WEBVTT - 'Kugel' Marks Big Moment for Israeli Streamer Izzy 

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to another episode of Strictly Business, the podcast in

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<v Speaker 1>which we speak with some of the brightest minds working

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<v Speaker 1>in the media business today. I'm Andrew Rollenstein, chief media

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<v Speaker 1>analyst with Variety Intelligence Platform. The Israeli TV show Stissel

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<v Speaker 1>found an international audience thanks to distribution on Netflix in

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<v Speaker 1>recent years, so when a Stistle prequel was announced, it

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<v Speaker 1>was quite a coup that the show ended up exclusively

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<v Speaker 1>on a relatively small new Israeli streamer called Izzy. For

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<v Speaker 1>Izy co founder Nati Dinar, the February twenty eighth premiere

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<v Speaker 1>of Kogel is a big moment for his venture, for

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<v Speaker 1>which success is defined by more than just commercial appeal.

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<v Speaker 1>It's about promoting positive images for his homeland. We'll be

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<v Speaker 1>back with him in just a moment, and we are

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<v Speaker 1>back with Nati Dinar, a veteran of the Israeli TV

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<v Speaker 1>business who was exporting the best of his country's TV

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<v Speaker 1>via Izzy all over the world. Nati, thanks for being.

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<v Speaker 2>With us, Thank you, thank you for having me.

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<v Speaker 1>So let's get the elevator pitch out of the way first.

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<v Speaker 1>For those who don't know, explain to us what is Izzy.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, it's a string platform it's just focused on Israeli content.

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<v Speaker 2>We want to bring Israeli content to the world, and

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<v Speaker 2>that'd be dependent on what is selected by other media platforms.

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<v Speaker 2>We want to enhance the world's relationship with Israel, get

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<v Speaker 2>them connected with the Israeli storytellers, get an outlet for

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<v Speaker 2>the Israeli storytellers to tell their story beyond the borders

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<v Speaker 2>of Israel, and grow that as much as we can

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<v Speaker 2>so Izzy will have an impact on the world.

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<v Speaker 1>And what kind of programming are we talking about here.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, we have almost everything on the platform. We're very

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<v Speaker 2>non selective for Israeli content. If something was produced for

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<v Speaker 2>Israeli audience, we believe that it's good content for the world.

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<v Speaker 2>So we have films, we have TV shows, we have documentaries,

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<v Speaker 2>we have some weekly podcast shows that we put on

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<v Speaker 2>with content that we think is relevant. We have short

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<v Speaker 2>films that we aggregated and brought to showcase them on

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<v Speaker 2>the platform. We have almost everything.

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<v Speaker 1>And how many countries are you in? Obviously you and

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<v Speaker 1>I are talking about the US market, but I understand

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<v Speaker 1>you're more than just there.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, unfortunately, we only have one country where we're not

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<v Speaker 2>showcasing this content, and that's Israel due to licensing agreements,

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<v Speaker 2>but we're available worldwide. Last time I checked, we had

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<v Speaker 2>subscribers from over one hundred and ten countries, some very big,

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<v Speaker 2>some very small.

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<v Speaker 1>And I assume the US is a key market. Are

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<v Speaker 1>there other markets where you are predominantly?

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, US is key. You know, I think almost sixty

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<v Speaker 2>percent of our subscribers come from the US, partly because

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<v Speaker 2>when we started, we were focused on English speaking countries

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<v Speaker 2>because we subtitled all the content to English. But in

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<v Speaker 2>about eight months ago we added Portuguese, Spanish and French

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<v Speaker 2>and put some marketing efforts into Latin America and we're

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<v Speaker 2>growing there very nicely. So it is you know, it

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<v Speaker 2>is not for us to work locally where we can

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<v Speaker 2>find audiences. We do start where where we can find

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<v Speaker 2>audience that have a passion for Israel. And that's why

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<v Speaker 2>US is a big market. And also you know Canada, Austraila,

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<v Speaker 2>UK where we grew at beginning.

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<v Speaker 1>And so who in those key markets is the market

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<v Speaker 1>for Izzy?

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<v Speaker 2>Is this?

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<v Speaker 1>You know? Uh? Israeli expats?

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<v Speaker 2>Is it?

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<v Speaker 1>You know, Jews who just have an affinity for Israeli programming.

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<v Speaker 2>So I think the majority, the big majority of our

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<v Speaker 2>audience is not Israeli. Israelis outside of Israel want to

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<v Speaker 2>stay connected to the here now. They want to watch news,

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<v Speaker 2>they want to watch sports, maybe watch reality shows that

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<v Speaker 2>the Israelis are talking about. That's not our audience. I

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<v Speaker 2>would assume that the big majority of our audience are Jewish.

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<v Speaker 2>We don't ask that, so we don't know, but I

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<v Speaker 2>believe that's the people who want to be connected with

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<v Speaker 2>Israel maybe watch shows in Hebrew to improve their Hebrew.

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<v Speaker 2>I believe that's the audience, or or you know, audiences

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<v Speaker 2>that have watched shows from Israel on Netflix, on Apple

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<v Speaker 2>and just want to see more of that culture. So

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<v Speaker 2>I think that's our audience. That's why I like to

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<v Speaker 2>define on people with a passion for israel I believe

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<v Speaker 2>they want some connection to this country.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean we should point out this is not a market.

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<v Speaker 1>You have to yourself. There are a number of other

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<v Speaker 1>streaming services that do this. What is your competitive edge?

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<v Speaker 1>How do you distinguish yourself?

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<v Speaker 2>Well, as I said, I think we're focused about Israel.

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<v Speaker 2>That's our mission. It's not only about growing a streaming service.

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<v Speaker 2>We don't license content that is not Israeli produced or

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<v Speaker 2>not Israeli oriented. We don't, so that's our focus. Our

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<v Speaker 2>focus is to get more of the Israeli storytelling out

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<v Speaker 2>there to the world. So I think if I look

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<v Speaker 2>at who else is operating in the space, that's not

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<v Speaker 2>their focus. So I think that differentiate us. But yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>there's there's other platforms that you know, kind of share

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<v Speaker 2>with us, not to say compete licensing Israeli content, but

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<v Speaker 2>I think, and I'll say this about ourselves, I started

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<v Speaker 2>easy with the idea that I'm not for exclusivity because

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<v Speaker 2>I want the content to be out there to as

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<v Speaker 2>many people as possible. If I license content exclusivity, I

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<v Speaker 2>kind of close it to just to my audiences. So

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<v Speaker 2>you will find that on the different platforms in the

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<v Speaker 2>space we share some of the content as well.

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<v Speaker 1>Well. That's all well and good and nice, but exclusivity

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<v Speaker 1>is the thing that distinguishes yourself in the marketplace. So

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<v Speaker 1>you know, if you don't have exclusivity, how do you

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<v Speaker 1>distinguish yourself?

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<v Speaker 2>Again, the content we bring, we don't cherry pick on

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<v Speaker 2>the content from Israel. We want every content that was made.

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<v Speaker 2>We bring old content to the platform because we think

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<v Speaker 2>it still resonates with audiences. So we might have stuff

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<v Speaker 2>that are exclusively on our platform even though we don't

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<v Speaker 2>have an exclusivity deal for licensing it, But that doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>mean that are the other players in the space would

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<v Speaker 2>pick up that content for their reasons. So that's true.

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<v Speaker 2>Having said that, you would imagine when we did the

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<v Speaker 2>Google deal, I did take it exclusively to make a difference.

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<v Speaker 2>So there will be occasions where we'll think exclusivity is right.

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<v Speaker 2>But with Coogle, I don't think that we are limiting

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<v Speaker 2>the audience that can see it. We're building such a

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<v Speaker 2>big campaign to such a big audience. They will find it,

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<v Speaker 2>and it will find it is the end they will

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<v Speaker 2>find Google.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, let's of course talk about that. Google is the

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<v Speaker 1>prequel to Stistle, which was a show that obviously was

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<v Speaker 1>big in Israel itself on the Yes network and then

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<v Speaker 1>Netflix put it on its air worldwide where it got

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<v Speaker 1>a great international audience. How on earth were you able

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<v Speaker 1>to get this? I mean, I know you now currently

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<v Speaker 1>have the rights to the previous three seasons of Stissel,

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<v Speaker 1>That in itself is impressive. How on earth did you

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<v Speaker 1>do this?

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<v Speaker 2>If I can take you through the long story, I

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<v Speaker 2>think the first time was when when I heard the

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<v Speaker 2>news that Netflix is not going to continue their deal

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<v Speaker 2>with Sticel after third year. I think it was somewhere

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<v Speaker 2>in twenty twenty two. The producer of Stil Abutamiri, who

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<v Speaker 2>are now a fre mental company. As a good friend

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<v Speaker 2>from the TV days, we worked a lot together and

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<v Speaker 2>and I called him right away and I said, they

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<v Speaker 2>can't stop this brand just by deciding they don't want

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<v Speaker 2>to continue. We need to continue this brand. Let's think,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, how do we continue this? How do we spinoff?

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<v Speaker 2>And his reply was like I have something in mind,

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<v Speaker 2>and that's where it ended, and I let it go jump.

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<v Speaker 2>I think two years later I saw a short video

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<v Speaker 2>that Yes put out with Sassong Gabay talking about Google,

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<v Speaker 2>the new spin off series that they're doing for Yes.

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<v Speaker 1>I think they did interrupt you explain who Sassoon is.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh Sassong Gabbai, who is the lead actor in Stisil

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<v Speaker 2>and one of the acclaimed actors in Israel. He they

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<v Speaker 2>made a clip with him talking in Hebrew that they're

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<v Speaker 2>making this spinoff. Verstle called Kogo and I said, well

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<v Speaker 2>it happened. I was, you know, I thought it was

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<v Speaker 2>just a conversation that died two years ago. So I

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<v Speaker 2>called up my friend again. I said, what is this?

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<v Speaker 2>He told me, yeah, we filled this, We filmed it

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<v Speaker 2>in Belgium. And I said, that's good. But who's going

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<v Speaker 2>to pick it up? If Netflix said no to the brand,

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<v Speaker 2>would they pick up that the spinoff? Would their competitors

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<v Speaker 2>do it? And this was twenty twenty four. We're, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>in the hardest year of Israel through October seventh, And

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<v Speaker 2>I said, and we felt that, you know, they're they're

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<v Speaker 2>picking up content from Israel these days is not a thing.

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<v Speaker 2>And I said, you know what, put me in touch

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<v Speaker 2>with for Mental because we have to get this brand

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<v Speaker 2>out there to the world. We have to get it

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<v Speaker 2>out there quickly, not to let it you know, a

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<v Speaker 2>two year deal from now ors whatever. And started a

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<v Speaker 2>conversation with frementto. They also looked at me the same

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<v Speaker 2>way you just asked this question, how why would why

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<v Speaker 2>would a small streaming platform from Israel pick up you know,

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<v Speaker 2>a brand that's super strong, maybe the strongest brand that

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<v Speaker 2>came out of Israel. But luckily through conversation it took

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<v Speaker 2>a while I convinced them we are the right way

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<v Speaker 2>to go for the brand. We'll do everything for it,

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<v Speaker 2>We care about it. It's it's it's not a we're

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<v Speaker 2>not checking a box saying we have something from Israel

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<v Speaker 2>and uh, and we made it happen.

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<v Speaker 1>That's amazing. But to be clear, though, are you suggesting

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<v Speaker 1>that the appetite for the Stitle or Google brands were

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<v Speaker 1>diminished because of the cloud that had sort of built

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<v Speaker 1>up over any sort of Israeli programming, that Netflix or

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<v Speaker 1>other streaming services were loath to go to even successful

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<v Speaker 1>content because of a sort of brand issue around Israeli.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, you will have to ask them that question. But

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<v Speaker 2>I tell you what we feel, and you know, I

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<v Speaker 2>talk with all the producers and storytellers here in Israel

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<v Speaker 2>and creators. It's hard. It was. It was a hard

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<v Speaker 2>year and it's still not easy, not easy for for

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<v Speaker 2>for international conversations. Even though when they do have the

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<v Speaker 2>conversation with the executives, Uh, they like the Israeli content

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<v Speaker 2>and they like the brands. It's just decision making. And

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<v Speaker 2>that's why I thought we have to step up, and

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<v Speaker 2>I talk with you know, my partners and investors, says

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<v Speaker 2>this is this is our time. We have to do

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<v Speaker 2>this and make sure that Google, which at the time,

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<v Speaker 2>I didn't even watch an episode. I just nut believe said,

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<v Speaker 2>this is probably as good as Tisils, so we have

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<v Speaker 2>to make it uh a worldwide success. Now having watched

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<v Speaker 2>the series, you know doesn't fall short of this, so

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<v Speaker 2>maybe even better at some point. So so I think

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<v Speaker 2>this is this is this is the times we are,

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<v Speaker 2>This is where we need to step up. Israel has

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<v Speaker 2>to take care of Israel, and if that means we

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<v Speaker 2>need to you know, expedite Easy's growth, that's what we're

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<v Speaker 2>gonna do. And and and you know, Google is the

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<v Speaker 2>first stepping stone, and it's a big one.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, and we'll get back to the implications for the

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<v Speaker 1>Israeli TV business in a moment, but to be clear,

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<v Speaker 1>this represents a big opportunity for Easy and its growth, right.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, definitely. You know, when when I started exploring the

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<v Speaker 2>idea of you know, I was kind of dreaming, what

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<v Speaker 2>if I can get Google on Easy, I did a

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<v Speaker 2>small survey with our subscribers, not even you know, not

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<v Speaker 2>even telling anybody. I'll just send a question there and

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<v Speaker 2>we asked them a thousand subscribers, what did they if

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<v Speaker 2>they watched Kissel, if they watched it again on Eazy

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<v Speaker 2>would they watch a spin off if it was on

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<v Speaker 2>Easy And the results I got were like, you know this,

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<v Speaker 2>this is too good, this is we can't let this go.

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<v Speaker 2>And the funny thing is that the people Infrumental heard

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<v Speaker 2>about this questionnaire that I put out because I sent

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<v Speaker 2>it to subscribers, and probably some of the subscribers, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>our of our email list are here in Israel, and

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<v Speaker 2>the word got around and and the call I got was,

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<v Speaker 2>can you tell us the results of this survey that

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<v Speaker 2>you did? So they were very good. The results were

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<v Speaker 2>very good. So so I knew, you know, this is

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<v Speaker 2>this is a game changer. At least I felt it

0:14:52.400 --> 0:14:55.120
<v Speaker 2>could be a game changer. I believe, you know, even

0:14:55.160 --> 0:14:57.240
<v Speaker 2>though we don't know the numbers, we believe that over

0:14:57.280 --> 0:15:01.200
<v Speaker 2>a million people watched Netflix and watched Diesel on Netflix

0:15:01.640 --> 0:15:05.520
<v Speaker 2>all three seasons. We know they're diehard fans. You know,

0:15:06.040 --> 0:15:10.479
<v Speaker 2>there's two big series that they became big on on

0:15:10.480 --> 0:15:13.840
<v Speaker 2>on Netflix. It's Schiesel and Fouda. But we found the

0:15:13.880 --> 0:15:18.560
<v Speaker 2>connection the audience has with with Giesel. It is different.

0:15:18.680 --> 0:15:22.440
<v Speaker 2>I mean, I think they watch Fouda, but they feel sttl.

0:15:22.520 --> 0:15:26.000
<v Speaker 2>It's something about the storytelling. It's true that it's about

0:15:26.120 --> 0:15:29.520
<v Speaker 2>Orthodox Jews, but it's not. It's about family, it's about people,

0:15:30.040 --> 0:15:34.840
<v Speaker 2>and it's a very strong connection. So so it was

0:15:34.880 --> 0:15:37.080
<v Speaker 2>there that I thought, if we get it and start

0:15:37.120 --> 0:15:41.960
<v Speaker 2>telling people it's gonna be on Easy, we'll see they

0:15:42.200 --> 0:15:44.280
<v Speaker 2>they'll come. As they say, if you build it, they

0:15:44.320 --> 0:15:47.760
<v Speaker 2>will come. And and that's what happened. The minute, the

0:15:47.840 --> 0:15:52.200
<v Speaker 2>moment we started saying there's Google, It's it's the return

0:15:52.280 --> 0:15:56.160
<v Speaker 2>of the Thistles, it's gonna be on Easy, we started

0:15:56.160 --> 0:15:58.840
<v Speaker 2>to feel the hype, whether it's with people you know,

0:16:00.040 --> 0:16:06.680
<v Speaker 2>commenting on our advertising, signing up, you know, on the whole,

0:16:06.920 --> 0:16:09.680
<v Speaker 2>the whole range. But whatever you can expect with a.

0:16:09.680 --> 0:16:12.960
<v Speaker 1>Hit, got it. We'll be back in just a moment

0:16:13.080 --> 0:16:24.840
<v Speaker 1>with more with Nati Dinnar of Izzy. And we are

0:16:25.040 --> 0:16:29.600
<v Speaker 1>back with the co founder and CEO of the Israeli

0:16:29.760 --> 0:16:35.800
<v Speaker 1>streamer Izzy, Nati Dinnaru. Nati, I've read Izzy's mission statement,

0:16:36.040 --> 0:16:40.240
<v Speaker 1>which is to quote, enhance the world's relationship with Israel

0:16:40.320 --> 0:16:44.280
<v Speaker 1>through entertainment, help talent and find an audience in the

0:16:44.400 --> 0:16:48.480
<v Speaker 1>world end quote. So this is about more than just

0:16:48.680 --> 0:16:54.800
<v Speaker 1>you know, financial success. How do you go about fulfilling

0:16:54.920 --> 0:16:56.320
<v Speaker 1>such an ambitious mission?

0:16:58.520 --> 0:17:02.560
<v Speaker 2>That's a good question. I think the first step is

0:17:02.720 --> 0:17:07.199
<v Speaker 2>defining the mission and and it's exciting when it's a

0:17:07.280 --> 0:17:11.359
<v Speaker 2>very bold mission. H you know, she would pay us.

0:17:11.359 --> 0:17:15.080
<v Speaker 2>The late President of Israel I wrote a book called

0:17:15.119 --> 0:17:18.480
<v Speaker 2>There's no Room for Small Dreams. If you're going to

0:17:18.560 --> 0:17:21.479
<v Speaker 2>take on a mission, take a big mission. You know,

0:17:22.040 --> 0:17:25.240
<v Speaker 2>both it's the same work. But let's do something you know,

0:17:25.480 --> 0:17:27.800
<v Speaker 2>very big, successful. And I think this is very bald

0:17:27.880 --> 0:17:32.160
<v Speaker 2>to say this is what Israel needs. You know. Part

0:17:32.160 --> 0:17:35.119
<v Speaker 2>of my pitch is saying that if if Paris was alive,

0:17:35.200 --> 0:17:38.360
<v Speaker 2>we're alive today, this is probably what he would do

0:17:39.320 --> 0:17:41.399
<v Speaker 2>to make a change of how the world sees Israel.

0:17:41.520 --> 0:17:46.480
<v Speaker 2>You know, we feel that every day that that will

0:17:46.560 --> 0:17:49.400
<v Speaker 2>people see when they come here. It's not what they

0:17:49.480 --> 0:17:53.640
<v Speaker 2>see when they're not here, and and the only experience

0:17:53.720 --> 0:17:55.639
<v Speaker 2>they have to see Israel if they're not coming to

0:17:55.680 --> 0:17:59.840
<v Speaker 2>Israel is through media. It could be the internet, could

0:17:59.880 --> 0:18:04.679
<v Speaker 2>be news channels, it could be streaming. It's very hard

0:18:05.320 --> 0:18:08.439
<v Speaker 2>to compete in social and it's very hard to compete

0:18:08.440 --> 0:18:11.919
<v Speaker 2>in news. The whole world is you know, watching a Jazier.

0:18:12.000 --> 0:18:15.000
<v Speaker 2>It became a big success. Can we compete with that?

0:18:15.200 --> 0:18:17.919
<v Speaker 2>Can we you know through news try to tell a

0:18:17.960 --> 0:18:21.280
<v Speaker 2>different story. I believe that the best stories from Israel

0:18:21.400 --> 0:18:27.679
<v Speaker 2>coming in our our content creation, especially premium content. We

0:18:27.720 --> 0:18:31.240
<v Speaker 2>have great storytellers. It's been proven time and time again.

0:18:32.720 --> 0:18:36.320
<v Speaker 2>The only thing is we are dependent at this point

0:18:36.760 --> 0:18:42.080
<v Speaker 2>on you know, international platforms picking up content from us.

0:18:42.760 --> 0:18:45.719
<v Speaker 2>And I think if we're if we were independent in

0:18:45.720 --> 0:18:48.960
<v Speaker 2>its territory and say, you know, we have the platform,

0:18:49.320 --> 0:18:52.239
<v Speaker 2>let's just push all the content and then promote it

0:18:52.280 --> 0:18:55.359
<v Speaker 2>so people will come. You know, we have no no

0:18:56.320 --> 0:19:00.920
<v Speaker 2>barrier between us and the audience. And so I think

0:19:01.000 --> 0:19:03.680
<v Speaker 2>that's that's the ball mission I see in front of me.

0:19:04.240 --> 0:19:07.359
<v Speaker 2>But I always remind myself since I got out of

0:19:07.359 --> 0:19:10.960
<v Speaker 2>the you know, the Army, I had uh and and

0:19:11.840 --> 0:19:15.119
<v Speaker 2>playing a few years basketball professionally. When I started working

0:19:15.160 --> 0:19:17.760
<v Speaker 2>from Channel to in Israel, the commercial first commercial TV

0:19:17.800 --> 0:19:22.080
<v Speaker 2>station Israel, I was doing business. So that never I

0:19:22.119 --> 0:19:24.880
<v Speaker 2>never let that go. And I think when you challenge

0:19:24.880 --> 0:19:31.160
<v Speaker 2>yourself to do something important but make it a business

0:19:31.200 --> 0:19:35.120
<v Speaker 2>as well, that that's an exciting challenge. And I think

0:19:35.160 --> 0:19:39.480
<v Speaker 2>this is what we're doing with Izzy and and with

0:19:39.640 --> 0:19:42.080
<v Speaker 2>time I hope will make it, you know, successful and

0:19:42.200 --> 0:19:46.840
<v Speaker 2>prove that not only it fulfills the mission. It was fun,

0:19:47.040 --> 0:19:49.240
<v Speaker 2>you know, traveling this journey.

0:19:49.480 --> 0:19:54.080
<v Speaker 1>You're also fulfilling this mission through something called the Israel

0:19:54.320 --> 0:19:57.119
<v Speaker 1>Entertainment Fund. Tell us how that works.

0:19:57.920 --> 0:20:04.080
<v Speaker 2>Yes, well, probably early on when we started, as we said, okay, great,

0:20:04.160 --> 0:20:08.320
<v Speaker 2>we'll build this platform for Israeli content. But in order

0:20:08.440 --> 0:20:11.439
<v Speaker 2>to get the good content we want out there to

0:20:11.520 --> 0:20:14.359
<v Speaker 2>the world, we have to make sure that keeps going on.

0:20:14.680 --> 0:20:18.040
<v Speaker 2>And Israel in the past four years going through rough

0:20:18.080 --> 0:20:23.520
<v Speaker 2>times even before October seventh, of budgets being cut and

0:20:23.560 --> 0:20:27.199
<v Speaker 2>producing content. And when you cut the budget of a

0:20:27.240 --> 0:20:32.359
<v Speaker 2>TV show, usually the budget you cut is its chance

0:20:32.400 --> 0:20:36.080
<v Speaker 2>to compete globally. It's lowering the production value to a

0:20:36.200 --> 0:20:40.520
<v Speaker 2>level where it's hard for international executives to say I

0:20:40.640 --> 0:20:43.679
<v Speaker 2>want that, and for audience to feel they're watching, you know,

0:20:44.440 --> 0:20:48.800
<v Speaker 2>a feel competitive a TV show as they're watching from

0:20:48.840 --> 0:20:51.240
<v Speaker 2>other places in the world that the budgets are very high.

0:20:51.760 --> 0:20:55.680
<v Speaker 2>So the idea was, let's see if we can bring

0:20:55.760 --> 0:20:59.600
<v Speaker 2>support and bring money from people who care about Israel,

0:21:00.119 --> 0:21:04.199
<v Speaker 2>care about Israel storytelling, and set up a fund that

0:21:04.280 --> 0:21:07.879
<v Speaker 2>will co produce content. And that was the idea. It

0:21:07.920 --> 0:21:11.040
<v Speaker 2>took a long time until I managed to you know,

0:21:11.520 --> 0:21:15.360
<v Speaker 2>get the first funding for it, and that maybe did

0:21:15.640 --> 0:21:20.879
<v Speaker 2>change through October seventh, but but I did manage to

0:21:20.920 --> 0:21:27.679
<v Speaker 2>convince jennf you say to partner on this initiative and

0:21:27.800 --> 0:21:32.200
<v Speaker 2>commit to the first initial money. And we've already produced

0:21:34.480 --> 0:21:38.919
<v Speaker 2>one documentary series that we funded fifty and that's how

0:21:38.960 --> 0:21:42.720
<v Speaker 2>we fund the projects. The IF gives matches dollars a

0:21:42.760 --> 0:21:49.560
<v Speaker 2>dollar for Israelia TV stations or operators to fulfill their

0:21:50.880 --> 0:21:56.760
<v Speaker 2>goals and production. It's a documentary called Fighters. It follows

0:21:56.800 --> 0:22:00.280
<v Speaker 2>the soldiers who are wounded in the guy As a

0:22:00.320 --> 0:22:05.440
<v Speaker 2>war early on and follow their story, the rehabilitation and

0:22:05.480 --> 0:22:09.760
<v Speaker 2>how they are supported by their families and how resilience

0:22:09.880 --> 0:22:12.560
<v Speaker 2>they are about what they did and what they want

0:22:12.640 --> 0:22:17.720
<v Speaker 2>to do. Very very powerful. We're going to start distributing

0:22:17.800 --> 0:22:21.520
<v Speaker 2>this with a distribution company next month and hopefully get

0:22:21.520 --> 0:22:23.600
<v Speaker 2>it out there to the world. It is a different

0:22:24.280 --> 0:22:27.800
<v Speaker 2>point of view about the war that you will never see.

0:22:29.520 --> 0:22:33.760
<v Speaker 2>And we also got into a big drama again. It's

0:22:34.160 --> 0:22:40.240
<v Speaker 2>a five episode drama on October seventh about Israeli civilians

0:22:40.240 --> 0:22:43.720
<v Speaker 2>who saved lives in those twenty four to thirty hours

0:22:45.680 --> 0:22:50.159
<v Speaker 2>when the attack started. It's a very big production for

0:22:50.320 --> 0:22:56.000
<v Speaker 2>Israeli standards. Kesh It is one of the partners. We're

0:22:56.400 --> 0:22:58.760
<v Speaker 2>part of the funding with the Israel Entertainment Fund the

0:22:58.800 --> 0:23:05.359
<v Speaker 2>IF several investors from LA that are involved. Amongst them

0:23:05.440 --> 0:23:11.760
<v Speaker 2>is Laurence Bender, a big time film producer. So we're

0:23:11.880 --> 0:23:14.080
<v Speaker 2>very excited about that. Shooting is going to start this

0:23:14.200 --> 0:23:18.560
<v Speaker 2>March and with God's help, they'll be ready for October

0:23:18.640 --> 0:23:19.440
<v Speaker 2>twenty twenty five.

0:23:20.119 --> 0:23:23.520
<v Speaker 1>So it sounds like you're getting some real success finding

0:23:23.920 --> 0:23:30.280
<v Speaker 1>outside funding. In terms though, of changing hearts and minds

0:23:30.359 --> 0:23:35.880
<v Speaker 1>within the existing entertainment industry. Is that a.

0:23:35.840 --> 0:23:38.120
<v Speaker 2>Challenge international industry?

0:23:39.560 --> 0:23:42.639
<v Speaker 1>I would say both internationally and in Hollywood.

0:23:43.160 --> 0:23:47.920
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think again, I don't know if we can

0:23:47.960 --> 0:23:51.720
<v Speaker 2>really make a change quickly. These things say take time.

0:23:53.520 --> 0:23:55.520
<v Speaker 2>We assume that's going to take about two or three

0:23:55.600 --> 0:23:59.480
<v Speaker 2>years until we're back to where we were before, which

0:23:59.560 --> 0:24:02.000
<v Speaker 2>was not you know, the best place in the world.

0:24:02.000 --> 0:24:06.280
<v Speaker 2>But we had success and and you know, Hollywood was

0:24:06.320 --> 0:24:10.560
<v Speaker 2>interested and Israeli storytelling and didn't shy away from that.

0:24:12.080 --> 0:24:14.879
<v Speaker 2>Now they kind of are things need to go back

0:24:15.560 --> 0:24:18.479
<v Speaker 2>or fall into place until things get back, That's why

0:24:20.119 --> 0:24:25.520
<v Speaker 2>we have an obligation to fulfill that void, at least

0:24:25.560 --> 0:24:27.960
<v Speaker 2>for these two three years. I see it as a

0:24:28.000 --> 0:24:31.760
<v Speaker 2>big opportunity for is It. But but that's something we

0:24:31.800 --> 0:24:34.359
<v Speaker 2>need to do and I can't tell you that there's

0:24:34.400 --> 0:24:41.880
<v Speaker 2>a change yet. I think Israel still feeling that people

0:24:41.880 --> 0:24:46.600
<v Speaker 2>are people are on the fence, and so it will

0:24:46.640 --> 0:24:49.360
<v Speaker 2>it will take time. And maybe you know, if we

0:24:49.400 --> 0:24:53.240
<v Speaker 2>do good work and bring more content there, that can

0:24:53.320 --> 0:24:58.760
<v Speaker 2>also speed up how quickly the Netflix, the Apple, et

0:24:58.840 --> 0:25:01.680
<v Speaker 2>cetera come back into the game, and you know showcase

0:25:01.760 --> 0:25:02.520
<v Speaker 2>Israeli content.

0:25:03.240 --> 0:25:05.760
<v Speaker 1>Well, I wish you luck with that. I wish you

0:25:05.880 --> 0:25:09.320
<v Speaker 1>luck as well with Kogel, which is obviously going to

0:25:09.320 --> 0:25:13.199
<v Speaker 1>be transformative for the Izzy business. Nati Dinar, thank you

0:25:13.280 --> 0:25:14.879
<v Speaker 1>for coming on Strictly Business.

0:25:15.119 --> 0:25:16.919
<v Speaker 2>Thank you very much, Thank you for having me.

0:25:20.840 --> 0:25:23.760
<v Speaker 1>Thanks for listening. Be sure to leave us a review

0:25:23.920 --> 0:25:27.520
<v Speaker 1>at Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. We love to hear

0:25:27.560 --> 0:25:30.680
<v Speaker 1>from listeners. Please go to Variety dot com and sign

0:25:30.800 --> 0:25:34.760
<v Speaker 1>up for the free weekly Strictly Business newsletter, and don't

0:25:34.800 --> 0:25:38.320
<v Speaker 1>forget to tune in next week for another episode of

0:25:38.400 --> 0:25:39.320
<v Speaker 1>Strictly Business.