Teachers, the documentary interview process provides an excellent model for engaging students in seeking out and understanding history in their own communities while using technologies that are part of their lives.

Students are invited to share the World War II stories from their communities by participating in the Oklahoma World War II Story Collection Project.

The guidelines are simple:

1. Students may choose one of the following story subjects:
- Interview a veteran from World War II; or
- Interview a person who was alive during World War II but was not an actual veteran. For example, interview someone who might have been a “Rosie the Riveter” or a nurse at a military hospital.

2. This is the perfect opportunity for students to become digital documentary filmmakers by using the technologies that are part of their lives. Video interviews are encouraged. Written interviews will also be accepted, but this is the perfect opportunity for students to flex their creative muscle and record their interviews using digital technology (i.e. digital video cameras, cell phones with video recording technology, web cams, etc.)

Video interviews may be 10 - 20 minutes in length. Video interviews longer than 20 minutes will be accepted, but only the first 20 minutes will be streamed on the project web site.

OETA will be accepting stories through April 30, 2008.

To submit a VIDEO INTERVIEW to OETA:
Mail a DVD or digital tape copy of the interview with a copy of the signed release form to Lori Holliday, OETA World War II Student Project, P.O. Box 14190, Oklahoma City, OK 73113.

To submit a WRITTEN INTERVIEW to OETA:
Mail the written transcript, copies of any photos to be used with the story, and a copy of the signed release form to Lori Holliday, OETA World War II Student Project, P.O. Box 14190, Oklahoma City, OK 73113.

Many helpful resources are available to teachers and students. See below.

Tips:

Review the resources available to teachers and students. At a minimum, consider using the Interview Field Kit, which has information on selecting a story subject, preparing for the interview, interview tips, and suggested interview questions.

Teachers and students may select their own interview subjects, but OETA is available to help match veterans with students, if needed. Contact Lori Holliday at lholliday@oeta.tv or (405) 841-9257 for assistance in finding veterans in your community.

Be creative! Students might choose to incorporate still photographs, music, art work, or “B roll” footage into their interviews. There is no standard interview “template” but rather students are encouraged to explore their own style using digital documentary interview techniques.

All students will receive recognition from OETA for their work and for their participation in the Oklahoma World War II Story Collection Project. The best video interviews will air on OETA to a statewide audience. These winners will be notified.

Questions? Please call Lori Holliday, OETA’s Director for Educational Outreach, at lholliday@oeta.tv or (405) 841-9257.