June 2017

Los Angeles, CA (June 27, 2017) Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) held an event at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles which brought the who’s who of the entertainment industry together in celebration of the power of music to build bridges for peace. The Frontman of Grammy nominated Warner Bros band Disturbed and CCFP member, David Draiman, performed his Grammy nominated cover of “The Sound of Silence.” Warner Bros. Records sponsored the event with co-hosts Evan Lamberg, President of N. America Universal Publishing and CCFP Advisory Board members Neil Jacobson, President of Geffen Records; Zach Katz, President Repertoire & Marketing, BMG; Rick Krim, Co-President of Sony/ATV Publishing; David Lonner, CEO of Oasis Media Group; and David Renzer, chairman of Spirit Music Group.  

Guests included Chairman and Chief Executive of Warner Bros. Records Cameron Strang, President of Shout Factory, Bob Emmer, leading Entertainment Attorney’s David Byrnes, Jeffrey Light,  Craig Emanuel,  Aton Ben Horin from Warner Bros/ Atlantic Records, and film producer Howard Rosenman, as well as executives from Variety, Warner Bros, and many others.

After his performance, David Draiman urged his colleagues to continue their efforts to make sure music is never silenced: “I encourage each one of you to support the exchanging of ideas, culturally, spiritually, philosophically and politically with everyone on the face of this planet.” He went on, “Let’s teach ourselves how to build those bridges of peace.”

Consul General of Israel Sam Grundwerg shared a special message of the importance of music and the arts in bringing people together.

At the event’s conclusion, guests were given a private viewing and tour of Paul Simon Words & Music, an exhibit organized by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum.  

Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) is an organization comprised of prominent members of the entertainment industry who promote the arts as a means to peace, support artistic freedom, and counter the cultural boycott of Israel. We understand the power that our music, our films, our television shows, and all arts have. We encourage artists to participate, rather than to shun, to express rather than to suppress. If anything, turn up the music, expose our art to wider audiences, and encourage people from all cultures to interact, communicate and inspire peace and understanding. Don’t Boycott. Build Bridges. Instill Hope. Create a Better Future.

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Photo by Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons.

 

In the recently released Warner Bros. film “Wonder Woman,” Diana learns about the evil that can live inside women and men, an evil that can push us to hatred and war. For a brief moment, she even has to wonder whether or not people are worth saving at all.

This past week, as we watched the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign sink to a new low, how could we not ask ourselves the same question? After applying sustained pressure, activists associated with this movement of hatred and propaganda successfully forced the governments of Lebanon and Tunisia to ban the screening of “Wonder Woman” in their countries. Why? Simply because its star — Gal Gadot — is from Israel.

We at Creative Community For Peace (CCFP) condemn in the strongest terms this blatant example of discrimination and political censorship. The arts should be used as a way to promote dialogue and build bridges for peace, yet BDS is using it as a pawn in their dangerous game of division.

BDS is not, despite what its activists would have one believe….

Read the rest of the piece HERE.

Swiss actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer has been falsely accused of withdrawing from the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival in support of the boycott of Israel when in reality she had a scheduling conflict. Jasna has a deep love for Israel and its people, and she was thrilled to be coming to Tel Aviv for the festival.

She expressed her profound disappointment when notifying the festival organizers of her need to withdraw her participation. We wish her the best of luck on her current and future projects and hope to see her in Israel soon.