The rumours are true! Jason has filmed another independent filmed called "Man of God". It was originally known as "Rabbi".
From Hollywood.com
Rabbi
Synopsis: A middle-aged rabbi has his faith shaken by a series of events that includes an affair and being stalked by a hate group.
Statistics
Genre(s): Drama
Distributor(s): Not available
Theatrical Release: Not available
Video Release: Not available
Cast & Role
Peter Weller Rabbi
Nikki Reed
Omar Benson Miller Michael
Rachel Miner
Court Young
Jason Behr
Crew & Credit
Jefery Levy Director
Jefery Levy Producer
Jefery Levy Screenplay
Full Version: "Man of God"
From The LA Times
Bonding: $400 a bottle
Nothing brings men together like the chance to share one another’s company — and wine cellar. On this night, director Jefery Levy and his pals taste their way through world-famous Australian wines.
By Kathryn Harris, Special to The Times
Consider it more than a coincidence. Two identical silver Mercedes SL 55 AMGs sit side by side in the Zen-inspired courtyard of Jefery Levy's glass and steel 1960s house in Laurel Canyon. One belongs to Levy, a collector of rare wines, the other to Japanese chef Kazu, the proprietor of an eponymous gem of a restaurant on Ventura Boulevard. Great connoisseurs think alike.
Tonight, Kazu's formidable culinary skills will complement Levy's equally formidable collection of one of the world's most coveted wines — Australia's Penfolds Grange — that has taken him nearly a decade to assemble.
Levy, a screenwriter and director ("Inside Monkey Zetterland" and "S.F.W.") is host to about three wine tastings a year, events he's dubbed "guys' nights." They typically involve a dozen or so men, a couple of bottles of outrageously good whites followed by some serious reds, steak supplied by Harvey Gus, the butcher who services Spago and Campanile, and chasers of Cuban cigars. Levy's wife, Pamela Skaist Levy, co-founder of the casual fashion house Juicy Couture, usually takes refuge upstairs.
"There's a core group, a finite number of wine collectors in L.A.," says Levy, listing among them a few of his guests: TV and movie producer Stephen Gelber (CBS' "Fargo"); writer-producer-director James Orr ("Father of the Bride"); cinematographer John Schwartzman ("Seabiscuit"), nephew of director and vintner Francis Ford Coppola; and the former chairman of Capitol-EMI Joe Smith, who's a member of L.A.'s oldest ongoing wine group, WOW (Wines of the World).
Despite the sophisticated, often rarefied context, a gentlemen's wine tasting is not that far removed from a spectator sports gathering, inspiring the same raucous enthusiasm as a slam dunk by Shaq or a home run by Shawn Green.
"It can be a more cerebral and solitary pastime but it's also a sensual and visceral experience. Girls fetishize clothing and shoes. Wine is a more immediate form of gratification for guys," says Levy. At the moment, however, he is enjoying no such immediate gratification, being far too preoccupied with inspecting 500 rented goblets and flutes set out on the two interior courtyards that are part of his H-shaped abode.
With the help of Smith's son Jeff, who designs wine cellars, Levy tackles the tedious business of labeling each glass according to the vintage that will be sipped therein.
Tonight is Levy's most extravagant production to date, a vertical tasting of the iconic Aussie Penfolds wines — Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay from 1995 through 2000, then the extraordinary Penfolds Grange from 1990 through 1998. When the '98 (described as "absolute perfection" by critic Robert Parker) was released in May 2003, collectors bought up the fewer than 9,000 cases in a frenzied rush. Within a month, the price shot up to more than $400 a bottle.
Levy's home, built by an obscure industrial architect, Boulder Thorgusson, looks primed for the occasion. Shrouded by greenery, it seems purposely hidden from casual passersby. Once inside, however, the open-plan structure — in keeping with the era in which it was built — has a striking, though hardly private, visual flow.
Constructed almost exclusively of glass with wood and steel support beams, the house affords unobstructed views from room to room — an effect akin to viewing a split-screen TV.
From the courtyard deck, Levy and Smith have a straight view into the kitchen, where chef Kazu is wielding a perilous sashimi knife. "I haven't cut myself in some years," he assures as he slivers monkfish liver, or ankimo, a traditional Japanese appetizer.
The two men also have a perfect sightline into the living room, separated from the kitchen by a granite-and-wood cocktail bar. Matt Lane, a wine expert from Penfolds, is decompressing on the white leather Minotti sofa, but from time to time he peruses notes from Parker's reviews, which granted Grange's '98 a near perfect 99 rating, one echoed by the other unparalleled arbiter, the Wine Spectator.
"There are only a handful of Grange collections such as Jef's, and to open his private cellar like this is unique," says Lane, who has brought with him a bottle of Great Grandfather, the tawny port that Penfolds' founder, an English doctor, originally made for medicinal purposes.
Later in the evening, Gelber seconds Lane's assessment of Levy's magnanimous gesture. "The compulsion to own something that is very rare yet can be consumed drives many into the game of hoarding collectible trophy wines," he explains. "Sometimes that very compulsion precludes sharing, or even drinking their treasures. I derive the greatest pleasures in sharing my wines with family and friends. Wine opens your senses and gives you a greater appreciation of other exquisite and ephemeral things."
As a couple, the Levys throw more traditional dinner parties, with takeout from some of their favorite restaurants — India's Oven, the Ivy and Ca'Brea. Tonight, Pamela is off to a movie theater with her business partner, Gela Nash Taylor, and costume designer Susan Becker. Taylor's husband, John Taylor, drummer for Duran Duran, and Susan's husband, Harold Becker, director of such movies as "Domestic Disturbance" and "Sea of Love," will be at Levy's tasting.
Levy is left to see to the intricate preparation of this mother-of-all guys' nights, and he's had the foresight to hire servers along with Kazu and his trusty staff. Twenty-plus friends are expected, a concoction of regular connoisseurs with a few neophytes and a handful of actors such as Stephen Dorff and Robert Davi thrown in for good measure. "Whomever I'm working with at the time," explains Levy. He's just wrapped the indie film "Man of God," starring Peter Weller and Nikki Reed ("Thirteen"), which he hopes to premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September. (Levy's first film, "Drive," won the International Critics Award at the 1991 festival, and his third, "S.F.W." was in the competition at the 1995 festival.)
Levy disappears upstairs to change and returns wearing the same black jeans and short-sleeve shirt. "I was going to put on a suit, but I have too much work to do," he says cheerfully.
He has already spent the day running to the Beverly Hills Cheese Store and to his humidor at the Grand Havana Room, and he's decanted the wines twice. They've now been open 24 hours, something that normal wines wouldn't tolerate. "These wines are so big you can't get your arms around them. They have to be open that long," Jeff Smith explains.
The house is now aglow like a glamorous light box, with the lap pool glistening in the distance. Guests start to amble in. "I called it for 7 but you know how people can be in L.A," says Levy, putting Miles Davis on the CD player. Pretty soon the house is awash in men tricked out in what must be the guys' night regulation attire — dark slacks, black turtleneck and black leather jacket. A few others have broken rank and donned slick suits and ties. In general, though, says Levy, "a taste for fine wine frequently does not go hand in hand with good fashion sense. In fact, quite the opposite."
Despite his casual dress this evening, it's clear from the haute Modernist decor he favors that Levy also knows furniture designers as well as he knows vintners. In the living room sit two midcentury classics: a Mies van der Rohe daybed and Corbusier chaise longue in pony hide.
The men seat themselves in Lucite chairs at the huge Lucite dining table, both custom-designed. Latecomers — primarily the less experienced enthusiasts — are relegated to the adjoining living room.
"The mix of guests is important even for a wine dinner which is all guys," says Levy. "It's boring if everyone is in the same business. I like people like Robert Uhl, an SEC litigator — he had a good year — or Brian Schuster, an entrepreneurial investor, to be part of my world. It's also great to have a mix of ages. I find older men [particularly] interesting."
Levy's bonhomie and excitement, only mildly tempered by a reverence for the wines, infects the room that's now filled with men who are bonded in their singular pursuit of perfection in a bottle.
A 1989 and 1990 Chateau d'Yquem are served, trailed by the ankimo, now fully dressed with ponzu jelly and caviar. Conversation focuses on the fluid matter at hand, peppered with anecdotes and good-humored jibing.
"At a certain point there just aren't that many things left that you can go ape about," says Uhl, perched rather unceremoniously on a white leather Mies van der Rohe stool, pitched too low for the dining table.
Thinly sliced bluefin tuna and kanpachi crowned with arugula sprouts, pine nuts and pinker than pink peppercorns, and a tenderly warmed salad of king crab, are served with Yattarna. There are now half a dozen glasses in procession in front of each guest, except Orr, who seems to discriminate against whites. "Save your livers for the reds," he counsels. Dorff, whose good looks are rendered null and void under a baseball cap, concurs.
Actress Gina Gershon, the honorary female guy of the evening — Levy likes to invite just one, just for fun — makes an entrance, straight from doing a Catwoman voice-over for a new "Batman" series, and joins several men in the living room. Levy's 3-year-old son, Noah, who has been watching a movie with his Juicy Couture-clad nannies, wanders in. "He's in training," quips his father, as Noah yawns and promptly returns to his bedroom.
The whites make way for the reds, praised for being among the most exotic and concentrated on earth. Toro tartare — the buttery section of the bluefin tuna finely chopped, redolent with creamy wasabi sauce and three kinds of caviar — is served, followed by a combination of flamed cooked Washu-gyu (American Kobe beef), more Toro and freshwater eel atop sushi rice.
There are appreciative murmurs, showy swirlings of glasses and attempts to coin the most accurate aroma identification. Arcane insider terms "printer's ink," "saddle shoes," and perhaps the best, "Sophia Loren," are bandied about in a bid to nail these larger-than-life wines. And — this being a testosterone-fueled occasion — the competitive urge is spent determining which wine is best. The '98, which happens to contain the highest alcohol level (14.5%) in the wine's history, wins hands down.
Even Becker, who earlier seemed a tad blasé, is now thoroughly swept up in the mystique, while Taylor, who hasn't touched alcohol in years, retains some perspective. "I'm here for the company," he says, downing Rouge Bourbon, a Parisian tea. "I'm sick of Diet Coke, so I'm always looking for something with a bit of kick — especially when the drinkers start to take off."
Levy is starting to look a little harried, tromping a well-worn path between the kitchen and reception rooms. "Sometimes it's hard for me to enjoy the party. My job is to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and has a nice time. It's quite similar to directing actually," he muses, while allowing a temporary lapse in his standard protocol of opening and pouring every bottle himself. A waiter opens one and, inevitably it would seem, it shatters. "That was bad," Levy murmurs, but quickly recovers his cool, simply explaining to his guests, "We've lost the '97."
Palette fatigue is setting in. Peter Getty, grandson of oil czar J. Paul and proprietor of Emperor Norton, the record label that released the "Lost in Translation" soundtrack, jokes that he can no longer distinguish between the red and white, while cinematic tough guy Davi playfully reprimands a waiter who's prematurely whisking away his glass. "Hey, that's my '98!" he shouts, sounding not unlike Heidi Fleiss' rogue boyfriend Ivan Nagy, a character he recently played. Even at the connoisseur table, the adjectives are erring on the side of primitive and irreverent, verifying that, while these men might be serious about wine, they're not solemn.
"It's hard to avoid getting happy even though we taste minute amounts of each wine," says Levy, polishing off a glass of Great Grandfather.
After Gershon departs, the men retire to a deck outside the dining room to smoke Zino Platinum selection cigars.
"I know the evening is a success," says Levy, smiling, "by the number of people who are out here on such a cold night."
Bonding: $400 a bottle
Nothing brings men together like the chance to share one another’s company — and wine cellar. On this night, director Jefery Levy and his pals taste their way through world-famous Australian wines.
By Kathryn Harris, Special to The Times
Consider it more than a coincidence. Two identical silver Mercedes SL 55 AMGs sit side by side in the Zen-inspired courtyard of Jefery Levy's glass and steel 1960s house in Laurel Canyon. One belongs to Levy, a collector of rare wines, the other to Japanese chef Kazu, the proprietor of an eponymous gem of a restaurant on Ventura Boulevard. Great connoisseurs think alike.
Tonight, Kazu's formidable culinary skills will complement Levy's equally formidable collection of one of the world's most coveted wines — Australia's Penfolds Grange — that has taken him nearly a decade to assemble.
Levy, a screenwriter and director ("Inside Monkey Zetterland" and "S.F.W.") is host to about three wine tastings a year, events he's dubbed "guys' nights." They typically involve a dozen or so men, a couple of bottles of outrageously good whites followed by some serious reds, steak supplied by Harvey Gus, the butcher who services Spago and Campanile, and chasers of Cuban cigars. Levy's wife, Pamela Skaist Levy, co-founder of the casual fashion house Juicy Couture, usually takes refuge upstairs.
"There's a core group, a finite number of wine collectors in L.A.," says Levy, listing among them a few of his guests: TV and movie producer Stephen Gelber (CBS' "Fargo"); writer-producer-director James Orr ("Father of the Bride"); cinematographer John Schwartzman ("Seabiscuit"), nephew of director and vintner Francis Ford Coppola; and the former chairman of Capitol-EMI Joe Smith, who's a member of L.A.'s oldest ongoing wine group, WOW (Wines of the World).
Despite the sophisticated, often rarefied context, a gentlemen's wine tasting is not that far removed from a spectator sports gathering, inspiring the same raucous enthusiasm as a slam dunk by Shaq or a home run by Shawn Green.
"It can be a more cerebral and solitary pastime but it's also a sensual and visceral experience. Girls fetishize clothing and shoes. Wine is a more immediate form of gratification for guys," says Levy. At the moment, however, he is enjoying no such immediate gratification, being far too preoccupied with inspecting 500 rented goblets and flutes set out on the two interior courtyards that are part of his H-shaped abode.
With the help of Smith's son Jeff, who designs wine cellars, Levy tackles the tedious business of labeling each glass according to the vintage that will be sipped therein.
Tonight is Levy's most extravagant production to date, a vertical tasting of the iconic Aussie Penfolds wines — Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay from 1995 through 2000, then the extraordinary Penfolds Grange from 1990 through 1998. When the '98 (described as "absolute perfection" by critic Robert Parker) was released in May 2003, collectors bought up the fewer than 9,000 cases in a frenzied rush. Within a month, the price shot up to more than $400 a bottle.
Levy's home, built by an obscure industrial architect, Boulder Thorgusson, looks primed for the occasion. Shrouded by greenery, it seems purposely hidden from casual passersby. Once inside, however, the open-plan structure — in keeping with the era in which it was built — has a striking, though hardly private, visual flow.
Constructed almost exclusively of glass with wood and steel support beams, the house affords unobstructed views from room to room — an effect akin to viewing a split-screen TV.
From the courtyard deck, Levy and Smith have a straight view into the kitchen, where chef Kazu is wielding a perilous sashimi knife. "I haven't cut myself in some years," he assures as he slivers monkfish liver, or ankimo, a traditional Japanese appetizer.
The two men also have a perfect sightline into the living room, separated from the kitchen by a granite-and-wood cocktail bar. Matt Lane, a wine expert from Penfolds, is decompressing on the white leather Minotti sofa, but from time to time he peruses notes from Parker's reviews, which granted Grange's '98 a near perfect 99 rating, one echoed by the other unparalleled arbiter, the Wine Spectator.
"There are only a handful of Grange collections such as Jef's, and to open his private cellar like this is unique," says Lane, who has brought with him a bottle of Great Grandfather, the tawny port that Penfolds' founder, an English doctor, originally made for medicinal purposes.
Later in the evening, Gelber seconds Lane's assessment of Levy's magnanimous gesture. "The compulsion to own something that is very rare yet can be consumed drives many into the game of hoarding collectible trophy wines," he explains. "Sometimes that very compulsion precludes sharing, or even drinking their treasures. I derive the greatest pleasures in sharing my wines with family and friends. Wine opens your senses and gives you a greater appreciation of other exquisite and ephemeral things."
As a couple, the Levys throw more traditional dinner parties, with takeout from some of their favorite restaurants — India's Oven, the Ivy and Ca'Brea. Tonight, Pamela is off to a movie theater with her business partner, Gela Nash Taylor, and costume designer Susan Becker. Taylor's husband, John Taylor, drummer for Duran Duran, and Susan's husband, Harold Becker, director of such movies as "Domestic Disturbance" and "Sea of Love," will be at Levy's tasting.
Levy is left to see to the intricate preparation of this mother-of-all guys' nights, and he's had the foresight to hire servers along with Kazu and his trusty staff. Twenty-plus friends are expected, a concoction of regular connoisseurs with a few neophytes and a handful of actors such as Stephen Dorff and Robert Davi thrown in for good measure. "Whomever I'm working with at the time," explains Levy. He's just wrapped the indie film "Man of God," starring Peter Weller and Nikki Reed ("Thirteen"), which he hopes to premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September. (Levy's first film, "Drive," won the International Critics Award at the 1991 festival, and his third, "S.F.W." was in the competition at the 1995 festival.)
Levy disappears upstairs to change and returns wearing the same black jeans and short-sleeve shirt. "I was going to put on a suit, but I have too much work to do," he says cheerfully.
He has already spent the day running to the Beverly Hills Cheese Store and to his humidor at the Grand Havana Room, and he's decanted the wines twice. They've now been open 24 hours, something that normal wines wouldn't tolerate. "These wines are so big you can't get your arms around them. They have to be open that long," Jeff Smith explains.
The house is now aglow like a glamorous light box, with the lap pool glistening in the distance. Guests start to amble in. "I called it for 7 but you know how people can be in L.A," says Levy, putting Miles Davis on the CD player. Pretty soon the house is awash in men tricked out in what must be the guys' night regulation attire — dark slacks, black turtleneck and black leather jacket. A few others have broken rank and donned slick suits and ties. In general, though, says Levy, "a taste for fine wine frequently does not go hand in hand with good fashion sense. In fact, quite the opposite."
Despite his casual dress this evening, it's clear from the haute Modernist decor he favors that Levy also knows furniture designers as well as he knows vintners. In the living room sit two midcentury classics: a Mies van der Rohe daybed and Corbusier chaise longue in pony hide.
The men seat themselves in Lucite chairs at the huge Lucite dining table, both custom-designed. Latecomers — primarily the less experienced enthusiasts — are relegated to the adjoining living room.
"The mix of guests is important even for a wine dinner which is all guys," says Levy. "It's boring if everyone is in the same business. I like people like Robert Uhl, an SEC litigator — he had a good year — or Brian Schuster, an entrepreneurial investor, to be part of my world. It's also great to have a mix of ages. I find older men [particularly] interesting."
Levy's bonhomie and excitement, only mildly tempered by a reverence for the wines, infects the room that's now filled with men who are bonded in their singular pursuit of perfection in a bottle.
A 1989 and 1990 Chateau d'Yquem are served, trailed by the ankimo, now fully dressed with ponzu jelly and caviar. Conversation focuses on the fluid matter at hand, peppered with anecdotes and good-humored jibing.
"At a certain point there just aren't that many things left that you can go ape about," says Uhl, perched rather unceremoniously on a white leather Mies van der Rohe stool, pitched too low for the dining table.
Thinly sliced bluefin tuna and kanpachi crowned with arugula sprouts, pine nuts and pinker than pink peppercorns, and a tenderly warmed salad of king crab, are served with Yattarna. There are now half a dozen glasses in procession in front of each guest, except Orr, who seems to discriminate against whites. "Save your livers for the reds," he counsels. Dorff, whose good looks are rendered null and void under a baseball cap, concurs.
Actress Gina Gershon, the honorary female guy of the evening — Levy likes to invite just one, just for fun — makes an entrance, straight from doing a Catwoman voice-over for a new "Batman" series, and joins several men in the living room. Levy's 3-year-old son, Noah, who has been watching a movie with his Juicy Couture-clad nannies, wanders in. "He's in training," quips his father, as Noah yawns and promptly returns to his bedroom.
The whites make way for the reds, praised for being among the most exotic and concentrated on earth. Toro tartare — the buttery section of the bluefin tuna finely chopped, redolent with creamy wasabi sauce and three kinds of caviar — is served, followed by a combination of flamed cooked Washu-gyu (American Kobe beef), more Toro and freshwater eel atop sushi rice.
There are appreciative murmurs, showy swirlings of glasses and attempts to coin the most accurate aroma identification. Arcane insider terms "printer's ink," "saddle shoes," and perhaps the best, "Sophia Loren," are bandied about in a bid to nail these larger-than-life wines. And — this being a testosterone-fueled occasion — the competitive urge is spent determining which wine is best. The '98, which happens to contain the highest alcohol level (14.5%) in the wine's history, wins hands down.
Even Becker, who earlier seemed a tad blasé, is now thoroughly swept up in the mystique, while Taylor, who hasn't touched alcohol in years, retains some perspective. "I'm here for the company," he says, downing Rouge Bourbon, a Parisian tea. "I'm sick of Diet Coke, so I'm always looking for something with a bit of kick — especially when the drinkers start to take off."
Levy is starting to look a little harried, tromping a well-worn path between the kitchen and reception rooms. "Sometimes it's hard for me to enjoy the party. My job is to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and has a nice time. It's quite similar to directing actually," he muses, while allowing a temporary lapse in his standard protocol of opening and pouring every bottle himself. A waiter opens one and, inevitably it would seem, it shatters. "That was bad," Levy murmurs, but quickly recovers his cool, simply explaining to his guests, "We've lost the '97."
Palette fatigue is setting in. Peter Getty, grandson of oil czar J. Paul and proprietor of Emperor Norton, the record label that released the "Lost in Translation" soundtrack, jokes that he can no longer distinguish between the red and white, while cinematic tough guy Davi playfully reprimands a waiter who's prematurely whisking away his glass. "Hey, that's my '98!" he shouts, sounding not unlike Heidi Fleiss' rogue boyfriend Ivan Nagy, a character he recently played. Even at the connoisseur table, the adjectives are erring on the side of primitive and irreverent, verifying that, while these men might be serious about wine, they're not solemn.
"It's hard to avoid getting happy even though we taste minute amounts of each wine," says Levy, polishing off a glass of Great Grandfather.
After Gershon departs, the men retire to a deck outside the dining room to smoke Zino Platinum selection cigars.
"I know the evening is a success," says Levy, smiling, "by the number of people who are out here on such a cold night."
Another Jason flick to watch for! 
I wondered what happened to that one.
Thanks for the news, Vicki
Lori
I wondered what happened to that one.
Thanks for the news, Vicki
Lori
I found a tad bit more about Jefery Levy
Catch Light Films
Levy is a critically acclaimed and award winning writer, director and producer who studied English Literature, Film and Semiotics at UCLA, received his M.F.A from UCLA Graduate School of Cinema, and his law degree from Loyola Law School. He is a member of the California Bar. From 1991 to 1996, Levy was the youngest Associate Professor at USC School of Cinema/Television; he was also a key faculty member of The American Film Institute (where he taught the master directing class for years 1995 and 1996).
Levy has written numerous feature and television pilot scripts for many of the major producers and studios, including Warner Brothers, A & M Films, Propaganda Films, Polygram, MGM/UA, Universal Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000, New Line Cinema, Pathe Pictures, Cannon, Empire, Kings Road, New World, Fox, NBC, MTV and Alliance-Atlantis, and has Produced (a total of seven) films for MGM/Pathe, Empire, Megagiant Entertainment and I.R.S. World Media, as well as producing two television shows, Roar (for Universal Television/Fox Broadcasting Network) and Barry Sonnenfeld’s Secret Agent Man (for Columbia Tristar Television/United Paramount Network).
Levy has directed and produced dozens of award winning commercials and music videos including Special Olympics, Ivy Tech, Steak and Shake, PSA California Drunk Driving, Breath Asure. He has also worked on prime time television shows for CBS (CSI), Fox Broadcasting Network (James Cameron’s Dark Angel (winner of the ASC AWARD for Levy’s episode “Cold Comfort”), Roar (winner of the ASC AWARD for Levy’s episode “Spear Of Destiny”) {Levy also served as Supervising Producer on Roar}, Harsh Realm (final episode), Get Real {multiple episodes}, Freakylinks {premiere episode}, Night Visions {multiple episodes} Sliders (multiple episodes; winner of ASC AWARD for Levy’s episode “Dream Masters”), NBC (Players and multiple episodes of Profiler), ABC (the Sam Raimi series Spy Game), the WB (Roswell, UPN (the Barry Sonnenfeld series “Secret Agent Man,” for which Levy also served as Supervising Producer), and the second season premiere episode of Deadzone, the USA network hit.
In 1997, Levy served as Supervising Producer and staff director for the thirty million dollar Fox series Roar (on which he discovered Australian superstar Heath Ledger). In 1998 Levy directed the Fox pilot Hollyweird for executive producer Wes Craven (from which a series was ordered), and the MTV pilot Iggy Vile M.D., which Levy also created and executive produced. In 1999-2000, Levy directed the NBC pilot The Expendables, and served as Supervising Producer and staff director for the Barry Sonnenfeld series Secret Agent Man; Levy also directed four episodes of the critically acclaimed Fox network show Get Real.
While still in film school in 1984, Levy wrote and produced the original (there were four sequels) smash independent hit Ghoulies – the franchise grossed over one hundred million dollars.
DRIVE, Levy's directorial debut, was one of three American films chosen for official competition in the 1991 Venice Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Critic's Circle International Critic's Week Award and was voted best film of the festival by Cinema Nuovo, and unanimously hailed by European critics. DRIVE also competed in Sundance, Tokyo, Montreal, Chicago, Stockholm, Seattle, Portugal, Munich, Spain, and Palm Springs film festivals, won the Grand Jury Prize at Sweden's Arctic Light Film Festival (shared with Eric Rohmer), and opened the American Independent Restrospective at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
DRIVE had its world theatrical premiere in Los Angeles in August of 1992, and was called "one of the best and most exciting films of the year" by Michael Wilmington in the Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Weekly entertainment editor Steve Erickson wrote a rave review; KABC's Jim Svejda called drive "one of the best movies of the year;" and (National Public Radio) KCRW's Robert Rosen (Chair of UCLA Film School) called DRIVE "...brilliant...a road movie like no other."
INSIDE MONKEY ZETTERLAND, Levy's second film, stars Patricia Arquette, Rupert Everett, Martha Plimpton, Rikki Lake, Debi Mazar, Sandra Bernhard, Sofia Coppola and Tate Donovan. ZETTERLAND was one of two American films chosen for Official Competition at the 1992 San Sebastian Film Festival (the other was "Single White Female"). ZETTERLAND was also chosen for Official Competition in the 1993 Sundance Film Festival, where it was the first film to sell out all screenings and won the Audience Award. Other sold-out festival screenings include Toronto, Gothenborg, Vancouver and Seattle. ZETTERLAND had its American theatrical premiere in Los Angeles in late August of 1993 -- it received rave reviews from the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Reader, and broke house records for opening weekend at the Sunset 5 theatre.
S.F.W., written and directed by Levy, stars Stephen Dorff and Reese Witherspoon (as well as new-comers Tobey McGuire, Jake Busey and Joey Lauren Adams). "S.F.W." was an official out-of-competition selection of the 1994 Venice International Film Festival, where it caused a sensation amongst the European press and festival goers, necessitating an additional last minute screening. L'Unita called it "a gem of a film...visual and sound terrorism, with a mix of technical formats and a good dose of humor;" Il Manifesto said that "in the light of day, it is very similar to Oliver Stone's 'Natural Born Killers,' but "S.F.W." has more humor, more originality and more irony and is less boring;" Il Messegero called it "well directed" and Il Giornale said it was "quite brilliant -- American social satire shot with a very sophisticated technique."
"S.F.W." was also selected for the 1994 Toronto Film Festival, where Toronto Star critic Rob Salem called it "the buzz film of the festival," and Now Magazine called it "a major festival hit." "S.F.W." also played the Vienna, London, Sao Paulo, Stockholm, Oslo and Yubari International Film Festivals, and has received critical acclaim throughout the world.
In 2001, Levy wrote and directed the two hour telefilm/backdoor pilot, “Invincible,” produced by Mel Gibson and Jet Li, and starring Billy Zane – it premiered on November 18, 2001, and was the highest rated original cable film of the year.
In 2003, Levy completed writing assignments and DJ for Fox 2000 and Kung Fu Kids for Warner Brothers (which has recently been greenlit). In fall of 2003 he completed his latest feature film “Rabbi”.
Check out his video of work:
Find the BEHR!
Real Media
Quicktime
Catch Light Films
Levy is a critically acclaimed and award winning writer, director and producer who studied English Literature, Film and Semiotics at UCLA, received his M.F.A from UCLA Graduate School of Cinema, and his law degree from Loyola Law School. He is a member of the California Bar. From 1991 to 1996, Levy was the youngest Associate Professor at USC School of Cinema/Television; he was also a key faculty member of The American Film Institute (where he taught the master directing class for years 1995 and 1996).
Levy has written numerous feature and television pilot scripts for many of the major producers and studios, including Warner Brothers, A & M Films, Propaganda Films, Polygram, MGM/UA, Universal Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000, New Line Cinema, Pathe Pictures, Cannon, Empire, Kings Road, New World, Fox, NBC, MTV and Alliance-Atlantis, and has Produced (a total of seven) films for MGM/Pathe, Empire, Megagiant Entertainment and I.R.S. World Media, as well as producing two television shows, Roar (for Universal Television/Fox Broadcasting Network) and Barry Sonnenfeld’s Secret Agent Man (for Columbia Tristar Television/United Paramount Network).
Levy has directed and produced dozens of award winning commercials and music videos including Special Olympics, Ivy Tech, Steak and Shake, PSA California Drunk Driving, Breath Asure. He has also worked on prime time television shows for CBS (CSI), Fox Broadcasting Network (James Cameron’s Dark Angel (winner of the ASC AWARD for Levy’s episode “Cold Comfort”), Roar (winner of the ASC AWARD for Levy’s episode “Spear Of Destiny”) {Levy also served as Supervising Producer on Roar}, Harsh Realm (final episode), Get Real {multiple episodes}, Freakylinks {premiere episode}, Night Visions {multiple episodes} Sliders (multiple episodes; winner of ASC AWARD for Levy’s episode “Dream Masters”), NBC (Players and multiple episodes of Profiler), ABC (the Sam Raimi series Spy Game), the WB (Roswell, UPN (the Barry Sonnenfeld series “Secret Agent Man,” for which Levy also served as Supervising Producer), and the second season premiere episode of Deadzone, the USA network hit.
In 1997, Levy served as Supervising Producer and staff director for the thirty million dollar Fox series Roar (on which he discovered Australian superstar Heath Ledger). In 1998 Levy directed the Fox pilot Hollyweird for executive producer Wes Craven (from which a series was ordered), and the MTV pilot Iggy Vile M.D., which Levy also created and executive produced. In 1999-2000, Levy directed the NBC pilot The Expendables, and served as Supervising Producer and staff director for the Barry Sonnenfeld series Secret Agent Man; Levy also directed four episodes of the critically acclaimed Fox network show Get Real.
While still in film school in 1984, Levy wrote and produced the original (there were four sequels) smash independent hit Ghoulies – the franchise grossed over one hundred million dollars.
DRIVE, Levy's directorial debut, was one of three American films chosen for official competition in the 1991 Venice Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Critic's Circle International Critic's Week Award and was voted best film of the festival by Cinema Nuovo, and unanimously hailed by European critics. DRIVE also competed in Sundance, Tokyo, Montreal, Chicago, Stockholm, Seattle, Portugal, Munich, Spain, and Palm Springs film festivals, won the Grand Jury Prize at Sweden's Arctic Light Film Festival (shared with Eric Rohmer), and opened the American Independent Restrospective at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
DRIVE had its world theatrical premiere in Los Angeles in August of 1992, and was called "one of the best and most exciting films of the year" by Michael Wilmington in the Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Weekly entertainment editor Steve Erickson wrote a rave review; KABC's Jim Svejda called drive "one of the best movies of the year;" and (National Public Radio) KCRW's Robert Rosen (Chair of UCLA Film School) called DRIVE "...brilliant...a road movie like no other."
INSIDE MONKEY ZETTERLAND, Levy's second film, stars Patricia Arquette, Rupert Everett, Martha Plimpton, Rikki Lake, Debi Mazar, Sandra Bernhard, Sofia Coppola and Tate Donovan. ZETTERLAND was one of two American films chosen for Official Competition at the 1992 San Sebastian Film Festival (the other was "Single White Female"). ZETTERLAND was also chosen for Official Competition in the 1993 Sundance Film Festival, where it was the first film to sell out all screenings and won the Audience Award. Other sold-out festival screenings include Toronto, Gothenborg, Vancouver and Seattle. ZETTERLAND had its American theatrical premiere in Los Angeles in late August of 1993 -- it received rave reviews from the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Reader, and broke house records for opening weekend at the Sunset 5 theatre.
S.F.W., written and directed by Levy, stars Stephen Dorff and Reese Witherspoon (as well as new-comers Tobey McGuire, Jake Busey and Joey Lauren Adams). "S.F.W." was an official out-of-competition selection of the 1994 Venice International Film Festival, where it caused a sensation amongst the European press and festival goers, necessitating an additional last minute screening. L'Unita called it "a gem of a film...visual and sound terrorism, with a mix of technical formats and a good dose of humor;" Il Manifesto said that "in the light of day, it is very similar to Oliver Stone's 'Natural Born Killers,' but "S.F.W." has more humor, more originality and more irony and is less boring;" Il Messegero called it "well directed" and Il Giornale said it was "quite brilliant -- American social satire shot with a very sophisticated technique."
"S.F.W." was also selected for the 1994 Toronto Film Festival, where Toronto Star critic Rob Salem called it "the buzz film of the festival," and Now Magazine called it "a major festival hit." "S.F.W." also played the Vienna, London, Sao Paulo, Stockholm, Oslo and Yubari International Film Festivals, and has received critical acclaim throughout the world.
In 2001, Levy wrote and directed the two hour telefilm/backdoor pilot, “Invincible,” produced by Mel Gibson and Jet Li, and starring Billy Zane – it premiered on November 18, 2001, and was the highest rated original cable film of the year.
In 2003, Levy completed writing assignments and DJ for Fox 2000 and Kung Fu Kids for Warner Brothers (which has recently been greenlit). In fall of 2003 he completed his latest feature film “Rabbi”.
Check out his video of work:
Find the BEHR!
Real Media
Quicktime
Thanks for the info Vicki. It's great that there is another movie. 
You definately should go into business - have you tradmarked the behr detevive agency yet?
You definately should go into business - have you tradmarked the behr detevive agency yet?
Wow - so that's 'how the other half live'! What a swanky party! (It must be nice!)
Thanks for that article, Vicki.
Lori
Wow that sounds like a very intense type of movie. Congrats Jason
From elsewhere:
Thanks again Fraz!
QUOTE
Originally posted by Fraz
RABBI, aka MAN OF GOD. stars peter weller, and the young actress who wrote THIRTEEN Nikki Reed. it's finished, but there's no distributor yet. hopefully there will be.
RABBI, aka MAN OF GOD. stars peter weller, and the young actress who wrote THIRTEEN Nikki Reed. it's finished, but there's no distributor yet. hopefully there will be.
Thanks again Fraz!
Jason Behr in “Man of God”. Produced by, Written by and Directed by Jefery Levy.
Thanks to Director Jefery Levy for the following information:
“Man of God” starring Peter Weller, Nikki Reed, Omar Benson Miller Michael, Rachel Miner, Court Young, and Jason Behr was filmed from mid October thru mid November of 2003.
The film"Man of God” -- which is a very deep, spiritual film in which Jason is amazing -- will be completed in June, and submitted to festivals during the next half year. Hopefully, it will be released in theatres in 2005.
MAN OF GOD is about people who are trying to be GOOD HUMAN BEINGS, while feeling overwhelmed by all the hatred and violence and seemingly meaningless insanity that surrounds them in this world.
Jason will be on screen for about an hour. His role is very important/pivotal to the plot.
For Roswell fans: Jefery Levy directed the Episode “To Serve and Protect” in Season 2.
For more information on Jason Behr and “Man of God” keep checking the Jason Behr Forum on Media Blvd!
Thanks to Director Jefery Levy for the following information:
“Man of God” starring Peter Weller, Nikki Reed, Omar Benson Miller Michael, Rachel Miner, Court Young, and Jason Behr was filmed from mid October thru mid November of 2003.
The film"Man of God” -- which is a very deep, spiritual film in which Jason is amazing -- will be completed in June, and submitted to festivals during the next half year. Hopefully, it will be released in theatres in 2005.
MAN OF GOD is about people who are trying to be GOOD HUMAN BEINGS, while feeling overwhelmed by all the hatred and violence and seemingly meaningless insanity that surrounds them in this world.
Jason will be on screen for about an hour. His role is very important/pivotal to the plot.
For Roswell fans: Jefery Levy directed the Episode “To Serve and Protect” in Season 2.
For more information on Jason Behr and “Man of God” keep checking the Jason Behr Forum on Media Blvd!
Thanks for this great news Vicki, and right from the 'horse's mouth' so to speak!
And Jason will be in an HOUR of the film!! That's WONDERFUL news - I figured he'd only have a scene or two, from the original sound of it.
The more Jason - the better!
And snaps to your for finding this out!
Oh wow great news thanks for the info!!!! I am so happy that we get to see Jason again!!! thanks
Letty
Letty
Thanks Vicki.......How did the director find you? That is so cool!
Thanks Vicki!
Postman
Postman
Thanks Vicki! Another JB flick to lok out for! YEAH!
Lori
Another JB film...Mmmmmmmmmm! I cant wait to see them all!
Polia
Polia
i want to own them all on DVD!!! 
love the avi, polia
love the avi, polia
Thanks alienmom!
It's from his film 'Happily, Even after' Have you seen the movie? I've only seen the traior
but it's good enough for now 
He is my Dream Man! heh...
Polia
It's from his film 'Happily, Even after' Have you seen the movie? I've only seen the traior
but it's good enough for now
He is my Dream Man! heh...
Polia
We Have an UPDATE!
Jefery Levy has got his site online and has posted the script to Man of God plus some clips!
Jefery Levy's site!
Jefery Levy has got his site online and has posted the script to Man of God plus some clips!
Jefery Levy's site!
Thanks for the update!
Postman
Postman
QUOTE(Vicki)
We Have an UPDATE!
Jefery Levy has got his site online and has posted the script to Man of God plus some clips!
Jefery Levy's site!
Jefery Levy has got his site online and has posted the script to Man of God plus some clips!
Jefery Levy's site!
Awesome! Thanks, Vicki!
-hoLLy
This looks like a pretty powerful and disturbing piece! 
Adobe and Acrobat aren't being kind to me 
I can't read the script
Lori
I can't read the script
Lori
QUOTE(Lori R)
Adobe and Acrobat aren't being kind to me :banghead:
I can't read the script
Lori
I can't read the script
Lori
I'll put it in word and give it to you tonight!
QUOTE(MyrnaLynne)
This looks like a pretty powerful and disturbing piece! :eek:
Yeah, I read the script and it's pretty intense.
-hoLLy
If anyone else is having issues with Adobe PM or e-mail me and I will send it to you in text form.
I got it and read it. Thanks Vicki
That is one heavy, depressing movie.
If Jason wasn't in it I wouldn't see it.
But from the character it looks like he will be great with the part.
Lori
That is one heavy, depressing movie.
If Jason wasn't in it I wouldn't see it.
But from the character it looks like he will be great with the part.
Lori
Can someone help me please! i'm trying to download the script but it won't download for some strange reason and it's making me quite mad. 
I have just finished downloading the section titled "I am my acts" and that's the section that Jason is in and OMG i'm so happy now
Can someone please e-mail the script to me preferably in word either PM me or e-mail me.
Many thanks
from
Karen
I have just finished downloading the section titled "I am my acts" and that's the section that Jason is in and OMG i'm so happy now
Can someone please e-mail the script to me preferably in word either PM me or e-mail me.
Many thanks
from
Karen
QUOTE(kdownton)
Can someone help me please! i'm trying to download the script but it won't download for some strange reason and it's making me quite mad. I have just finished downloading the section titled \"I am my acts\" and that's the section that Jason is in and OMG i'm so happy now
Can someone please e-mail the script to me preferably in word either PM me or e-mail me.
Many thanks
from
Karen
I have just finished downloading the section titled \"I am my acts\" and that's the section that Jason is in and OMG i'm so happy now
Can someone please e-mail the script to me preferably in word either PM me or e-mail me.
Many thanks
from
Karen
YOU HAVE MAIL!
Anyone else that can't open the PDF file PM or e-mail me and I will send it to you.
Thanks vicki 
OMG okay I've just read the part of Ben which is Jason's character in this movie and I seriously can't wait to see this movie.
Plus I'm in absolute heaven at the moment, he's got two movies coming out that I'll hear him say my name.....for those of you who don't know my name its Karen, and in the grudge his g/f is Karen and also in this movie (man of god) he's with a Karen as well. So I'll get to hear him say my name *sigh*
Any other Karen's out there reading this? If so lets all have a big
I'm just in a weird mood now, JB has that effect on me...lol
He's wonderful!
OMG okay I've just read the part of Ben which is Jason's character in this movie and I seriously can't wait to see this movie.
Plus I'm in absolute heaven at the moment, he's got two movies coming out that I'll hear him say my name.....for those of you who don't know my name its Karen, and in the grudge his g/f is Karen and also in this movie (man of god) he's with a Karen as well. So I'll get to hear him say my name *sigh*
Any other Karen's out there reading this? If so lets all have a big
I'm just in a weird mood now, JB has that effect on me...lol
He's wonderful!
Karen....I'd be melting too if Jason was saying my name repeatedly in a movie
Lucky gal
Lori
Lucky gal
Lori
I am creating this thread to discuss the Man of God Script.
Please keep all spoiler discussion about this film on this thread.
Here is the link to the Script:
MAN OF GOD
Please keep all spoiler discussion about this film on this thread.
Here is the link to the Script:
MAN OF GOD
For those brave few that have read the script to Man of God, I am creating a seperate thread for us to talk about it. That way we can keep spoilers completely off this thread.
So if you want to talk about the script or want to know spoilers, come join us over here:
MAN OF GOD Script Discussion Thread! BEWARE SPOILERS!!!
That way we can keep spoilers completely off this thread.
So if you want to talk about the script or want to know spoilers, come join us over here:
MAN OF GOD Script Discussion Thread! BEWARE SPOILERS!!!
Thanks, Vicki. I'm heading over right now.
-hoLLy
-hoLLy
I actually only skimmed over the script. As I was reading the beginning, it was pretty hard. All the hate. It was intense. Well, that, and I wanted to skip down to Jason's part. That was equally as intense and pretty depressing. The story of Ben Cohen's wife? That was horrible! I wasn't sure if I was going to check out the film, but it is Jason, after all. I can give it a shot.
-hoLLy
That was equally as intense and pretty depressing. The story of Ben Cohen's wife? That was horrible! I wasn't sure if I was going to check out the film, but it is Jason, after all. I can give it a shot.
-hoLLy
OMG! okay I've just read the script again. How Sad!!! Jason's character Ben in this movie dies *sniff* NO! NO! NO! 
I hope they don't actually show that bit and it's just sort of mentioned in the movie, that's really sad.
The script is really good though, I love how JB's character Ben was described.....baby faced that's so cute
I can't wait to see this movie
I hope they don't actually show that bit and it's just sort of mentioned in the movie, that's really sad.
The script is really good though, I love how JB's character Ben was described.....baby faced
that's so cute
I can't wait to see this movie
I can't get the script up can anyone help me??
Thanks
Ashley
Thanks
Ashley
QUOTE(AshleyMarie)
I can't get the script up can anyone help me??
Thanks
Ashley
Thanks
Ashley
Vicki to the rescue! I'm sure she'll help you out, Ashley.
-hoLLy
QUOTE(AshleyMarie)
I can't get the script up can anyone help me??
Thanks
Ashley
Thanks
Ashley
You have mail!
QUOTE(hoLLyBEHRy)
I actually only skimmed over the script. As I was reading the beginning, it was pretty hard. All the hate. It was intense. Well, that, and I wanted to skip down to Jason's part. That was equally as intense and pretty depressing. The story of Ben Cohen's wife? That was horrible! I wasn't sure if I was going to check out the film, but it is Jason, after all. I can give it a shot.
-hoLLy
That was equally as intense and pretty depressing. The story of Ben Cohen's wife? That was horrible! I wasn't sure if I was going to check out the film, but it is Jason, after all. I can give it a shot.
-hoLLy
That is exactly what I was telling Vicki.
I was so depressed reading this script....especially Jason's character 'Ben' and what happens to him.
I'll see the movie, but honestly might wait for DVD and then speed to 'Ben' and go from there.
If Jason wasn't in it I don't know that I could watch it.
Lori
Thank you Vicki!!!!
Thank you Vicki!!!!
QUOTE(Lori R)
That is exactly what I was telling Vicki.
I was so depressed reading this script....especially Jason's character 'Ben' and what happens to him.
I'll see the movie, but honestly might wait for DVD and then speed to 'Ben' and go from there.
If Jason wasn't in it I don't know that I could watch it.
Lori
I agree! The movie seems to be real deep and meaningful and very powerful which seems to be the sort of movies Jason goes for. I think it's good to have a movie with such meaning rather than 2 hours of pure lack of plot which I've seen some movies have and have really bored me to tears.
Although it's a depressing movie from what I've read in the script I think a lot of it focuses on real life and lets face it the world isn't exactly a stress free zone, I wish it was and the only way I get that is roswell fan fiction, reading and watching Roswell episodes, outside of that, real life does have it's bad points but I think this movie from what I understand of the script gives meaning to bad events.
Just my thoughts anyway, I'm really looking forward to seeing this movie.
I can't read the script... Is there someone who can help me please?????
QUOTE(Aube)
I can't read the script... Is there someone who can help me please?????
You need to download a free veriosn of Adobe PDF and then it should work. PM me if you have any trouble or post it here.
Hey can someone post the link for the site where i can read the script?
QUOTE(Luv2RaveAboutRoswellGurl)
Hey can someone post the link for the site where i can read the script?
it's in the first post of this thread.
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