ShaBot ShaBlog

Happy 60th

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:48:00 +0000

Star-studded Hallelujah finale at the Radio City Music Hall

Last night I attended the Yom Ha'atzmaut Israel's 60th Anniversary Celebration at the Radio City Music Hall with my friends (thanks, Lindsay!). It was my first time in Radio City, and the show was really spectacular. An impressive lineup of Jewish and Israeli musicians, including Matisyahu, Idan Raichel, David Broza, Rami Kleinstein, John Zorn, and my favorite acts of the evening, Habanot Nechama and Yael Naim who performed her hit, "New Soul", made popular in the Apple MacBook Air commercials, as well as her cover of Brittany Spears' "Toxic". In addition to these wonderful musical acts, we were treated to special appearances by guest hosts Natalie Portman, Governor (and genetically Jewish!) of New York David Paterson, Paul Schaffer and Richard Belzer.

Alicia Post and Lindsay Litowitz share post-show shots

Esther K. and Doree Lewak descend at Radio City Music Hall

Steven I. Weiss finds his audience for The Jewish Channel in front of Radio City Music Hall

After the show, which ran past midnight, many of us ended up at Tavern on the Green for the Dor Chadash Yom Ha'atzmaut bash. I think every young Jew in New York was there, it was an impressive party!

Jewish Robot flanked by his Israel Girls, Lindsay and Sydney

More photos on Facebook

Remembering Dave

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:33:00 +0000

Gabby Sirner and Lindsay Litowitz remember Dave

Last week I attended a memorial at the Australian in midtown Manhattan for Dave Burnett, my Australian friend who died in a landslide accident in Petra in January. I met Dave at the ROI120 conference in Jerusalem in the summer of 2006, and I remember how charismatic and funny he was, and how I was surprised I was to learn that he was the youngest participant, because he was so confident and outspoken. I'll be returning to the ROI120 Summit again next month, where many of Dave's friends will be gathering, and it won't be the same without him.

Sydney Henning and Esther K. share a bittersweet moment

Aryeh signs the guest book

Tagging Michael Findling ... because that's what Dave would have wanted

Matzah Response

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:56:00 +0000

I would have approved this creative short as an official Video Response to our "20 Things To Do With Matzah" video, but it would scare my niece Lola if she saw it.

Honorable Mention

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:23:00 +0000

After just a few days online, our "20 Things To Do With Matzah" Passover music video is definitely making the rounds: It was a featured Viral Video Hit on Yahoo! Video and even made it to the main Yahoo.com home page, bringing in over 120,000 views to date. And on YouTube, with about 90,000 views, the video has received the honor of being the #40 Most Viewed Music Video This Week (#49 Most Viewed in Canada, and #78 in Australia).

You can also find mention of the Matzah Song in The Jewish Daily Forward, YNet News, and CNET News.com!

Matzah MIA!

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:36:00 +0000

According to an article in the New York Times, there is a nationwide shortage of matzah this Passover, especially on the West Coast! Maybe it's because Michelle and I used all of it for our music video?

Also reported on News.com, where they also linked to our video, "clearly made in anticipation of a more plentiful matzah environment".

Product Placement

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:36:00 +0000

Looks like Michelle and I aren't the only ones doing product placement for matzah in YouTube videos. Beating us to the punch by a day, the young comedy duo Eric and Ben posted this hilarious take on advertising and product placement approximately 24 hours before we announced our own "20 Things To Do With Matzah" music video. Their video, Advertisements, which features Matzo Meal (repeatedly described as "Jewlicious!") in the form of subtle product placement, is just one of many entertaining shorts produced by the talented pair. I think these kids are going to be famous one day.

And when Passover is over, be sure to check out their chametz short, "Bagels".

20 Things To Do With Matzah

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:54:00 +0000

Passover's over, and wouldn't it be neat
If you could use all the matzah ... that you didn't eat?

I am pleased to present "20 Things To Do With Matzah", the new Post-Passover music video I produced with Michelle Citrin, a.k.a. Rosh Hashanah Girl! We're just a couple of crazy matzah-eating kids who grew up on Streit's Matzos for Pesach, so when Streit's learned we were making a video for the holiday, they were more than happy to give us 35 boxes of the stuff to use in our video.

Music and Lyrics by me and Michelle Citrin, video editing by Simon, and camerawork by Jesse Epstein.

Like the tight tees we wore in the video? You can get them at PopJudaica.com

Lyrics and more at MatzahSong.com

Also available on Facebook, MySpace, and Yahoo! Video

Chag Sameach!

Let My People Vote

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:05:00 +0000

Back in January you may have seen the promotional video I did for Taglit Birthright Israel's "Let My Parents Go" video contest, in which the winners' parents get a trip to Israel. Now the finalists have been chosen, and you can vote on your favorite videos to help decide whose parents win the trip.

So take a look at these great videos and vote today!

Speaking in FutureTense

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:24:00 +0000

PresenTense founder Ariel Beery, Daniel Cipriani of AZM, and discussion moderator Todd Schechter

On Sunday, PresenTense Magazine hosted a roundtable discussion FutureTense on Culture for Jewish artists, raising questions about innovation, changes in cultural events and productions, and the future of the Jewish cultural space. One dominating theme was "Is it good for the Jews?" Aryeh "Jewster" Goldsmith explained that it depends on your perspective, which is so true that we had nothing left to discuss, so we all went home.

Guest speaker and rocker Naomi Less, Maya Wainhaus, Cool Jew author Lisa Alcalay Klug, and guest presenter, Leslie Ginsparg of Girls Night On

Jewish Robot and Alana Shultz

Aryeh "Jewster" Goldsmith answers "It depends who you ask" when Stacey Menchel asked if it was good for the Jews.

More photos of the FutureTense meeting on Facebook

Join the Seda' Club

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:43:00 +0000

My animated Shabot Passover special "Seda' Club" is now easier to share and embed on your blog than ever. It's available on YouTube, as well as MySpace and Facebook.

Seth's Bar Mitzvah

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:47:00 +0000

On September 4, 1993, Seth became a man. And his family became a legend.

Shabot Spotted

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:03:00 +0000

L to R: Ariel Beery, Skye, Kyle, Jewish Robot, and Vanessa

Yesterday I met with PresenTense Magazine founder and friend, Ariel Beery, during one of his rare social visits to Brooklyn. Always making connections, Beery stepped outside the Tea Lounge on 10th St. briefly to take a call. When he happened to mention to his acquaintance on the phone that he was in Park Slope with the creator of Shabot 6000, an unsuspecting young fan who was sitting outside with her friends perked up. That's how I met local uber-fan Skye and her friends Kyle and Vanessa. Getting recognized for my relatively obscure comic strip doesn't happen often ... thanks for making my day!

Share Shushan Shabot

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:43:00 +0000

Now you can share the Shushan Shabot Purim cartoon with your friends on YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook!

Shabot Sunday Strip

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 01:42:00 +0000

My friends at PresenTense Magazine have done it again, and released Issue 4 to the public. I am pleased to have a special "Sunday Strip" style Shabot comic — complete with color and longer format — featured as the "Shabot Spot" on page 32.

Click on the image to see the full comic strip, which is about Jews on Facebook. While you're at it, become a Facebook Fan of Shabot, too!

Let Their Parents Go!

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:09:00 +0000

Last month I produced a promotional video for Taglit-Birthright Israel's Let My Parents Go contest, in which past participants submit their own videos explaining why their parents should win a trip to Israel. Here are some of the latest entries:

Emily Shelton clowns around with her family.

Rivka and Mati, full of Jewish guilt

Jessica and Hollie put on a Miss Jewmerica pageant.

The Brooke Schneider Chronicles

Good luck to all participants!

Let My Parents Go!

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:11:00 +0000

Attention Birthright Israel alumni: Do you wish your parents could experience Israel the way you did? Now is your chance. Enter the Taglit-Birthright Israel "Let My Parents Go" video contest, and your parents might win a free trip to Israel!

This is the promotional video I produced for Taglit-Birthright Israel, to encourage Birthright alumni to participate in the contest. It was by far the most fun project I've worked on so far, having my friends with me in front of and behind the camera. I even rented a green screen and professional lighting to make the Israel scenes possible.

Cast and Crew in front of the green screen: "Daddy-O" Meir Taub, "Ema" Esther Kustanowitz, and camerawoman Lindsay Litowitz

When I wasn't in front of the camera, I was playing the role of teleprompter.

Cast:
Josh - William Levin
Mom - Esther Kustanowitz
Dad - Meir Taub
Nice Jewish Girl - Michelle Citrin
Dog - Cooper

Camerawork by Lindsay Litowitz
Edited by Simon Weaver at Snip-Snip

Written and directed by William Levin

"Home" by Shi 360
other music by William Levin

Special thanks to Paul Barnett for the use of his apartment, and Ariel Beery for Israel background video footage.

Produced by JewishRobot

Dave Burnett

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:48:00 +0000

Dave Burnett, 1985-2008
Fellow ROI120 and Leading Up North participant and friend, Dave Burnett, 22, of Sydney, Australia, died in a landslide accident in Jordan yesterday. Dave was a really funny guy, and professed to be my biggest fan. I'm glad I got to know Dave!

Standard News

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:08:00 +0000

We made our mark in 2007! "I Gotta' Love You Rosh Hashanah", the music video I produced together with Michelle "Rosh Hashanah Girl" Citrin for Taglit-birthright israel, made it on the New Jersey Jewish Standard list of Newsmakers of 2007:

Amber Lee Ettinger’s "Obama Girl," a tribute to Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama, was already a parody of music videos about unrequited love. But Will Levin and Michelle Citrin decided the genre needed a little Yiddishkeit. [..] As for the future, Citrin says more Jewish videos "are in the making. Expect more."

Looking forward to making more music and videos with Michelle in the new year!

Heebonism 2007

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:29:00 +0000

Heebonism New York will take place at the Knitting Factory and start with an hour-long open bar from 9:00-10 p.m. The 21+ blowout will feature live sets by Original Hamster, Terry Diabolik (Finger on the Pulse), June D (White Dove) and DJ Krowd Pleezr, Christmas Carol Karaoke, "Strip Dreidel" led by Kinkyjews.com and all sorts of other Semitic salaciousness.

The event runs from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. (open bar courtesy of LinLin Vodka for the first hour) and will be held at the Knitting Factory (74 Leonard Street, New York, NY). Tickets are $20 in advance ( Knittingfactory.com) or $25 at the door. (The event is 21+)

BOTRO

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:29:00 +0000

Move over, Shabot? Max Miller of Columbia, Maryland, sent me this picture of BOTRO, a Jewish robot that his father drew for him in the mid 1960s. Way ahead of his time!

The Hanukkah in NYC Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:56:00 +0000

Shabot fan Stephanie from IntoTheBox.tv submitted this video blog episode, The Hanukkah in NYC Real Estate, about a new synagogue being built in Lincoln Square. Lincoln Square Synagogue will be the first new temple build in NYC in decades.

The Nightmare Before Hanukkah

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 07:14:00 +0000

I found this odd video last year but saved it for Hanukkah time. It's no Todd and God or 8 Nights of Hanukkah, but consider it your gift for the first night!

Shabot on Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:32:00 +0000

Keeping up with the times, Shabot 6000 now has a page on Facebook! If you are a member of Facebook (if you're not, come out from under that rock and sign up!), you can receive news and updates about the cartoons, discuss the comics with fellow Shaboteers, and get to know the cartoonist (me) by becoming a Fan of Shabot 6000.

And, as an added bonus, now you can view the latest Shabot 6000 comic strip right in your Facebook profile! Just add the Shabot 6000 Facebook application, developed by friend Meir Taub, to your Facebook account and new comics will appear in your profile as they are released weekly.

So join the fun and become a Shabot 6000 Facebook Fan today!

The Adventures of Todd and God

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 07:50:00 +0000

Ladies and gentlemensches, I am pleased to present The Adventures of Todd and God, a new educational cartoon I developed for MyJewishLearning.com. This first episode is a Hanukkah special on how to light the menorah, and if all goes well, hopefully we can develop Todd and God into a series. So please share with your friends and let MyJewishLearning.com know what you think!

All art, animation, voices, sound design, and theme song by William Levin of JewishRobot.com. Special thanks to Daniel Septimus of MyJewishLearning.com for entrusting me with this project, and buddy Berger Boy for helping me brainstorm!

Visit Todd and God at their special home at ToddAndGod.com

Hammy Hanukkah

noreply@blogger.com (William Levin) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:46:00 +0000

Jones Soda has released a new series of limited-edition holiday soda flavors, available in Christmas and Hanukkah packs. The Hanukkah pack includes Latke Soda, Apple Sauce Soda, Chocolate Coins Soda and Jelly Doughnut Soda, while the Christmas pack includes such holiday favorites as Christmas Tree Soda, Egg Nog Soda, Sugar Plum Soda, and my favorite, Christmas Ham Soda! And the good news is it's all kosher, even the ham soda, so you can enjoy the refreshing taste of ham with no guilt! I might try mixing the Christmas Ham Soda with the Hanukkah Apple Sauce Soda so I can get a taste of Peter Brady's favorite "pork chops and apple sauce".