David & Layla (2005)

Director:

Jay Jonroy

Writer (WGA):

Jay Jonroy (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

Kosher meets Halal!

Plot:

Star-crossed lovers, David & Layla- Romeo & Juliet in New York with a twist!. Inspired by a true story, a spicy romantic comedy...via Iraq & Jerusalem.

Plot Keywords:

Muslim | Dancer | Star Crossed Lovers | TV Host | Refugee

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

David Moscow	...	David Fine
Shiva Rose	...	Layla
Callie Thorne	...	Abby, David's fiancee
Peter Van Wagner	...	Mel Fine
Polly Adams	...	Judith Fine
Will Janowitz	...	Woody Fine
Ed Chemaly	...	Uncle Ali "Al"
Alexander Blaise	...	Francois
Anna George	...	Zina, Uncle Al's wife
Ken Kliban	...	Dr. Jacobson, vasectomy doctor
Albert Macklin	...	Dr. Susswein, the shrink
Hany Kamal	...	Imam
Tibor Feldman	...	Rabbi Rabinovich
Joseph Kamal	...	Howar, Saz / Tanbur player.
Anahid	...	Aunt Aftaw Khan
Randy Cherkas	...	Ken, immigration officer
Ali Reza	...	Dr. Ahmad (as Ali Farahnakian)
C.S. Lee	...	Yun, immigration officer
Jason Catalano	...	Waiter at Newroz Restaurant
Angel Sing	...	Mr. Wong, immigration lawyer
Izzy Ruiz	...	Solo
Brian Gersh	...	Farhad 'Fred'
Alex Hoffman	...	Newroz, Son
Dorit Elena	...	Belly Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Azziza Abdullah	...	Kurdish wedding dancer
Harry Askenazi	...	Uniformed Cop
Stephen Cauaretta	...	Fisherman #1
John Daly	...	Fisherman #2
Sam Davoodi	...	Kurdish wedding dancer
Philip Galinsky	...	Bra Salesman
Courtney Gant	...	Jewish wedding dancer
Robert S. Goldstein	...	Jewish wedding dancer
Alwand Jaff	...	Kurdish wedding dancer
Nassim Khavaran	...	Kurdish wedding dancer
Andrea Meyer	...	Jewish wedding dancer
John Molinelli	...	Uniformed Cop
Michelle Lynn Morris	...	Jewish wedding dancer
Lisa Marie Palmieri	...	Jealous Wife / featured
Michael Postiglione	...	Gang Member #1
Esfandiar Pourmand	...	Def Player
Linda Powell	...	Woman Officer
David Primack	...	Jr. Rabbi #2
Colette Rose McDermott	...	Kurdish wedding child dancer
David Ruby	...	Vasectomy Patient
Thomas Russo	...	Jr. Rabbi #1
Fruzan Seifi	...	Club Band Leader
Vlada Tomova	...	Wedding Band Leader
Khaled Uthman	...	Kurdish wedding dancer
Florence Wack	...	Wedding dancer / Muslim prayer
Lela White	...	Jewish wedding dancer
Richard Wisneski	...	Gang Member #2
Emil Zarbailov	...	Gang Member #3

Directed by
Jay Jonroy

Writing credits (WGA)
Jay Jonroy		(written by)

Produced by
Gill Holland	....	co-producer
Jay Jonroy	....	producer
Isen Robbins	....	co-producer
Aimee Schoof	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Richard Horowitz
John Lissauer

Cinematography by
Harlan Bosmajian		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Egon Kirincic

Casting by
Adrienne Stern

Production Design by
Peter Yesair

Art Direction by
Eric Dean

Costume Design by
Zulema Griffin
Alwand Jaff		(wedding dress)

Makeup Department
Maya Hardinge	....	assistant makeup artist
Julia Lallas	....	key hair stylist
Julia Lallas	....	key makeup artist
Rebecca Perkins	....	additional hair stylist
Rebecca Perkins	....	hair stylist: second unit
Rebecca Perkins	....	makeup artist: second unit

Production Management
Brian David Cange	....	production manager
Jay Jonroy	....	post-production supervisor
Steven G. Menkin	....	unit manager: pre-production
Tricia Nolan	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph Aspromonti	....	first assistant director: second unit
Marta Forns-Escudé	....	second assistant director: second unit
Marta Forns-Escudé	....	second second assistant director
Louise Lovegrove	....	second assistant director
Jeanelle Marie	....	second second assistant director: second unit
Michael A. Moffa	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jason Bistarkey	....	leadman
Sarah Bricker	....	property master
Shannon Finnerty	....	property master
Helene Leff	....	stand-by props
Jeanelle Marie	....	art department assistant
Rebecca Robertson	....	art intern second unit
Mike Smith	....	swing

Sound Department
Andre Artis	....	sound mixer: second unit
Carmen Borgia	....	sound mixer: dolby digital
Ryan Dismukes	....	boom operator
Matt Gundy	....	sound mixer: dolby digital
Chen Harpaz	....	sound mixer
Hae Kyong Harpaz	....	foley artist
Daniel Johnson	....	sound mixer
Jason Phillips	....	boom operator: second unit

Stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Corey Bastfible	....	gaffer: second unit
Manuel Billeter	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Manuel Billeter	....	first assistant camera
Sung Rae Cho	....	assistant camera
Matthew Clark	....	director of photography: additional photography
Avra Fox	....	third grip
Fernando Gayesky	....	first assistant camera: third unit
Shawn Greene	....	gaffer
Melissa Guimaraes	....	key grip: second unit
Adam Hall	....	best boy grip
Zach Henderson	....	best boy: second unit
Monica Hoenig	....	additional third electrician
Geoffrey Hug	....	making-of camera
David Kavanaugh	....	third electrician
Mike Kirsch	....	additional grip
Nina Kuhn	....	best boy electric
Ron Morales	....	key grip
Ruben O'Malley	....	cinematographer: third unit
Craig Pressgrove	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Maria Ramirez	....	best boy: second unit
Aaron Randall	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Daniel Sharnoff	....	second assistant camera (as Dan Charnoff)
George Su	....	additional grip
Frances Toriello	....	behind the scenes camera
Vance Tucker	....	third grip
Joy Weber	....	third electrician
David Woolner	....	third electrician (as Dave Woolner)

Casting Department
Kimberly Hope	....	casting assistant
Richard Volpe	....	background casting
Rachel Wong	....	assistant background casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jay Jonroy	....	costumes: Kurdish Wedding wardrobe
Robin Sprance	....	wardrobe intern
Kyle Villegas	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Ed Beyer	....	film colorist
Alayne Brady	....	post-production intern: Newroz Films
Geoffrey Hug	....	making-of editor
Dan Lane	....	post-production intern: Newroz Films
Jordan Maggio	....	behind the scenes editor
Benjamin Murray	....	on-line editor
Scot Olive	....	colorist
Gloria Pichhadze	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ed Bruno	....	music supervisor
Jay Jonroy	....	music consultant
Jay Jonroy	....	music supervisor
Joanna Katcher	....	composer intern
Egon Kirincic	....	music editor
Kristin Palker	....	music supervisor intern
Jason Phillips	....	temp music coordinator

Other crew
Benjamin Alimi	....	subtitling coordinator
Victor Barroso	....	technical consultant
Olivier Bernier	....	set production assistant
Maï Boiron	....	translator: French subtitles
William L. Bourne	....	security officer
Jeffrey A. Brown	....	assistant locations
Alex Cohen	....	coordinator: NYC mayor's office
Colin C. Crowley	....	assistant location manager
Deboarah Delbianco	....	production accountant
David Ebmeier	....	coordinator
Scott Ferlisi	....	location scout
Gerald Fernando	....	producer & director assistant
Lauren Fritz	....	location manager
Dan Fuller	....	production coordinator intern
Patti Ganguzza	....	product placement
Jonathan Gray	....	lead attorney
Seth Hall	....	production intern: Newroz Films
Zach Henderson	....	set production assistant
Yasmeen Hinedi	....	set production assistant
Yasmeen Hinedi	....	special assistant to director
Caleb Jacobs'Smith	....	production intern: Newroz Films
Alwand Jaff	....	kurdish wedding dance
Ryan Jafri	....	set production intern
Jay Jonroy	....	choreographer: Layla's and wedding dance
Kavita Kapoor	....	production intern: Newroz Films
Nassim Khavaran	....	dance coach: Layla
Kim Koby	....	set production assistant
Chris Lagdamen	....	production assistant: first team
Dan Lane	....	assistant temp sound
Debbie Maisel	....	product placement
Matt Marhefka	....	pre-production intern: Newroz Films
Michael Mortell	....	set production intern
Jason Mottley	....	craft service
Joy Nirenstein	....	jewish dance coach
Joy Nirenstein	....	personal assistant to director
Nichole Patxot	....	set production assistant
Gloria Pichhadze	....	script supervisor
Xinyi Puah	....	set production intern
Nan Sandle	....	key production assistant
April Schott	....	set production assistant
Ian M. Stratford	....	attorney
Brandon Taylor	....	production assistant
Rochelle Thomas	....	production intern: Newroz Films
Mark Trillizio	....	assistant coordinator
Adriano Valle	....	set production assistant
Simon van Kempen	....	film accountant
Florence Wack	....	production intern: Newroz Films

Production Companies

• Newroz Films
• David & Layla

Distributors

• Jeff Lipsky (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Los Banditos Films (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• Vanguard International Cinema (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Gravitas Ventures (2009) (USA) (video) (VOD)
• ViewCave (2005) (worldwide) (all media) (internet)

Other Companies

• Group Entertainment, The  production consultant
• Broadway Video  post-production facilities
• Du Art Film Laboratories  35 mm prints
• Film Emporium  insurance
• Gray Krauss  legal services
• Hand Held Films  lighting
• Intrinsic Value Films  co-production
• LVT - Laser Subtitling  subtitles transfer to film
• Postworks New York  post-production facility
• TCS Film New York  camera equipment provided by
• Technicolor New York  35 mm prints
• Titra Film Paris  subtitiling services
• Vertigo Power New York  sound design and mixing
• Voltage Video  post-production

Also Known As:

Kosher & Halal (USA) (working title)
Sex & Happiness (USA) (working title)
Sex & Spice (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Newroz Films

Trivia:

This film is inspired by a true love story. Married since 1990, the real David & Layla now live in Paris. They flew to New York to meet the cast and the crew during the production of this film. The real Layla designed Layla's wedding dress. She is the guest with green eyes and dark hair who is one of the Kurdish dancing women in bright golden orange gilet, during the wedding. Her husband, the real David, plays himself as the new vasectomy patient who answers to his real name, David Ruby, and gets the appointment with Dr. Jacobson.

All You Need is Love!

A modern tale for the ages. Told with genuine tenderness and respect for both sides of the coin, "David & Layla" is the love story of a Muslim woman and a Jewish man. Peppered with interesting historical tidbits of information and unexpected laughs, the movie's strength lies in the fact that Jonroy has a healthy respect for his characters and never takes a side other than basically saying "Forget all the petty nonsense in the world. All you need is love.". Moreover, Jonroy never condescends; everyone and their relative perspectives are treated with equal respect (no small feat, considering the subject matter!). The writing, directing and acting are superb. If you want a break from the usual Hollywood dreck, go see this movie. It's a welcomed breath of fresh air.