New Reality Show Features Young Jewish Parents that are In Over Their Heads

Online, December 29, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Sharon, MA, December 29, 2009 - InOverOurHeads Productions has released the first episode of a mind-bending reality series that sneaks a peek at the crazy lives of a few close friends. Coping with the realities of their restless existence as young, Jewish parents, they debate the absurd, laugh at convention, and reevaluate their ideals in a humorous, yet introspective way. Maintaining a decorum not quite fitting for shul [synagogue], the topics wander into sensitive areas such as marriage, gender issues, and education. The discussions are honest and irreverent, often with a deep spiritual undertone. They rip apart stereotypes of observant Jews - although like most Jews, they hardly ever agree.

Simcha Weinberg and Malkah Winter, whose toddlers attend the same preschool, created the concept for the show while meeting for a cup of coffee to discuss their mutual interest in Jewish filmmaking. "There is nothing like this out there right now, and it's great entertainment, but there is also immense value in helping people realize that they are not alone," avows Simcha, first time mother and staff intellectual.

Malkah, who is a mother of five, somehow manages to find time to personally direct and edit the show out of her Sharon studio - a testament to her passion for this endeavor. A graduate of Tufts University, she studied at Parsons School of Design and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Malkah developed an interest in Jewish entertainment as a young child. "Hollywood legends like Tony Curtis got their start in my father's theater," shares Malkah. Her father, Oscar Ostroff was a successful Yiddish theater owner, producing much of his own material for his Douglas Park Theater in Chicago and other theaters he ran around the Los Angeles area. "The American Yiddish Theater played a pivotal role for new Jewish immigrants," shares Malkah. "It was a creative expression that provided people an opportunity reexamine their Jewish identity outside of the shtetl [village]. We hope to use InOverOurHeads as an artistic vehicle to better understand our personal connections to Judaism and Torah." Oscar Ostroff's song, "Mayn Tayere Ikh Hob Dikh Lib" was featured in the 1998 documentary, "the Life and Times of Hank Greenberg."

Episode one explores happiness. "For me happiness sometimes is just being able to do what I want to do ... be myself," says Yitzi Cusner. "Some people are legitimately only happy when they're mad about something. I'm entitled to be negative if I want to." Playing the cast curmudgeon, he often leaves the cast wondering whether his is truly bearing his soul, looking to incite a debate or just trying to catch a good laugh. Yitzi holds degrees in music, business, and law and only weeks ago became the father to his second daughter.

"We wanted to be completely honest about our lives," admits cast member and mother of three, Valerie Frank. "People want to pretend that suburban parenting is perfect, the American dream. But it's hard, and sometimes it isn't perfect. Sometimes you love playing with your kids, and sometimes it's painful. Not many people will admit to that aspect of parenting." Valerie is a former member of the ImprovBoston comedy troupe.

The next episode, expected to be released in the coming weeks, will deal with meeting expectations (community, parents, spouse, G-d, and self). "In Jewish culture, these expectations can be so strong that they interfere with people's ability to approach life in a sincere way," Simcha offers. "Subsequent episodes will be moving out of the studio and delve far deeper into the personal experiences of cast members. This is an experimental project and I am eager to see where it takes us. The footage that we've captured already is amazing." Simcha and Malkah see a lot of potential for this to build up to a series of short films targeted at the film festival circuit.

InOverOurHeads can be watched online at www.inoverourheads.com. It is currently featured as the best user video on the Jewish TV Network, www.jewishtvnetwork.com, Jay Sanderson's online Jewish media outlet based in Los Angeles. "We want the viewer to feel like they are part of the conversation," shares Malkah. "The InOverOurHeads website offers viewers an opportunity to communicate with cast members and continue the conversation online."

InOverOurHeads stars Yitzi Cusner, Valerie Frank, Simcha Weinberg, & Malkah Winter.