If you are a fan of public radio, like I am, then you’ve probably heard of Story Corps, an organization which invites ordinary folks to record interviews in mobile studios crisscrossing the country. I’m obsessed. NPR broadcasts a short StoryCorps segment each Friday and they never fail to touch me. There is something so powerful and raw about hearing an ordinary person tell the story of the highs or lows of life — meeting a spouse, advice from an elder, what inspires him, and what she is most proud of. They are stories of real people full of heart. In our superficial, fame-obsessed culture, they demonstrate the enduring power of authenticity.
As you might imagine, I became inspired to try to capture my family’s story by videotaping the many generations of my family, some of whom you see above. After some light teasing about my journalistic chops, my aunts, uncles, siblings and cousins jumped right in to lend their perspectives about family history, memories of deceased relatives, and what values they think shaped us. It was really a magical experience. Being behind the camera gives you such an opportunity to ask questions I wouldn’t have asked before. What did Grandmother do for fun? What do you remember about family ski trips? I unearthed forgotten stories, got different perspectives on the exact same event and learned more about how my family members see the world.
For example, in our family we don’t just let children win games. If you win, you really won. So several of my subjects spoke with pride about the times they’d beaten their elders at games like Jotto or Caroms. Everyone had memories of big Southern dinners, replete with crystal, flowers and even a bell to ring for the next course. During what was to be her last interview before her death, my aunt told me she thought people in their eighties didn’t have fun. She laughed heartily, “So your eighty, you can still have fun. If not now, when?” I treasure that video.
Now I’m trudging through the editing process (with a self-imposed deadline of Thanksgiving), but I’m loving it and you might too. I’m happy to have these memories digitally preserved, at the very least. StoryCorps has an app you can download to your phone to make voice recordings as well as suggested questions to get you started on your own docudrama.
Don’t miss the chance to capture and tell your family’s story. I can’t imagine anyone who’s not in the family would ever want to see the final video, but you never know. Stay tuned blogosphere, I may invite you to the premiere!
Boonedoggler 