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'ORPHANS OF THE GENOCIDE' DEBUT A SUCCESS
asbarez
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012
The film debuts at Woodbury University
BURBANK, Calif.-The presentation of the broadcast version documentary
"Orphans of the Genocide" directed by four time Emmy award winner
Bared Maronian, took place on Sunday, September 30th at 4:00 p.m. at
the Woodbury University in Burbank, California. This well attended
event was organized by Ararat- Eskijian Museum, with the support of
both the Western Diocese of America and the Prelacy churches.
Filmmaker Bared Maronian during his presentation Martin Eskijian
welcomed the attendees on behalf of the Ararat-Eskijian Museum and
invited the world-renowned Armenian Genocide scholar, Professor
Vahakn N . Dadrian to the stage. Professor Dadrian gave a compelling
introductory lecture on the extreme cruelty these young orphan
children experienced at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Not only
were some brutally murdered by hatchets, poison and swords, but
also the novel method of mass drowning at the shores of the Black
Sea and sections of the Euphrates River, especially in the Harput
province, was utilized. Often the victims were mercilessly brutalized
through sexual abuse, before being murdered, irrespective of the
gender. Children placed in Turkish homes were almost always sexually
abused and brothels were common. Another, milder form of perpetration
involved the reducing of female victims in many Turkish households to
the status of a concubine. In rare instances the female victims were
integrated in a Turkish household as a legitimate wife, often as one
of several wives, or, as a single wife. Very few of these could, or
wanted to return to their original household after the end of the war.
Professor Dadrian's eye opening lecture was followed by Bared
Maronian's dynamic presentation of the Armenoid Team's inception,
accomplishments and future plans with a focus on the team's current
project, "Orphans of the Genocide" that consists of a documentary
film and a companion book, telling the story of untold numbers of
Armenian children who had become prime targets by the organizers of
the Genocide. Maronian's extraordinary work depicts a theme that for
decades has remained overlooked by historians trying to explore the
various aspects of the World War I cataclysm that nearly obliterated
the Armenian nation.
The material in question almost entirely focuses on the surviving
Armenian children. The extreme and deplorable condition and abuses of
these surviving orphans allows insight into the overall context and
intent of the crime. The object of "Turkification" also was a form
of genocide that was perpetrated on the Armenian nation by stripping
the children of their Armenian identity. Maronian showed 4 complete
segments of the broadcast version of the film, which resonated a
benchmark production value and a unique story telling technique. At
the conclusion of hid presentation, Maronian gave the attendees a
chance to express their thoughts on his film, who in return praised
the well researched and produced touching film depicting the stories
of the Armenian Genocide orphans.
Prof. Vahakn Dadrian Maronian thanked the attendees for their support
especially all those who generously contributed to his project. The
seed-money for the project was provided by Alecco Bezikian, who
is the son of an Armenian Genocide Orphan. Dr. Noubar Ouzounian
and Sarah Chitjian, both a son and a daughter of Genocide orphans
continually supported "Orphans of the Genocide". "I wholeheartedly
thank all those who made this project possible, specially the curator
of Ararat-Eskijian Museum, Maggie Goschin-Mangassarian who adopted
this project from it's inception".
Among the dignitaries were accomplished Hollywood producer Howard
Kazanjian and Missak Keleshian, the researcher who unrevealed the
story of the Armenian Genocide orphans of Aintoura, Lebanon, who were
destined for "Turkification".
The closing words were delivered by Nancy Eskijian, Esq., who
reiterated the importance of supporting the project at hand in any
way possible.
Finally, Western Primate Hovnan Derderian commended Maronian's work
and concluded his words by saying, "after seeing this powerful film,
I can attest that genocide has a different meaning to me."
Upon the conclusion of the event the guests were invited to a reception
at the atrium of the Fletcher Jones Foundation Auditorium of Woodbury
University, where 18 images depicting the experiences of Armenian
Genocide orphans were displayed on special canvas prints.
asbarez
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012
The film debuts at Woodbury University
BURBANK, Calif.-The presentation of the broadcast version documentary
"Orphans of the Genocide" directed by four time Emmy award winner
Bared Maronian, took place on Sunday, September 30th at 4:00 p.m. at
the Woodbury University in Burbank, California. This well attended
event was organized by Ararat- Eskijian Museum, with the support of
both the Western Diocese of America and the Prelacy churches.
Filmmaker Bared Maronian during his presentation Martin Eskijian
welcomed the attendees on behalf of the Ararat-Eskijian Museum and
invited the world-renowned Armenian Genocide scholar, Professor
Vahakn N . Dadrian to the stage. Professor Dadrian gave a compelling
introductory lecture on the extreme cruelty these young orphan
children experienced at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Not only
were some brutally murdered by hatchets, poison and swords, but
also the novel method of mass drowning at the shores of the Black
Sea and sections of the Euphrates River, especially in the Harput
province, was utilized. Often the victims were mercilessly brutalized
through sexual abuse, before being murdered, irrespective of the
gender. Children placed in Turkish homes were almost always sexually
abused and brothels were common. Another, milder form of perpetration
involved the reducing of female victims in many Turkish households to
the status of a concubine. In rare instances the female victims were
integrated in a Turkish household as a legitimate wife, often as one
of several wives, or, as a single wife. Very few of these could, or
wanted to return to their original household after the end of the war.
Professor Dadrian's eye opening lecture was followed by Bared
Maronian's dynamic presentation of the Armenoid Team's inception,
accomplishments and future plans with a focus on the team's current
project, "Orphans of the Genocide" that consists of a documentary
film and a companion book, telling the story of untold numbers of
Armenian children who had become prime targets by the organizers of
the Genocide. Maronian's extraordinary work depicts a theme that for
decades has remained overlooked by historians trying to explore the
various aspects of the World War I cataclysm that nearly obliterated
the Armenian nation.
The material in question almost entirely focuses on the surviving
Armenian children. The extreme and deplorable condition and abuses of
these surviving orphans allows insight into the overall context and
intent of the crime. The object of "Turkification" also was a form
of genocide that was perpetrated on the Armenian nation by stripping
the children of their Armenian identity. Maronian showed 4 complete
segments of the broadcast version of the film, which resonated a
benchmark production value and a unique story telling technique. At
the conclusion of hid presentation, Maronian gave the attendees a
chance to express their thoughts on his film, who in return praised
the well researched and produced touching film depicting the stories
of the Armenian Genocide orphans.
Prof. Vahakn Dadrian Maronian thanked the attendees for their support
especially all those who generously contributed to his project. The
seed-money for the project was provided by Alecco Bezikian, who
is the son of an Armenian Genocide Orphan. Dr. Noubar Ouzounian
and Sarah Chitjian, both a son and a daughter of Genocide orphans
continually supported "Orphans of the Genocide". "I wholeheartedly
thank all those who made this project possible, specially the curator
of Ararat-Eskijian Museum, Maggie Goschin-Mangassarian who adopted
this project from it's inception".
Among the dignitaries were accomplished Hollywood producer Howard
Kazanjian and Missak Keleshian, the researcher who unrevealed the
story of the Armenian Genocide orphans of Aintoura, Lebanon, who were
destined for "Turkification".
The closing words were delivered by Nancy Eskijian, Esq., who
reiterated the importance of supporting the project at hand in any
way possible.
Finally, Western Primate Hovnan Derderian commended Maronian's work
and concluded his words by saying, "after seeing this powerful film,
I can attest that genocide has a different meaning to me."
Upon the conclusion of the event the guests were invited to a reception
at the atrium of the Fletcher Jones Foundation Auditorium of Woodbury
University, where 18 images depicting the experiences of Armenian
Genocide orphans were displayed on special canvas prints.