San Ramon High Alumnus Announces His Historically Relevant Documentary

TEACHING MANZANAR: A Documentary

I started this project after discovering my 96-year-old great aunt Rita was a 6th grade school teacher at Manzanar Japanese Internment Camp during World War II. Manzanar is located 160 miles North East of Bakersfield and was one of 10 camps set up in the Western United States to hold Japanese-American citizens throughout the war as a result of Executive Order 9066.

75 years ago this December, the Japanese Empire attacked the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and in the following months General John DeWitt convinced President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to enact Executive Order 9066. This allowed General DeWitt to set up exclusions zones which included most of the West Coast of the US. As a result, Japanese-American men, women and children who resided in those areas were forced out of their homes, businesses, and schools. They were then processed at Civilian Assembly Centers (many of which were horse racing tracks and stables) and then sent on to the Internment Camps.

I was struck by the fact there were approximately 30,000 children under the age of 18 in these internment camps. The school age kids, many of whom were near their graduation date, were forced to leave their schools before their final semester had even ended. I wanted to know what life was like for them and who they were, but most importantly, what they could teach us from their time there. Many of the interviewees are now in their 70's and 80's and it's important to capture their stories for future generations.

The funds will be used for the film's production, such as new interviews, reshoots, post-production needs, music, graphics, photo and film licensing fees, marketing and publicity, and the film festival circuit.

As a feature filmmaker, I plan to work with my colleagues and collaborators to produce a world-class documentary honoring the voice of the teachers and children whose history should never be forgotten.
I hope you can help.

Joel McDonell | IMDB
#TeachingManzanar | IMDB | Facebook

Many of our major obstacles have been addressed and overcome, and many people have been very helpful in providing us with contacts and information that we need to complete this project. But, there are still more things accomplish. So, the immediate concern is how to pay for them.

That's where you come in. With your help, we will raise the necessary funds to realize this project's full potential. Then, once it's completed, our major challenge will be to secure distribution and bring the film to the widest audience imaginable.

Thank you in advance for your contributions and assistance.

Thank you,

Joel-

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1373330699/teaching-manzanar-documentary