Hollywood Ukrainians form media group (12/26/99)

Hollywood Ukrainians form media group

by Lewko Kaspersky

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - "It was a great night. I enjoyed being with people who love and feel as I do about things that are Ukrainian," is the way Hollywood actor Jack Palance described the December 7 meeting of Hollywood Ukrainians to discuss the formation of a group to promote Ukrainian interests in films, television and related media.

Sparked by longtime film industry leaders Luba Keske, senior vice president of MGM - United Artists Studios, and Peter Borisow, president of Entertainment Finance Management, attendees included Mr. Palance and his brother, producer John Palance, University of Southern California cinema professor Paul Wolansky, Warner Brothers Studios executive Nestor Balaban, film maker Roman Mykytyn, author Eugenia Dallas, producer Tom Daniels, banker Lewko Kaspersky, attorney Andriy Semotiuk, as well as other people involved in film production, financing and promotion.

In view of the show business nature of the meeting, it should come as no surprise that it was held around a conference table on the 45th floor of a downtown skyscraper in front of a salt water fish tank filled with sharks.

Speaking round-robin style, all present voiced their views on a Ukrainian media organization. Prime issues that concerned many included frustration about the low media profile of Ukraine and the 1933 Famine-genocide. A consensus emerged that a media organization with a social setting could be an effective instrument for promoting Ukrainian issues and projects.

The operational agenda of the group is fourfold: to gather together in one association members interested in promoting Ukrainian values and interests in Hollywood; to help create and promote more films, television programs and music which contain Ukrainian content, or are written, produced, directed or acted in by people interested in Ukrainian affairs, particularly association members; to support each other in the pursuit of career objectives in Hollywood; and to help the entertainment industry in Ukraine.

The group, tentatively called the Hollywood Trident Group, will meet again on February 2, 2000. In the meantime members will continue to get to know each other better, form some working arrangements, and get more people involved.

People interested in getting involved should contact Andriy Semotiuk, c/o Law Firm of Manning, Marder & Wolfe, 707 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017; e-mail, [email protected]; telephone, (213) 624-6900, or fax, (213) 624-6999. The Hollywood Trident Group's e-mail address is [email protected].

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