Downloads: Press Release
The acclaimed public radio project StoryCorps unveils an animated version of one of its most popular stories in time for Mother’s Day. The three-minute animated story, entitled “Q&A,” features Joshua Littman, a 12-year-old boy with Asperger syndrome, interviewing his mother, Sarah. Joshua’s unique questions and Sarah’s loving, unguarded answers reveal a relationship that reminds us of the best– and the most challenging–parts of being a mother.
“Q&A” can be viewed at StoryCorps’ animation page www.storycorps.org/animation or on the POV site. In August 2010, StoryCorps will begin broadcasting a series of animated shorts on the PBS documentary series POV (Point of View).
StoryCorps’ animation team includes Mike and Tim Rauch of Rauch Brothers Animation. StoryCorps will also work with Public Broadcasting Atlanta (PBA) to distribute these shorts to public television stations as stand-alone shorts for broadcast before and after regularly scheduled programming.
“We’re thrilled to bring this powerful visual element to our StoryCorps stories. We hope these shorts will bring StoryCorps’ mission and stories to an even larger audience, helping us all recognize the beauty, power, and grace in the stories we find all around us,” said StoryCorps’ Founder and President Dave Isay.
“POV values the power and impact of individual stories, and for years StoryCorps has brought these vibrant conversations to us on radio,” said POV Executive Director Simon Kilmurry. “We are honored to partner with StoryCorps to bring its unique vision and style to PBS viewers.”
StoryCorps’ animation series is made possible with generous funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Also in honor of Mother’s Day, StoryCorps has published its newest book, Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps. Mom, an instant New York Times bestseller, presents a moving portrait of motherhood, with more than 30 inspiring stories about mothers recorded between parents, siblings, and children in StoryCorps booths across the country. For more information about the book, visit: www.storycorps.org/book.
About StoryCorps
StoryCorps’ mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, preserve, and share their stories. StoryCorps currently has one of the largest collections of American voices ever gathered, with more than 30,000 interviews recorded in all 50 states and archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Fifty of StoryCorps’ most emblematic stories have been collected in the New York Times bestseller Listening Is an Act of Love (Penguin Press). A follow-up book published in April 2010, Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps (Penguin Press), features a collection of inspiring stories by and about mothers. StoryCorps’ major funders include: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), The Atlantic Philanthropies, The Ford Foundation, The Annenberg Foundation, The Kaplen Foundation, and Joe and Carol Reich. For more information, or to listen to stories online, visit www.storycorps.org.
About POV
Produced by American Documentary, Inc. and now in its 23rd season on PBS, the award-winning POV series is the longest-running showcase on American television to feature the work of today’s best independent documentary filmmakers. Airing June through September, with primetime specials during the year, POV has brought more than 300 acclaimed documentaries to millions nationwide and has a Webby Award-winning online series, POV’s Borders. Since 1988, POV has pioneered the art of presentation and outreach using independent nonfiction media to build new communities in conversation about today’s most pressing social issues. More information is available at www.pbs.org/pov.
