A Moving Picture

by Jennie Berman Eng

Four NYU film students are chosen for an elite screenwriting class, to be taught by legendary screenwriter, Solzberg. The class is cross-listed with Holocaust Studies, and students are tasked with writing scripts about that era. One of the students, Ivy, finally confronts her own family history in the Holocaust, and as her script about Jewish women in a Mercedes Benz’ labor camp is read in class, it comes to...

Four NYU film students are chosen for an elite screenwriting class, to be taught by legendary screenwriter, Solzberg. The class is cross-listed with Holocaust Studies, and students are tasked with writing scripts about that era. One of the students, Ivy, finally confronts her own family history in the Holocaust, and as her script about Jewish women in a Mercedes Benz’ labor camp is read in class, it comes to life onstage--with her classmates and professor as fellow prisoners and Nazi guards. As they analyze Ivy's script for accuracy and storytelling, Solzberg's own integrity comes into question. When he demands Ivy kill off her protagonist, the class and the teacher confront some ugly truths about themselves, the business they're in, and human nature.

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A Moving Picture

Recommended by

  • David Winitsky: A Moving Picture by Jennie Berman Eng
    “

    This is a SEARING play, asking critical questions about our responsibilities as people and as storytellers. It’s fearless and fascinating, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat.

    This is a SEARING play, asking critical questions about our responsibilities as people and as storytellers. It’s fearless and fascinating, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat.

    ”
  • Bridget Grace Sheaff: A Moving Picture by Jennie Berman Eng
    “

    I have never stopped thinking about this play. It has changed the way I operate and interact with art, cinema, and stories from the Holocaust. But more than that, it is the hallmark of strong, three-dimensional, flawed characters that the audience roots for from the beginning.
    Honestly, any director would be lucky to work with Jennie Eng on this play.

    I have never stopped thinking about this play. It has changed the way I operate and interact with art, cinema, and stories from the Holocaust. But more than that, it is the hallmark of strong, three-dimensional, flawed characters that the audience roots for from the beginning.
    Honestly, any director would be lucky to work with Jennie Eng on this play.

    ”
  • Donna Hoke: A Moving Picture by Jennie Berman Eng
    “

    This one sneaks up on you in startling and traumatic ways. Theatrical, truthful, and provocative, yes, but it also gets to the heart of storytelling and what we owe audiences, ourselves, and the people we write about. Beautiful work.

    This one sneaks up on you in startling and traumatic ways. Theatrical, truthful, and provocative, yes, but it also gets to the heart of storytelling and what we owe audiences, ourselves, and the people we write about. Beautiful work.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations

Development History

  • Workshop, Mosaic Theater, 2018
  • Reading, Page-to-Stage, The Kennedy Center, 2017
  • Workshop, Spooky Action Theater, 2017