series is a testament to anyone who has felt the weight of a legacy that sets them apart.

At its core, MENSCH is a story about becoming a “mensch”—a good person—in a world that often asks you to compromise who you are.

THE PILOT:

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We are looking to raise $50,000 to help support our production needs and make this pilot a reality. And we need YOUR help to do it!

Our team is incredibly talented and passionate. Your contribution will help with costs like production design, locations, talent, food, and labor. But, most importantly, your help will ensure our set is a safe, equitable, and positive environment for everyone involved. By supporting MENSCH, you’re not only helping to tell a meaningful story, but also contributing to bringing production jobs back to Los Angeles. Anything helps, so please consider contributing to our campaign by donating or sharing the link to our GoFundMe with your friends and together we can bring this story to life. Join the MENSCH family today!

TEAM

Creator/Writer: Tallulah Bark-Huss is a Los Angeles-based screenwriter haunted by her family’s generational trauma and determined to figure out why it’s so goddamn funny. Originally from Chicago, she writes authentic, grounded comedies with a Jewish flavor, particularly that of chicken schmaltz and potato kugel. As a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Tallulah is fascinated by the link between humor and pain. She believes what doesn't kill you makes you laugh just a bit harder. Tallulah earned a B.S. in Film & TV from Boston University with a focus on Holocaust representations in media. Most recently, she worked as writers’ support staff on Apple TV’s FOR ALL MANKIND Season 5 and previously worked in production on HBO’s HACKS Season 2.

Director: Victor Yuan is a director based in Los Angeles, California. His diverse body of work covers dramatic narrative films, documentaries, car commercials, and music videos. He grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania with Chinese immigrant parents. His melting-pot upbringing ignited a natural curiosity in storytelling and framing the world around him. He received his BA at the University of San Francisco where he majored in Media Studies and Film. Soon after, he was a member of Playhouse West, directing actors in theater. As part of the AD department on numerous TV shows, he worked on: Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom (NBC), Oh Baby! (ABC), Lucky Dog TV Series Season 11 (CBS), Earth Odyssey with Dylan Dreyer Season 6 (NBC), and Mission Unstoppable, Season 6 (Amazon Prime). As a director’s shadow he was mentored under, Stomp the Yard (2007) director, Sylvain White on Government Cheese Season 1 (Apple TV), For All Mankind Season 5 (Apple TV), and The Last Thing He Told Me Season 2 (Apple TV).

Producer: Kayla Borkovec is a producer based in Los Angeles. After graduating from Chapman University with a B.F.A in Creative Producing, she started her career in the production office of shows for 20th Television, Warner Bros. Television, and Sony Pictures Television. She currently works at Amazon MGM Studios as the Executive Assistant to the Head of Production, Global Series & Operations. Her short documentary, Your Friend Ranger Doug, was awarded the Jack Larson Southern California Filmmaker Award at KCET’s Fine Cut Festival of Films and selected as a Documentary Finalist for the BAFTA Student Film Awards.

Producer: Leora Wenger is a Los Angeles-native producer and second-generation American Jew. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs with a love for storytelling, she developed a passion for creativity, operations and strategic planning. She holds a B.A. in Economics and Film Studies from the University of Maryland, where she founded their Film Forum. Leora completed UCLA’s Film & TV Producing program, has worked on various short films/projects, at an independent film festival, and began her career in voiceover at The Osbrink Agency. Wenger currently works at United Talent Agency’s sports arm, Klutch Sports Group, and at her family’s 78 year business.

Director of Photography: Christopher Sinnemann is a cinematographer and colorist, shaped by his German-Mexican heritage. Graduating from The Los Angeles Film School, he quickly gained recognition, shooting A Hip Hop Story (2024) at 25 years old. The film premiered at the Pan African Film Festival and had a nationwide AMC theatrical release. His portfolio spans short films, music videos, television, and feature films, each showcasing his bold visual storytelling and deep emotional resonance.

Editor: Jacob Ehrlich is a film editor from Los Angeles, currently based in Hollywood. He recently edited his first feature, At The Gates, which was released theatrically after winning Best U.S. Narrative Feature Film at SCAD Savannah Film Festival and The New York Latino Film Festival. Jacob's other editing work ranges from narrative shorts to music videos to commercials including Netflix sponsored short, Mirage (Best Narrative Short, SFiFF), Dillon Francis music video LA On Acid (Audience Award, SXSW), and happy coffee #happymonday campaign starring Robert Downey Jr (The People's Voice Award, Webby Awards). In addition to his work as lead editor, Jacob has also worked on editorial teams for big budget films and TV shows including Big Mouth (Netflix), Father of the Bride (Warner Bros), Aquaman 2 (Warner Bros), and The Electric State (Netflix). Jacob currently works as a staff editor at AGBO.

Got questions? Want to get involved? Looking to support our production in other ways? Learn more at our website.

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