Katrina doc examines the aftermath
By: Jesse Morrison
Issue date: 8/14/08 Section: News
During the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the media reported on the violent and criminal incidents occurring in New Orleans. But those horrific tales were only a small percentage of the stories to come out of the tragedy.
The 30 minute documentary "After the Storm: Katrina Survivors & the Memphis Community" tells the stories of ordinary people whose lives were upended by the tragedy that forced them to leave everything behind and seek refuge in Memphis. The documentary was produced by The Center for Multi Media Arts (CMA) at the University of Memphis' FedEx Institute of Technology in conjunction with the United Way of the Mid-South and the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis.
"It was a discussion between those two groups that got it started and then they brought the idea to us," said Michael Schmidt director of the CMA.
When the refugees arrived in Memphis, non-profit organizations like The United Way and the Women's Foundation came to their aid, initially providing shelter, food and the essentials. When it became clear these people would be starting new lives in Memphis, these organizations helped them secure jobs and relocate.
"When they started to come, the non-profit organizations of Memphis really rallied together," said Dave Skorupa of the United Way.
After witnessing the refugees try to make Memphis their new home and integrate themselves into a new community, the people behind these organizations, as well as the newly formed organization Displaced Citizens of the Gulf Coast, wanted to make sure that their story was told.
"It was really a great opportunity to capture this unique period in our city's history," said Skorupa.
Because one of the major roles of The Women's Foundation involved finding places for them to live, they contributed valuable information that helped ready the film for production.
"We supported the documentary by helping to identify people for interviews," said Ruby Bright of the Women's Foundation.
The 30 minute documentary "After the Storm: Katrina Survivors & the Memphis Community" tells the stories of ordinary people whose lives were upended by the tragedy that forced them to leave everything behind and seek refuge in Memphis. The documentary was produced by The Center for Multi Media Arts (CMA) at the University of Memphis' FedEx Institute of Technology in conjunction with the United Way of the Mid-South and the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis.
"It was a discussion between those two groups that got it started and then they brought the idea to us," said Michael Schmidt director of the CMA.
When the refugees arrived in Memphis, non-profit organizations like The United Way and the Women's Foundation came to their aid, initially providing shelter, food and the essentials. When it became clear these people would be starting new lives in Memphis, these organizations helped them secure jobs and relocate.
"When they started to come, the non-profit organizations of Memphis really rallied together," said Dave Skorupa of the United Way.
After witnessing the refugees try to make Memphis their new home and integrate themselves into a new community, the people behind these organizations, as well as the newly formed organization Displaced Citizens of the Gulf Coast, wanted to make sure that their story was told.
"It was really a great opportunity to capture this unique period in our city's history," said Skorupa.
Because one of the major roles of The Women's Foundation involved finding places for them to live, they contributed valuable information that helped ready the film for production.
"We supported the documentary by helping to identify people for interviews," said Ruby Bright of the Women's Foundation.