Published: December 1, 2007
CARROLLWOOD - They're Nickelback and the Jonas Brothers. He's Sinatra and George Burns.
They found common ground over Leonardo DiCaprio.
Hillel School got a brush with Hollywood recently when students met director and producer Gil Cates. Cates came to the school as a favor to friends who worked there to help Hillel with its annual fundraiser.
He roamed halls and classrooms, meeting students and talking to them about their interests, peppering conversations with celebrity stories. He attended their assembly to listen to their songs and accept a gift of two masks the sixth-graders made him. Afterward, he lingered for photos and chatted with small groups.
Eighth-graders clustered around him and asked about the shows he had produced and actors he had met. Cates, the producing director of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, has worked on and off Broadway, as well as in film and television.
He directed stars including George Burns in "Oh, God! Book II," Patty Duke in "Call Me Anna," Natalie Wood in "The Last Married Couple in America" and Joanne Woodward in the Oscar-nominated "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams."
But, he fessed up to the students that he had not yet crossed paths with Miley Cyrus or her Disney persona, Hannah Montana.
"I do not know Hannah Montana," he said. "I do know Hannah Montana's father."
He hadn't heard of one student's favorite, the Jonas Brothers, but won her interest when he said he had met "Titanic" heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio during the Academy Awards. Cates has produced 13 Academy Awards shows. She reached forward to touch the man who had touched DiCaprio.
He said he gets to meet everyone who presents at the awards. The students wanted to know the shows he had produced and the celebrities he knew. Cates wanted to know their favorite TV shows, actors and singers.
He shared their appreciation of Will Smith's acting talents ("I think Will Smith is terrific, too") and confided that comedian Adam Sandler was quieter and more reserved in person.
Cates came to Tampa at the invitation of Herb Herzog, a childhood friend whom he has kept in touch with for 68 years. Herzog's wife, Shelley, teaches third grade at Hillel, and his daughter, Eileen Kanter, serves on the board of trustees.
Hillel has an annual fundraising drive, usually a dinner and silent auction, but the board was looking for something different this year.
"We needed to energize everybody," Kanter said.
The Herzog family never broadcast its celebrity connection, but Herb Herzog thought his friend might be interested. Kanter sent him an e-mail, and he accepted. He became the headliner for a black-tie dinner and behind-the-scenes discussion Nov. 17. Hillel sold tickets for the event.
For Cates, it was a welcome way to visit with his cross-country friend.
"I wish 68 years from now you can come back from some place and say hello to friends at Hillel," he told the students. "I've had an amazing time here. Thanks for the warmth and affection. ... I love you all."