Jacob the Baker, Noah the Movie Maker

Pulitzer Prize nominee, poet, and philosopher Noah benShea is now in the movie business!

The Montecito resident – who was formerly assistant dean of students at UCLA at the age of 22 – has written a number of books using the character Jacob the Baker, including Gentle Wisdom for a Complicated World, which has been made into a 120-minute film of the same name that had its premiere at the 2,000-seat Saban Theatre in Los Angeles last week.

“We have plans for a Santa Barbara debut in 2024,” says Noah, who co-stars in the production directed by Gev Miron, who also co-wrote the script with Noah and Wendy Kout.

Dara Emery and Kathrine Kohl complete the cast.

“My creative team was a village of profound talent and caring,” says Noah. “It was shot around the world in the middle of COVID, making a magic carpet of a film changing lives around the globe.”

BenShea, who has written 30 books translated into 18 languages, has lived part-time in Italy since 2000. He came to Montecito 47 years ago as a fellow at a local think tank, the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions.