A New Armenia, Documentary Film
Donation protected
100 Years – A New Century Begins
A New Armenia is a 60-minute public television documentary film and educational outreach initiative that tells the stories of 10 fascinating Armenian Americans working to preserve their Armenian culture while also impacting American culture through music, business, politics, art, religion, theatre, and volunteerism.
The Project
A New Armenia is slated for distribution in 2016 as a feature documentary film airing on PBS stations across the United States. It will be paired with a significant national outreach education initiative. The project is designed by successful public television producers Stephanie Ayanian, Joseph Myers, and Tom Keiter.
• First major film to tell the inspiring stories of today’s Armenians from across the United States, and not focusing on the Genocide.
• Stories act as exemplars for Armenian Americans, offering them models of success for the next 100 years.
• Non-Armenians gain an appreciation for a rich and ancient Armenian culture that is being actively adapted and advanced in communities across the country today.
• Reaching 211 million Americans and creating tangible impact through a successful public television model.
• Broad outreach initiative including K-12 curriculum, social media campaign, and live cultural events for the Armenian and non-Armenian public.
• Supported by Armenian organizations, including Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), Knights and Daughters of Vartan, Armenia Tree Project, and Armenian Youth Federation (AYF).
Financial Status and Ask
Approximately $100,000 from foundations, organizations, and individuals has already been donated to A New Armenia to develop and begin filming. We are asking the community to support this project with $75,000 in further donations, as we continue to seek additional funding from foundations and organizations towards our total goal of $763,000.
GoFundMe contributions are not deductible as charitable donations. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit the "A New Armenia" website .
Rationale
The Genocide of 1915 left Armenia and the Armenian populations devastated, but today there are over 10 million worldwide and Armenians in the United States are thriving in numbers. Still, the Armenian language and traditions are endangered, and a large majority of Americans have never heard of the Armenians or of Armenia. We aim to address this.
Our research has uncovered many Armenian Americans leading fascinating lives, doing important work, and providing inspiring portraits – the types of stories that are popular with audiences because they educate, they create empathy, and they expand an audience’s awareness of the world. We will share these stories widely both to inspire Armenian Americans and to educate non-Armenians.
Reaching Non-Armenians
Compelling portraits will inherently be inspirational to Armenian Americans, but what about the non-Armenian public that we want to reach? Many projects have introduced Armenians to the non-Armenian public by focusing on the Genocide. This makes sense to Armenians because the Genocide affects their lives so deeply. However, there is a more effective way to reach the broader public.
• First, engage audiences with compelling, real, relatable characters working to embrace, preserve, and adapt Armenian culture today.
• Then, as audiences start to relate to these inspiring human characters, they will begin to care.
• Finally, the now-empathetic audience takes a greater interest when Armenians are in the news and Armenian causes require support.
Progress
storyshop has spent over a year researching and filming the stories of Armenian Americans, organizing internationally recognized content advisors, outreach partners, and cultivating the relationship with PBS to enable the production and distribution of A New Armenia. The company is diligently filming stories and continuing to position relationships for successful distribution in communities all over the United States. storyshop is half-way through filming.
Public Television Market
PBS is the nation’s largest broadcast platform for reaching and creating an informed citizenry. Their educational platform includes broadcast television, mobile devices, online interactive content and social media, and extensive classroom resources. PBS is watched by 211 million Americans through TV, their primetime audience is larger than Bravo, A&E, HBO, and Discovery Channel. PBS also reaches 1 million Armenians in the United States.
PBS viewers are educated and seek programming that is often ethnographic in nature. The target audience for A New Armenia is people interested in ethnographic programming and audiences of all ages interested in engaging stories.
The Production Company
The storyshop team has experience bringing inspiring educational documentaries and outreach initiatives from creative concept through distribution on PBS stations across the United States. Partners Stephanie Ayanian, Joseph Myers, and Tom Keiter have decades of experience working together and successfully sharing educational stories with PBS audiences, garnering countless awards and recognition by international organizations. They have partnered with institutions such as The Verizon Foundation, The American Society of Civil Engineers, and The Pennsylvania State University, as well as many others.
storyshop projects have a track record of large and successful outreach initiatives. Partner work has been screened internationally in public education programs, including supporting the efforts of institutions, educators, policy makers, governments, and celebrities. Communities across the U.S. have held public screenings and discussions around each film, K-12 schools and universities have used educational toolkits in the classroom, and social media campaigns have increased visibility and impact.
The Stories
The film follows a select set of individuals, all chosen to resonate with non-Armenian audiences as well as with Armenians. The project will document their lives, work projects, struggles and triumphs over nearly a year in each of their lives. Each in their own way, they work to perpetuate culture and preserve Armenian identity
Michael Aram Wolohojian
Designer, Artist
Honoring his ancestors by creating a positive sculpture for reflecting on the present and future.
Richard Hagopian and Andrew Hagopian
Oud Master and His Grandson
Passing on an unwritten tradition to his grandson, a rare fifteen-year old who embraces this legacy wholeheartedly.
Aram Hamparian
Activist, Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Seeking justice in the name of the Genocide and working to garner political support for a strong Armenian future.
Lory Tatoulian
Comedian and Social Satirist
Preparing for her next performance of “The Big Bad Armo Show.” Entertaining while using humor to create vital cultural discussions.
Sebu Simonian
Singer, Songwriter, Capital Cities
Balancing his public persona and #1 hits with a deeply personal journey to understand his own family’s history.
John and Annie Sweers
Educators, Volunteers in Armenia
An Armenian-American man who grew up in Wisconsin with little exposure to Armenian culture searches for his identity by traveling to Armenia through an immersive cultural experience and volunteering program, at the same time sharing the experience with his non-Armenian wife who gains her own perspective.
The Tcholakian Family
Owners of International-Foods Grocery Chain
Houston family supports the Armenian community by providing employment for recent Armenian immigrants looking to get their start in the United States.
Karine Shamlian
Granddaughter of Living Genocide Survivor, Asdghig Alemian
She knows it is her responsibility to perpetuate her Armenian culture through her actions every day. These actions include teaching Armenian dance at her children's school and leading her church's Ladies Guild.
Jon Simonian
Retired Investment Banker, Parish Council, Holy Cross Church
Having made billions for his clients, he has turned his skills to saving his church from bankruptcy.
Sosi Bocchieriyan
Chef and Entrepreneur
Small Armenian prepared food business owner takes her brand to a national audience – all the while trying to educate.
Glendale Public Schools
Only public school in the world to offer a full-time dual-immersion program in Armenian language and English.
The 3-minute video below offers an example of our professionalism and a chance to hear from the project's originator, Stephanie Ayanian. It was produced before we begin this project, and is no longer entirely representative of our film's content, which will consist of the real-person stories of Armenian Americans today.
For additional information, please visit the "A New Armenia" website.
A New Armenia is a 60-minute public television documentary film and educational outreach initiative that tells the stories of 10 fascinating Armenian Americans working to preserve their Armenian culture while also impacting American culture through music, business, politics, art, religion, theatre, and volunteerism.
The Project
A New Armenia is slated for distribution in 2016 as a feature documentary film airing on PBS stations across the United States. It will be paired with a significant national outreach education initiative. The project is designed by successful public television producers Stephanie Ayanian, Joseph Myers, and Tom Keiter.
• First major film to tell the inspiring stories of today’s Armenians from across the United States, and not focusing on the Genocide.
• Stories act as exemplars for Armenian Americans, offering them models of success for the next 100 years.
• Non-Armenians gain an appreciation for a rich and ancient Armenian culture that is being actively adapted and advanced in communities across the country today.
• Reaching 211 million Americans and creating tangible impact through a successful public television model.
• Broad outreach initiative including K-12 curriculum, social media campaign, and live cultural events for the Armenian and non-Armenian public.
• Supported by Armenian organizations, including Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), Knights and Daughters of Vartan, Armenia Tree Project, and Armenian Youth Federation (AYF).
Financial Status and Ask
Approximately $100,000 from foundations, organizations, and individuals has already been donated to A New Armenia to develop and begin filming. We are asking the community to support this project with $75,000 in further donations, as we continue to seek additional funding from foundations and organizations towards our total goal of $763,000.
GoFundMe contributions are not deductible as charitable donations. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit the "A New Armenia" website .
Rationale
The Genocide of 1915 left Armenia and the Armenian populations devastated, but today there are over 10 million worldwide and Armenians in the United States are thriving in numbers. Still, the Armenian language and traditions are endangered, and a large majority of Americans have never heard of the Armenians or of Armenia. We aim to address this.
Our research has uncovered many Armenian Americans leading fascinating lives, doing important work, and providing inspiring portraits – the types of stories that are popular with audiences because they educate, they create empathy, and they expand an audience’s awareness of the world. We will share these stories widely both to inspire Armenian Americans and to educate non-Armenians.
Reaching Non-Armenians
Compelling portraits will inherently be inspirational to Armenian Americans, but what about the non-Armenian public that we want to reach? Many projects have introduced Armenians to the non-Armenian public by focusing on the Genocide. This makes sense to Armenians because the Genocide affects their lives so deeply. However, there is a more effective way to reach the broader public.
• First, engage audiences with compelling, real, relatable characters working to embrace, preserve, and adapt Armenian culture today.
• Then, as audiences start to relate to these inspiring human characters, they will begin to care.
• Finally, the now-empathetic audience takes a greater interest when Armenians are in the news and Armenian causes require support.
Progress
storyshop has spent over a year researching and filming the stories of Armenian Americans, organizing internationally recognized content advisors, outreach partners, and cultivating the relationship with PBS to enable the production and distribution of A New Armenia. The company is diligently filming stories and continuing to position relationships for successful distribution in communities all over the United States. storyshop is half-way through filming.
Public Television Market
PBS is the nation’s largest broadcast platform for reaching and creating an informed citizenry. Their educational platform includes broadcast television, mobile devices, online interactive content and social media, and extensive classroom resources. PBS is watched by 211 million Americans through TV, their primetime audience is larger than Bravo, A&E, HBO, and Discovery Channel. PBS also reaches 1 million Armenians in the United States.
PBS viewers are educated and seek programming that is often ethnographic in nature. The target audience for A New Armenia is people interested in ethnographic programming and audiences of all ages interested in engaging stories.
The Production Company
The storyshop team has experience bringing inspiring educational documentaries and outreach initiatives from creative concept through distribution on PBS stations across the United States. Partners Stephanie Ayanian, Joseph Myers, and Tom Keiter have decades of experience working together and successfully sharing educational stories with PBS audiences, garnering countless awards and recognition by international organizations. They have partnered with institutions such as The Verizon Foundation, The American Society of Civil Engineers, and The Pennsylvania State University, as well as many others.
storyshop projects have a track record of large and successful outreach initiatives. Partner work has been screened internationally in public education programs, including supporting the efforts of institutions, educators, policy makers, governments, and celebrities. Communities across the U.S. have held public screenings and discussions around each film, K-12 schools and universities have used educational toolkits in the classroom, and social media campaigns have increased visibility and impact.
The Stories
The film follows a select set of individuals, all chosen to resonate with non-Armenian audiences as well as with Armenians. The project will document their lives, work projects, struggles and triumphs over nearly a year in each of their lives. Each in their own way, they work to perpetuate culture and preserve Armenian identity
Michael Aram Wolohojian
Designer, Artist
Honoring his ancestors by creating a positive sculpture for reflecting on the present and future.
Richard Hagopian and Andrew Hagopian
Oud Master and His Grandson
Passing on an unwritten tradition to his grandson, a rare fifteen-year old who embraces this legacy wholeheartedly.
Aram Hamparian
Activist, Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Seeking justice in the name of the Genocide and working to garner political support for a strong Armenian future.
Lory Tatoulian
Comedian and Social Satirist
Preparing for her next performance of “The Big Bad Armo Show.” Entertaining while using humor to create vital cultural discussions.
Sebu Simonian
Singer, Songwriter, Capital Cities
Balancing his public persona and #1 hits with a deeply personal journey to understand his own family’s history.
John and Annie Sweers
Educators, Volunteers in Armenia
An Armenian-American man who grew up in Wisconsin with little exposure to Armenian culture searches for his identity by traveling to Armenia through an immersive cultural experience and volunteering program, at the same time sharing the experience with his non-Armenian wife who gains her own perspective.
The Tcholakian Family
Owners of International-Foods Grocery Chain
Houston family supports the Armenian community by providing employment for recent Armenian immigrants looking to get their start in the United States.
Karine Shamlian
Granddaughter of Living Genocide Survivor, Asdghig Alemian
She knows it is her responsibility to perpetuate her Armenian culture through her actions every day. These actions include teaching Armenian dance at her children's school and leading her church's Ladies Guild.
Jon Simonian
Retired Investment Banker, Parish Council, Holy Cross Church
Having made billions for his clients, he has turned his skills to saving his church from bankruptcy.
Sosi Bocchieriyan
Chef and Entrepreneur
Small Armenian prepared food business owner takes her brand to a national audience – all the while trying to educate.
Glendale Public Schools
Only public school in the world to offer a full-time dual-immersion program in Armenian language and English.
The 3-minute video below offers an example of our professionalism and a chance to hear from the project's originator, Stephanie Ayanian. It was produced before we begin this project, and is no longer entirely representative of our film's content, which will consist of the real-person stories of Armenian Americans today.
For additional information, please visit the "A New Armenia" website.
Organizer
Stephanie Garoian Ayanian
Organizer
Bryn Mawr, PA