When West Bank Story won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film at the Academy Awards Ceremony earlier this year, I was delighted. As the world’s most avid movie musical fan, I’m always happy when musicals earn the recognition they deserve. And now, I’m eagerly anticipating an interview with Joey Naber, one of the talented stars of this award-winning film.

Naber has graciously agreed to visit “Movie Addict Headquarters,” my BlogTalkRadio show, on Tuesday, July 17. The show airs live at 4 p.m. Eastern Time and can be heard later as an archived segment.

West Bank Story, directed by Ari Sandel, is a musical comedy about the relationship between two Israeli and Palestinian falafel stands in the West Bank. With a humorous nod to the classic West Side Story, this short film features spirited singing and dancing while telling a love story between a beautiful Palestinian cashier and an Israeli soldier. It’s very easy to root for this charming couple; we want them to get together despite “a century-old conflict and their families’ desire to control the future of the chic pea in the Middle East.” 

Bringing energy and flair to the role of a frustrated and angry brother, Naber claims he was sold on the movie from the beginning. “I knew West Bank Story was going to go places the second I finished reading the script,” he says. “I was thrilled when I was told I got the part. I enjoyed every moment of this project and being a star in an Academy Award winning film feels great.” 

Naber’s other movies include Mother, Executive Decision, The Siege, Three Kings, BAPS, Angel Town and Five Wishes, a film Naber and his wife co-produced. He’s also appeared in the following television shows: Las Vegas, Charmed, JAG, Baywatch, ER, Without a Trace, The Agency, The Bold and the Beautiful.      

Recently, Naber completed photography on a short film he directed called Final Resolve.  

What’s next for Naber? “I just want to work. I love acting and producing and I am looking forward to the various projects that will follow this tremendous West Bank Story experience,” he declares.

To hear Joey Naber on BlogTalkRadio, click here.

(West Bank Story is released by Westlake Entertainment Group. For more information about the movie, go to www.westbankstory.com.)