A 19-port television series recounting the history of Zionism will be broadcast on Israel television beginning Jan. 6, it was announced today. According to officials of the Israel Broadcasting Authority, it is the largest television production ever undertaken in the country.
Titled “The Pillar of Fire,” the series was three years in the making and cost $1 million. The TV officials said this was a ridiculous sum in international terms, noting that one episode of the American series “Charlie’s Angels” costs $600,000. The Israeli series was made without financial assistance from any institution. “It will fill a vacuum,” said Yigal Lassin, chief editor of the series.
The producers accumulated hundreds of interviews throughout the world and documentary material was gathered in many countries. As a result, they said, Israel will have the largest film archive on Judaica in the world.
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