Sally Mitlas, an award-winning film producer/director, has been running the show at Mitlas Productions, LLC in Jenkintown since 1997.
An Elkins Park resident, Huntingdon Valley native, and a magna cum laude graduate of Temple University, Mitlas is something of a master-of-all trades in the entertainment and film industry. Her company provides film production and event entertainment for social and corporate clientele, as well as digital marketing, web design, and professional music performances.
Mitlas Productions’ high-profile clients include the National Museum of American History, Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, and Caron Treatment Center. Their specialty offerings, for example, include White Roses Barbershop Quartet, flapper dancers, caricaturists, hypnotists, face painters, impersonators, contortionists, and the list goes on.
“We’re a one-stop shop and I think we’ve achieved a lot. Up until the pandemic, our film production work was prominent, but we were mostly known for event production,” Mitlas told Glenside Local. “I learned the art of performing and running events in addition. I had to learn how to work with the caterers and the photographers, the pace and timing of an event. All of this experience helped grow the film production side of my company immensely.”
Many of Mitlas Productions’ clientele come from the tri-state area, though contracts have taken the company as far as Florence, Italy to roll out a wedding.
“We have a lot of philanthropists who contract us for a given charity or fundraising, which has become an important part of the company. They’re repeat clients. We’ve done dozens of websites, and we’ve put snippets of video productions within those sites, along with all social media sites,” she said. “Those videos seem to really help boost business. Nowadays, I’m more focused on film work. I’m overwhelmed by the amount of calls we get.”
Mitlas’ foray into film work came in 2007 when she wrote, produced and directed “A Hero in Heaven”. The hour-long documentary—which was filmed entirely in Israel—tells of the life and tragic death of Staff Sergeant Michael Levin, the only American-Israeli soldier killed during the Israeli/Hezbollah war in 2006.
The film went on to win several awards and has been featured in numerous international film festivals, as well as broadcast on television networks worldwide. Mitlas said the film is still shown to all incoming troops in the Israeli army and included an exclusive interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, a 1967 graduate of Cheltenham High School.
“He came with security, I came with my crew, and we met at a cafe in Israel. We spoke for about 15 minutes. He was a terrific interview and a brilliant man,” Mitlas said. “He said something so significant that never made the final cut for the film due to editing restrictions at the time, but it made a big impact in my life. He said, ‘Look, Michael’s grandparents’ generation died wearing uniforms. Michael died wearing a uniform as well, but it’s the uniform of Israel.’ It was very powerful. The film was my first ‘ball out of the park’, so to speak, and it went very far. Soon, the calls for more video production work came flooding in.”
Mitlas said her next film dealt with three people from the Philadelphia area who lost a loved one through terrorism or war. Several documentaries for a wide variety of clientele have followed, including the National Liberty Museum, the Abramson Center for Jewish Life, Ofanim, Ionetix Corporation, the Support Center for Child Advocates, Adler Imaging, North America Vehicle Rescue Association, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, AIM Academy, the Caron Treatment Centers, Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia and the Consul General of Israel.
“It always amazes me how far a camera and a microphone can take you,” she said.
You can watch the trailer for “A Hero in Heaven” below:
A professional guitarist/vocalist, Mitlas was once a founding member of The 747 Dance Band which performed as the feature band for the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia.
“The 747 Dance Band was contracted and paid by the Walt Disney Company. I always got a kick out of that,” Mitlas said.
She has also performed at two official presidential inaugural galas in Washington, DC.
“One was for George Bush, the other for Obama. I had done an event for someone who worked in DC and was so impressed with our work, so they hired us.” she said. “There were thousands in that room.”
She said her experience as a musician dovetailed into film.
“I didn’t get into film until ‘A Hero in Heaven’. Musically, I always tried to surround myself with the best musicians and sound crew I could find,” she said. “I took that same philosophy and applied it to film, so I got the best editors and screenwriters, the cream of the crop. That’s how I grew the business.”
Last but not least, Mitlas creates original artwork through Micography, a 1,200-year-old art form which uses tiny Hebrew letters to form representational geometric and abstract designs.
For more on Mitlas Productions, LLC, located at The Pavilion Suites 728 – 730, 261 Old York Road, you can visit their website.
“I call us the best kept secret in the Philadelphia area. I have an editor, Alex Trivane, who’s been with me for 13 years. He’s phenomenal, and we’ve been a great combination in terms of skill sets,” Mitlas said. “My clientele adore him and he is a tremendous asset to our team.”
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Photos: Sally Mitlas