From the Mesa
Elise Bernhardt, our President & CEO, spent last weekend onset with our Los Angeles Six Points Fellow Paul Ratner, helping out with his film for his project MOSES ON THE MESA. Here’s what she saw:
I had the wonderful opportunity to “volunteer’ as PA/aka set mom for Paul Ratner’s filming of Don Solomono (or Moses on the Mesa). Paul and his wife/producer Petra, brought together a fantastic amalgam of folks from New mexico and LA (and elsewhere) to do the 4 day shoot. On what is for film an absolutely infinitesimal budget, they had a crew of 10 or so, plus actors and extras, horses, three extraordinary sites and catering courtesy of Sharon Levin, a nice Jewish woman who runs a catering business (Gourmettogo.com) who’s garlicky tabouleh and fantastic spicy breakfast quiche kept the whole company going through INTENSE heat over 12 hour days.
My self-appointed role was to help Petra with whatever she needed and the other PA’s were too busy to attend to. The first two days on the set were at EAVES MOVIE RANCH, about 15 minutes south of Santa Fe. Winding roads through cattle and horse country and a few freestanding land masses did not prepare me to enter the wild west circa 1880. The store fronts (and they were mostly just fronts) were rather dilapidated, the insides more so, but there was an atmosphere that was absolutely back in time and what wasn’t provided for got built (including a sauna-like night time Bar that was supposed to have been on top of don Solomono’s grocery store (you have to read the story at mosesonthemesa.com). I had renewed respect for actors who were literally in ‘the schvitz’ – to keep out the daylight the room was wrapped in black plastic (and it was at least 100 degrees out in the air…) The amazing makeup team was in and out with tissues and other supplies to mop up and refresh their faces as they held a late night poker game (or so I surmised- there wasn’t enough room for anyone but the cast and crew to be in that kiva). The next day three local horse wranglers and several local actors and their families stood by for a crowd scene. As “craft services” (I’d picked up the lunch and got to set up and serve in the “jail” that had been commandeered for meals) my job was mostly getting dressing on salad and icing water and gatorades. But I was dearly appreciated. My fun job was to “borrow” two gorgeous old Acoma vases (from 1939 or so) from Palm’s traders for a scene on Sunday. And to get a tire repaired for the cameraman. And to find a tallis for the final scene!
Hurray for my aunt Charlotte – she remembered where Uncle Paul’s tallis was and it turns out it wasn’t his – it was his father’s so actually it is a period tallis – more or less – for the scene where don solomono is on his horse, on the mesa, in his tallis…
The second site – actually the home of a Bibo family member – bought by friend Bob – where he and his son Art sometime stay (they live about an hour away from this gorgeous place inside El Malpais – on the Acoma reservation) So stunningly beautiful from every angle, with so many different species of birds. I was warned to watch out for rattlesnakes (never saw any) and was told about the possibilities of climbing some of these incredible god-made sandstone structures that seem to rise out of the earth. The miracle of this shoot is that Petra and Paul only found out about this amazing site about a month before the shoot from their Albuquerque based art designer Sean. Another Albuq team member was Michael McCormick, whose jewish grandfather left his Norwegian grandmother, who left Norway and came after him with her babe in arms (Michael’s mom) and found him and made him marry her. Mike was in charge of guns, special effects and what not – and his wife runs the alternative synagogue Nahalat Shalom, 500 families in Albaqu! Who knew. The world just gets smaller and smaller.
Editor: For the history behind Solomon, read this article from the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue .
Your experience was most amusing. I’ve been aware of Acoma ( and it’s beauty) since 1949, when my then husband and I traveled to Albuquerque where he was stationed at the US Air Force Base, Sandia. On weekends we would explore the countryside and happened on Acoma. We were amazed and climbed up the narrow rock staircase to the top and spoke with the few Indians there. There were a few wives and children since the men climb down each day and go to the fields below to farm and tend the animals. It was gorgeous up there and we hated to leave. The view was stunning. The one church had walls that looked to be almost 2 feet thick and built to the specifications of the Catholic priest. Now learning about Don Solomono is literally the icing on the cake. It certainly is true that one can find Jews everywhere in the world! Really looking forward to seeing the documentary!
Harriette R. Ellis, Los Alamitos, Calif
I was fortunate enough to be involved in this project, and it was an honor to say the least. Although Elise claims she was just a “volunteer” I think den mother is a more appropriate title. She took on the most important role….keeping the cast and crew fed and hydrated, even though dessert was not to be had until after the meal. But it wasn’t just passing out food that Elise helped with. She brought two of the most important props, the Acoma Vase and her great Uncles Tallis. It was an honor to wear that Tallis, and I would like to thank Elise for not only going out of her to help out on set, but doing so with an attitude that made the cast and crew excited to have her around. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Best
Mat Weiss, The Moses of The Mesa
P.S. The herring was delicious!