A Special Review From the Charleston Premier
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Film Trailer
The Experts
Top academics and authors in the field of Jewish history from around the nation contributed to This Happy Land.
The Images
Over 12,000 breathtaking images were painstakingly created to tell the documentary story. This cinematic feat was accomplished through the skill of the artist, made possible through advancements in artificial intelligence.
A few of these images appear below (click left and right arrows)
This Happy Land aims to illuminate the unique and profound experiences of Jews in America. Through interviews and stunning visuals, we weave a documentary that not only informs but also inspires empathy and understanding. Join us as we bring these powerful stories to life and celebrate the diversity within our communities.
Episode 1:
The Origin Story:
Diasporia and Settlement
Episode 2:
Finding Acceptance
Episode 3:
War Comes to Our Happy Land
Click arrow for images
Credits
Key Personel
R. Michael Givens — Producer, Director, Writer, Editor
Jack Schewel — Executive Producer
Joel Hatch — Line Producer
Nona Jedelle Cook — Production Manager
Gerrit Wunder — Composer
Miles Garrett — Cinematographer
Voiceover artists:
John Quick
Sharon Speer
Robert hatch
Nona Jedelle Cook
R. Michael Givens
AI Artists:
David Villalva
Jose’ Bermejo Villar
Mark Isle
Luis A. Riancho
Julie Wieland
R. Michael Givens
Expert Credits
Hasai Diner
Professor Emerita, New York University
Paul Gottfried
Raffensperger Professor of Humanities, Emeritus, Elizabethtown College | Editor, Chronicles Magazine
Harlan Greene
Scholar in Residence, Addelstone Library, College of Charleston
Jeffrey S. Gurock
Libby M. Klappsrman Professor of Jewish history, Yeshiva University
Kenneth Hoffman
Executive Director, Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
Deborah Lamensdorf Jacobs
Board Member, Museum Southern Jewish Experience | Fifth Generation from the Mississippi Delta
Michal S. Kogan, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Department of Philosophy and Religion,
Montclair State University | Author of Opening the Covenant: A Jewish Theology of Christianity (Oxford University Press)
Robert Marcus
Historian and Filmmaker
Ivan Millender
Attorney and Historian
Lewis (“Reg”) Regenstien
Atlanta-based Writer and Author
Robert Rosen
Author of "The Jewish Confederates"
Dale Rosengarten
Historian and curator, emerita, Special Collections, College of Charleston | Curator and co-author, A Portion of the People: 300 Years of Southern Jewish Life
Jonathan D. Sama
University Professor and Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University | Author of: American Judaism: A History
Jay Tanenbaum
Chair, Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
Rabbi Eric B. Wisnia
Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beth Chaim, 1977—2019 | Past President, Mercer County Board of Rabbis
Dr. Gary P. Zola
Professor of the American Jewish Experience | Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati
R. Michael Givens
Writer | Producer | Director | Editor Cinematographer
R. Michael Givens is a multifaceted creative force whose career spans over four decades of achievement as a director, cinematographer, writer, producer, and acting coach. A graduate
of the renowned Brooks Institute of Photography, he began in fashion and music photography before transitioning into film, where his mastery of visual storytelling has earned international acclaim. He became the trusted cinematographer of choice
for legendary directors like Sir Ridley Scott and Stephen Frears, admired for a visual sensibility often compared to the artistry of Rembrandt and Caravaggio—classic, emotive, and richly
cinematic.
Givens has contributed to more than 70 feature films and over 1,000 commercials, known for transforming the human form into a canvas of raw emotion and elegance. His multi-sensory
approach fuses light, colour, movement, and sound to create immersive experiences that resonate long after the screen fades to black.
Beyond the lens, Givens has pioneered a groundbreaking approach to actor training by integrating hypnosis with Method Acting. Known as "The Hypnotist to the Stars," he has coached actors for over 20 years, helping them unlock deep emotional truths. Drawing from Lee Strasberg’s teachings and an obscure Russian identification technique, he developed a method that accesses the subconscious, resulting in honest and intense performances. His work has reshaped the craft of acting for hundreds of performers around the globe.
Always pushing boundaries, Givens also explores emerging technologies such as AI-generated imagery and virtual reality. He created over 12,000 original AI images for THIS HAPPY LAND, merging art history with digital innovation to present a vivid and emotionally layered narrative. As an ambassador for Blackmagic cameras and DaVinci Resolve, he remains at the forefront of cinematic technology, continually evolving with the tools that shape visual storytelling.
Whether capturing the resilience of the human spirit on screen or guiding actors to transformative performances, Givens believes in cinema’s power to inspire, enlighten, and unite. His legacy is one of relentless creativity, artistic integrity, and a profound belief in the
storytelling potential of film.
