World War II Foundation
Beginning in the summer of 2022, Holmes has served as a faculty advisor for the World War II Foundation’s documentary film practicum that allows students to travel to Europe and work with PBS film crews on WWII documentary projects. This program is aimed specifically at connecting younger audiences with history in a way that makes it more captivating and relatable.
Shaina travelled to Italy with a group of students to advise and guide the work on a handful of documentary features and shorts created by both the PBS team and the students themselves:
“The Tuskegee Airmen, Return to Ramitelli.” WWII Foundation (PBS), 2023.
“Bob Dole, Italy and World War II.” WWII Foundation (PBS), 2023.
“Pompeii: Then and Now.” TRF students, 2023.
“Arancia: Adventures of Students Living Abroad.” TRF students, 2023.
“Behind-the-scenes shooting on WWII doc.” TRF students, 2022.
“Instagram Takeover @NewhouseSU.” TRF students, 2022.
the foundation’s mission
“We don’t produce World War II films. We produce documentary films on individual personal stories from World War II. I think there’s a pretty significant difference.
We educate younger generations about the war. We do not approach this in ways WE think are best. We teach based on how students are actually learning and what tools THEY themselves are utilizing today to explore history, whether that be via strong visual storytelling in films that capture their attention and imagination or utilizing new storytelling technology such as Virtual Reality (VR).
We push out much of this content via Social Media channels, as well as via traditional national and international television networks. We film all these documentaries, narrated by some of the biggest names in television, music, sports, and the movies, in the locations where they actually played out in the war. Often bringing back a veteran or survivor with us to where their own individual WWII story began and ended. Our studio is in Europe, the Pacific, and the Far East.
We hope these award-winning films, which rank in the top 5 of most requested programs nationally by PBS and Public Television affiliates, will motivate not just students, but everyone to learn more about this critical time period in world history. The lessons of which still strongly resonate today. We make all these resources available for free to anyone who wants to explore World War II’s impact on the lives of those who lived through it.”
-Tim Gray, President and Founder