Israel has been gaining international recognition for its production of critically-acclaimed television shows that become popular abroad, particularly in the United States and Europe. Both Bloomberg and Variety recently reported on the reputation of Israeli dramas in the U.S., citing an entrepreneurial spirit, a necessity for creativity, and a desire for cultural communication among the driving factors of this trend.
The rise of Israeli television has paralleled that of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon. Israeli producers have adopted the entrepreneurial culture of the technology industry to fit well into this niche. Just like the thriving Israeli startup industry, top Israeli producers have successfully tapped into the global market.
“In the new world, so much of [the TV industry] links to technology and so much of the technology is diverted to content, and Israel is a leader in technology, so we have that advantage,” Udi Miron, president of Tel Aviv TV firm Amaney Communications, told Variety. “But most of all, I think it’s the way we are thinking. Israel is great at understanding and adapting to new things, new ideas. You can feel the creative energy here.”
Foreign observers note the quality of the richly developed characters and story lines in popular Israeli shows like Homeland and In Treatment, as well as newcomers like Fauda. As the television business model has changed to accommodate the rise of streaming services, a niche has developed for the creative storylines produced by Israeli production houses like Keshet and Hot.
Peter Traugott, president of scripted programming at the LA office of Keshet Studios, told Bloomberg, “You no longer need 10 million people to like something for it to be a hit.”
The creativity and well-developed characters in Israeli shows comes in part from small budgets and strictly enforced schedules. “Our budgets are the budgets of coffee in American TV,” Dori Media Group CEO Yoni Paran told Variety. “So you have to think outside the box to make anything happen and for anyone in the international market to even look at you.”
Saval noted that, perhaps above all, these shows owe their success to a widespread Israeli desire to change the conversation from one of war and terrorism to one surrounding the positive contributions that Israel makes to the world.
“We want to be acknowledged not as the country that has walls or that kills Palestinians, but as a country admired for its art and beauty and its contributions to modern culture,” said Amaney Communications CEO Orly Katz. “We want to go from being hated to being loved.”
[Photo: Fauda]