Witness
Directed by Michael Socket
Michael Shocket has made over fifty Holocaust documentaries, since retiring. His passion is to make sure the victims of the Holocaust are not forgotten and future generations can be educated on the subject
What is the story behind your film?
Witness is about the small town of Lublin in Poland at the start of World War 2 and the nearby extermination camp of Madjanek and the atrocities committed there.
What should people take away, gain, realize after watching your film?
The most important message is that we cannot forget what happened to innocent people and must fight anti semitism or racial hatred so that once and for all we can say NEVER AGAIN
Michael Shocket has made over fifty Holocaust documentaries, since retiring. His passion is to make sure the victims of the Holocaust are not forgotten and future generations can be educated on the subject
What is the story behind your film?
Witness is about the small town of Lublin in Poland at the start of World War 2 and the nearby extermination camp of Madjanek and the atrocities committed there.
What should people take away, gain, realize after watching your film?
The most important message is that we cannot forget what happened to innocent people and must fight anti semitism or racial hatred so that once and for all we can say NEVER AGAIN
Do you think that films can change people for the better or for the worse?
Absolutely films can motivate actions hopefully for the better not worse
What creation style did you use in the production of your project? What cameraman elements did you use?
I used only images and film clips to describe the horror of it all
Absolutely films can motivate actions hopefully for the better not worse
What creation style did you use in the production of your project? What cameraman elements did you use?
I used only images and film clips to describe the horror of it all
How did you select the actors for your project?
There were no actors used in this film
Why do you think your film should appeal to distributors?
The appeal to distributors is simply hatred does not pay, and in the end the villains get their just desserts
At which festival has your film been screened?
The film has been screened so far in 27 Festivals around the world has won six first prize awards in India alone, Honorable mentions in greece, Barcelona and many more
How did your acquaintances react when they first saw the film?
When I showed the film to friends and family everyone got emotional, at one showing at a Jewish Community in new jersey, I was told there was not a dry eye in the house, when I saw the film on screen in a los Angeles film festival I was aware that the movie theater audience were in tears
If you could change something in your film, what would it be?
I would change nothing because I have see the reaction of audiences that tells me the message has got through to them
Which movies are your favorites and why?
My favorite movie is Chariots of Fire. The screenplay is extraordinary as well as The Elephant Man for sheer acting ability
What topics do you like to address in your stories?
The main topic is the Holocaust
What is your motivation in making films?
We must never forget what happened and educate our children and future generations so it does not happen again
Which contemporary filmmakers motivate you the most?
I have no favorite contemporary film makers
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
I would change nothing because I have see the reaction of audiences that tells me the message has got through to them
Which movies are your favorites and why?
My favorite movie is Chariots of Fire. The screenplay is extraordinary as well as The Elephant Man for sheer acting ability
What topics do you like to address in your stories?
The main topic is the Holocaust
What is your motivation in making films?
We must never forget what happened and educate our children and future generations so it does not happen again
Which contemporary filmmakers motivate you the most?
I have no favorite contemporary film makers
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
I was recently in Budapest and saw the sculptures of the shoes by the Danube and the Great Synagogue and was reminded of what raoul Wallenberg managed to do to save people, and read a book on Berthold Beitz who was CEO of Krupps in WW2 save Jews under great risk to himself and his family. However before that I am in the process of making a start on a well known singer in the USA Wanda Houston jazz and blues singer. It is based on her life story.