The scene in Williamsburg when the movie company was shooting New York, I Love You, with Portman and Karpen... which is a film about love in the Big Apple.
Karpen told people that he was always creative and met Portman in a Miztvah Tank, (of all places) where they got to talking and exchanged numbers, Portman later thought of Karpen for the role.
As far as Karpen being well behaved on set, we can report that he was always acting as a good Chassid should .. and at no time did he forget who he was or where he comes from, in fact when he was asked to hold Portman's hand he refused, saying "It's against our religion. You can't even hold your wife's hand on the street."
A Rabbi also told him his kids would be kicked out of their schools if he continued to film his role, so Karpen, a kitchen cabinet salesman, is kissing his silver screen dreams good-bye. He and his family left the city for the weekend (a friend said, "The community wants to kill him" although this is probably just the Daily news trying to sensationalize the news.).
One Chasidic acitvist told the News, "We don't watch television. We don't go to the movies, so to be in a movie is the worst thing. It's a shame for any Chassid."Two Satmar Chassidim on the scene, were conflicted, on the one hand they thought it was very cool that karpen is in a Hollywood movie with Portman, they confessed to us that with the advent on the internet and mini DVD players they many in the sect watch movies, however "Watching a movie and being in a movie are 2 very different things" they went on to say.
Now that Karpen has left the movie who will fill in as her Chassidish hubby, any takers?
