Israel’s failed strike in Qatar and a Hollywood letter boycotting Israel nearly postponed international distribution plans for “Red Alert,” a drama series produced by Israel’s Keshet Media Group about the Hamas-led terror onslaught of October 7, 2023.

“We had a plan to go out in September and sell it,” said producer Lawrence Bender, speaking to The Times of Israel. “Then Israel bombs Qatar and then the Hollywood letter, and investors rightfully asked, ‘So, what’s the plan?’ and we said, ‘We can’t sell this now. Everything is anti-Israel, we’ll have to hold.'”

A chance meeting with Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison at a memorial for an entertainment industry figure changed his plans.

“I know Ellison’s a Zionist, and I said, ‘You should know what I’m doing,'” said Bender. “I told him, and he said, ‘This is extraordinary, I need to see this.'”

“I didn’t have to pitch him,” said Bender.

Ellison assumed control of Paramount after an $8 billion buyout in early August by his family, led by his billionaire father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. The younger Ellison, a onetime actor, had previously founded and run Skydance Media, a film and television production company.

The elder Ellison is known to be a prominent supporter of Israel and has contributed millions to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. He is a friend of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has hosted the Netanyahus on vacation.

While Paramount was still run by its former chairperson, Shari Redstone, another ardent Israel supporter, the company co-produced “We Will Dance Again,” a 2024 documentary film about the October 7 Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival, which later won an Emmy.

Paramount was the first major studio to respond to the Hollywood pledge signed by more than 4,000 actors, entertainers and producers, stating several days later that silencing individual artists based on their nationality does not advance peace.

In response, a group of roughly 30 Paramount employees........

© The Times of Israel