By: Kelly Kearney
Q) Yaniv is a unique indie film like we’ve not seen before. It isn’t often we see Hasid-driven comedies. What first drew you to the script, and what made you want to be part of this project?
A) Ben [Ducoff] and I go back to college where we became close friends and eventually creative collaborators. In the summer of 2021 he sent me Yaniv and the humor immediately drew me in, but at the time I wasn’t sure how it could get made. A year later, he told me he had some funding and wanted me to join him and Amnon [Carmi] in producing it. By then I’d been acting for years but was just starting to explore producing, so the chance to both perform and help make a feature alongside friends was what really drew me to the project.
Q) Tell us about your character in the film, Bez. Who is he and what kind of energy does he bring to the story?
A) Bez is actually a small part of the story, but he makes a big impact — especially on Jonah, who’s played so incredibly by Eli Bos. He’s very much an instigator, the kind of character who pushes things forward and sets Jonah on the path that brings him to where we meet him in the present, when Bernstein, our protagonist, comes to him for help. So, even though Bez isn’t on screen a lot, his energy ripples through the story in a really key way.
Q) How much of yourself is in Bez? Did you infuse any parts of your personality into him—or is he completely different from you?
A) Again, Bez is a small role, so I didn’t approach him with anything overly complicated. He was just a fun character to play, and sometimes that freedom makes it even more enjoyable.
Q) This film explores Hasidic Jewish life in the Bronx with humor and heart. Was it challenging to balance comedy with authenticity in your performance or was the script and direction so tight it easily guided your path to Bez?
A) Authenticity is my north star in every performance, whether it’s comedy or drama, a big role or a small one. So, for me, it wasn’t a challenge — that’s just the job.
Q) Talk about working with Amnon Carmi as writer and director.
A) I’d known of Amnon through Ben, but it was really on Yaniv that we got to know each other and became close. Since then, we’ve considered each other creative partners. Most of my work with him has been on the producing side and I’ve come to really respect him in that regard, but he’s a very technically sound director as well. All in all, he’s got such a wide range of skills and I really appreciate the way he approaches the work.
Q) Was there a lot of freedom to play with the character and even improvise?
A) Definitely. The nature of the role — and especially scenes like that in a comedy — naturally leave some room for improv.
Q) Filming in the Bronx is its own character—what’s one thing you loved about shooting there?
A) We actually didn’t shoot in the Bronx — we shot in Brooklyn. That’s movie-magic for you. But Brooklyn was great, and it gave us everything we needed to bring that world to life.
Q) There are a lot of outrageous moments in this film. Do you have a favorite memory or behind-the-scenes moment from the shoot that still makes you laugh?
A) It’s tough to pick, but one of my favorite memories has to be filming the scene where Bernstein and Jonah are chased through the Yaniv Club by a stream of Hasidic men and end up crashing straight into a predominantly female dance class. It’s a hilarious moment in the film, but on set it was just as wild — a riot to stage and definitely a challenge to coordinate. That one still makes me laugh to this day.
Q) After I watched Yaniv, I found myself jumping on Google and was surprised to see it’s an actual game. Did you and your fellow cast members learn to play it?
A) Cast and Crew both ended up learning how to play, but I think everyone has varying levels of confidence in their gameplay. I mostly played with Amnon — and he has absolutely no mercy — so I have zero confidence [laughs]. At this point, I’d rather just spectate.
Q) What do you hope audiences take away from Yaniv—beyond just the laughs?
A) I’ve always hoped audiences see the heart in the film. At its core, Yaniv is about fighting for something bigger than yourself — in Bernstein’s case, raising money so kids can have access to the arts. What I’d love for people to take away is that same spirit: to keep fighting for what they believe in, no matter the obstacles.
Q) What’s next for you, Nik? Do you have any upcoming projects we can look out for?
A) Next up, I’ve got Robert Zemeckis’ The Last Mrs. Parrish, which will be on Netflix in 2026. Outside of that, I’m doing some writing and working on getting a few projects off the ground as a producer.