After the holocaust the world said, “never again,” yet genocide is happening in the world right now. The stories we forget to tell, of the survivors we never knew, will haunt us until we listen and act.
Narratives of Modern Genocide challenges the audience to experience first-person accounts of survivors of genocide. Sichan Siv and Gilbert Tuhabonye share how they escaped the killing fields of Cambodia, and the massacre of school children in Burundi. Mixing haunting animation, and expert context the film confronts our notion that the holocaust was the last genocide.
We speak to Paul Allen Hunton, General Manager of Texas Tech Public Media and director of the captivating new documentary NARRATIVES OF MODERN GENOCIDE
When did your filmmaking career kick off?
After I created and launched the PBS TV show, 24 Frames. It was a show made up of mini documentaries about music, art, and culture. I shot a short film on Stubbs BBQ founder and artist Paul Milosovich about the one time they drove to Nashville and made BBQ for Johnny Cash.
And why movies? What was it about movies that had you fixed on building a career around making them?
I just loved it. I loved playing GI Joes as a very young kid and loved building worlds and stories to live in. I don’t like the real world much, so creating worlds and expressing myself through film is just something I really love.
Most cite “Star Wars” as one of the films that spurred them towards a career as a filmmaker. What film was it for you?
The French New Wave and the work of Francois Truffaut really moved me to being a filmmaker. Also, Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. I grew up watching their tv show, “At the Movies” and learned so much about how movies are made and the difference components that make them.
What was the first thing you shot?
I shot a film on a VHS camcorder. We had to shoot in order as we had no way to edit. This was about 1995 or 96. My friends and I shot a film called, “What the Hell Just Hit Me.” It was like MTV’s Jackass before that was even a show.
And how do you think you’ve improved as a filmmaker since then?
I couldn’t even begin to tell you. Haha.
Is there a sequence in the latest movie that you’re truly proud of, one you can genuinely step back from and say ‘wow, that looks great’!? – OR in this case, plays great?
I love the sequence with the kids in Cambodia. It was such a powerful experience to travel to Vietnam and Cambodia and walk with them through that history. It awes me.
Why this topic? Something you were generally interested in?
History and its ramifications have always interested me greatly. I find it fascinating how it shapes and moulds us, small things have big consequences. I wish there was more of that in the film but that’s the motivation.
Relatively easy to get interviewees?
Yes, they all were on board form the beginning and really open.
Anything they didn’t want to discuss?
While it is very difficult the 2 people who tell their stories, Sichan Siv, and Gilbert Tuhabonye they both know the importance of sharing their stories and have done it for live audiences dozens of time. While it is still difficult and you can see the agony on their faces, they share openly and honestly about everything.
Besides educate, what do you hope is the result of the film?
Interesting question because I mostly want it to educate, but I’d also love for people to be inspired by what Gilbert and Sichan have done with their lives, how they stared down the most evil thing in the world and are surviving, and living full lives and are happy.