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The Oakland Press
Feb 22 2015
"Orphans" film documents centennial of 1915 Armenian genocide
By Stephanie Preweda, Special to The Oakland Press
One of the world's largest orphanages housed 22,000 children in one
complex during the Armenian Genocide of 1915. One hundred years later,
the horror stories live on through survivors and family members of
survivors.
This April marks the centennial of the Armenian genocide in 1915.
To recognize its importance, the Maple Theatre in Bloomfield Hills
showed the documentary "Orphans of the Genocide."
The film was directed and produced by four-time Emmy Award winning
filmmaker, Bared Maronian and his award winning documentary filmmaking
team, Armenoid Productions. (http://armenoidteam.com/who-we-are/)
Maronian was inspired to create the film after reading the 2010
article, "Living proof of the Armenian Genocide"
(http://ind.pn/17lAKM2)_by Robert Fisk in The Independent newspaper in
London, England.
The film was completed in three and a half years and has been
nominated for a regional Emmy twice, he said.
"When I read that article I was amazed with what I found," he said.
"This story happened 100 years ago and I was surprised something like
that would happen."
While researching, Maronian dug through Scandinavian, German and
Armenian archives for facts, statistics or even film footage that he
could use.
He came across rare footage from the National German Archives showing
22,000 orphans in a field and was able to incorporate it into his
film.
"You can visualize their pain and what was going through their mind
and make connection to the stories you heard growing up," said John
Zadikian, member of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of
Greater Detroit.
Zadikian grew up listening to stories of the genocide from his
grandmother who was a genocide survivor.
"To me it's sort of bring the experience full circle," he said.
"Hearing the sorties first hand are one thing but film brings in the
visual element for those who continue to live on."
During the research and filming process, Maronian and his team visited
four countries -- Armenia, Lebanon, The United States and Canada.
Speaking with scholars and hearing stories from survivors or families
of survivors, the film started to shape.
While researching Maronian was shocked with some of the information he
uncovered.
"One of the most shocking --a positive shock --was the fact that the
Americans during post World War I during 1915-16, embarked on this
huge humanitarian effort to save thousands of Armenian orphans -
32,000 orphans, as its documented," he said.
"As far as a negative shock, it was the largest ever orphanage in the
world," he said. "During the war, 20,000 orphans were housed under one
complex and 75 barracks were converted into orphans houses," he said.
In addition to "Orphans of the Genocide," Maronian is currently
filming "The Women of 1915," which focuses on women during that time.
As a fundraiser, donations will be accepted at the showing.
A trailer for "The Women of 1915" will be shown after the viewing
along with a speech by Maronian about his film making process.
"My own grandmother was put in orphanage," said Zadikian. "The Women
of 1915 tells stories of how women survived."
Maronian's original goal was to have the film ready for the centennial
this April but due to funding issues, the deadline has been pushed
back and he hopes to have it complete within 2015.
"I would like to say the Detroit community has been very supportive of
my first film and we hope to have a successful fundraiser for The
Women of 1915," he said.
For more information about the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee
of Greater Detroit visit, http://on.fb.me/1L79yOx
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/arts-and-entertainment/20150222/orphans-film-documents-centennial-of-1915-armenian-genocide
Feb 22 2015
"Orphans" film documents centennial of 1915 Armenian genocide
By Stephanie Preweda, Special to The Oakland Press
One of the world's largest orphanages housed 22,000 children in one
complex during the Armenian Genocide of 1915. One hundred years later,
the horror stories live on through survivors and family members of
survivors.
This April marks the centennial of the Armenian genocide in 1915.
To recognize its importance, the Maple Theatre in Bloomfield Hills
showed the documentary "Orphans of the Genocide."
The film was directed and produced by four-time Emmy Award winning
filmmaker, Bared Maronian and his award winning documentary filmmaking
team, Armenoid Productions. (http://armenoidteam.com/who-we-are/)
Maronian was inspired to create the film after reading the 2010
article, "Living proof of the Armenian Genocide"
(http://ind.pn/17lAKM2)_by Robert Fisk in The Independent newspaper in
London, England.
The film was completed in three and a half years and has been
nominated for a regional Emmy twice, he said.
"When I read that article I was amazed with what I found," he said.
"This story happened 100 years ago and I was surprised something like
that would happen."
While researching, Maronian dug through Scandinavian, German and
Armenian archives for facts, statistics or even film footage that he
could use.
He came across rare footage from the National German Archives showing
22,000 orphans in a field and was able to incorporate it into his
film.
"You can visualize their pain and what was going through their mind
and make connection to the stories you heard growing up," said John
Zadikian, member of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of
Greater Detroit.
Zadikian grew up listening to stories of the genocide from his
grandmother who was a genocide survivor.
"To me it's sort of bring the experience full circle," he said.
"Hearing the sorties first hand are one thing but film brings in the
visual element for those who continue to live on."
During the research and filming process, Maronian and his team visited
four countries -- Armenia, Lebanon, The United States and Canada.
Speaking with scholars and hearing stories from survivors or families
of survivors, the film started to shape.
While researching Maronian was shocked with some of the information he
uncovered.
"One of the most shocking --a positive shock --was the fact that the
Americans during post World War I during 1915-16, embarked on this
huge humanitarian effort to save thousands of Armenian orphans -
32,000 orphans, as its documented," he said.
"As far as a negative shock, it was the largest ever orphanage in the
world," he said. "During the war, 20,000 orphans were housed under one
complex and 75 barracks were converted into orphans houses," he said.
In addition to "Orphans of the Genocide," Maronian is currently
filming "The Women of 1915," which focuses on women during that time.
As a fundraiser, donations will be accepted at the showing.
A trailer for "The Women of 1915" will be shown after the viewing
along with a speech by Maronian about his film making process.
"My own grandmother was put in orphanage," said Zadikian. "The Women
of 1915 tells stories of how women survived."
Maronian's original goal was to have the film ready for the centennial
this April but due to funding issues, the deadline has been pushed
back and he hopes to have it complete within 2015.
"I would like to say the Detroit community has been very supportive of
my first film and we hope to have a successful fundraiser for The
Women of 1915," he said.
For more information about the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee
of Greater Detroit visit, http://on.fb.me/1L79yOx
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/arts-and-entertainment/20150222/orphans-film-documents-centennial-of-1915-armenian-genocide