“Film Crew participates in projects such as this so that students have a real-world experience about how to put on a production,” said David Smith, Columbia State program director of FCT and professor of film.

The Veterans History Project is an archive at the Library of Congress that preserves narratives of veterans’ service through oral history interviews and documents such as photographs, letters, journals and diaries created while in the military, so that researchers and future generations can access these firsthand accounts and better understand the realities of war. Veterans History Project also collects oral histories with Gold Star Family members, defined as a parent, spouse, sibling or child of members of the Armed Forces who died as a result of their service during a period of war.

“This event is run mainly by students that attend the college, and Film Crew’s role is running three cameras and recording the interviews of the veterans,” said Joaquin Ortiz, Columbia State technical assistant of FCT. “The videos that the students record here will be going to the Library of Congress. It's a good way to give back to the veterans and to give thanks by giving them an opportunity to tell their stories and record them.”

“I wanted more hands-on experience, and I've never really been in an interview setting before,” said Amanda Little, Columbia State FCT student. “I've done more cinematic-style projects, but I've never done something that's more interview-style.”

Little, a Franklin resident, is a Tennessee Promise student that helped film the Veterans History Project. After completing the FCT program, she plans on pursuing work in post-production. With the education she’s earned, Little feels she is prepared for the culture, industry and expectations that await her in her chosen field.

“Columbia State provided the program that I was looking for at an affordable price,” Little said. “The Film Crew can provide great opportunities in a way that is more accessible, and I get to use a bunch of really cool equipment while working with people who share my passion for film.”

“The Veterans History Project was remarkable—getting to be there when veterans told their stories was amazing,” said Nicholas Schultz, Columbia State Film Crew student. “Columbia State’s FCT program has given me the training and opportunities I would not have gotten on my own. It gave me an environment to try—and learn from failing—in almost every possible position I would find myself on a film set.”

Schultz, an Brentwood resident, chose the FCT program primarily for its location and availability. During his time in the program, he has participated in many projects, his favorite of which being the 54 Film Fest—a competition where teams must create a short film within 54 hours­—where he was named director.

“The FCT program has been fantastic, I have very few complaints overall,” Schultz said. “We accomplished some amazing stuff and built strong, lasting and professional relationships within the program. I would be hard-pressed to find anything as good as it in the state.”

“I'm glad that this year we had a lot of volunteers who are willing to come in and do this kind of project where they have a little bit of ownership over it rather than just doing it as an assignment,” Smith said. “They’re actually taking more of a personal approach to the project.”

The documents and interviews collected during the event will become part of the permanent collections of the Library of Congress and will be made available to researchers and the general public via the American Folklife Center Reading Room and the VHP website. For more information about the Veterans History Project, visit https://www.loc.gov/vets/.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

The Film Crew Technology program at Columbia State allows students to get hands-on experience and learn the necessary skills to find success working as crew members in the film, video and media industries. Learn more at www.ColumbiaState.edu/FilmCrew.