Hurricane Films - Peoples Stories: How do we involve an older generation?

This week we were joined by one of Liverpool’s most know film production companies; Hurricane Films, where we were taught about the different types of film’s this company creates and the type of topics they tackle, with their latest ‘People’s stories’.

The main aim of this project is to hear some of those stories that have inspired people throughout their lives – or even just a memory that will forever stay from evidence such as photograph’s or item’s that have stood the test of time and lived for generation’s from different locations to different times in one’s life. The aim is to allow these stories to be heard and showcased before they are lost forever.

Leaving us with the question, the company asked:
How do you get people of an older demographic to participate in the ‘People’s Stories’ project?

Living in a society known as ‘The Facebook Generation’ for anyone around my age range – It’s easy to understand how technology has varied throughout the years. Back in the 40’s people around the age of 19 would have contacted each other through face-to-face or telegram, relying on new from the radio and knowledge from a book. In 2011, technology has changed – with telephones and social networking as communication and computers helping us to reach information quicker than walking down the library and opening a book. It’s understandable why anybody of an older audience, raised in a different era and environment would want to avoid that.

So, how would I help involve an older audience into the ‘Peoples Stories’ project?

The obvious choice would be surveys. However, they can take some time and patience at a time and a place. Telephone calls; however it could be a problem finding this type of personal information.

So I could start off small, contact my grandparent’s and their friends – ask them what they would prefer and what it would take to get them involved. A lot of elder people are surrounded by family such as children and grandchildren, who could help them access the site and help them add pictures and stories to an online archive. During the lecture with Hurricane films, they mentioned a social club that was directly calling for people who want to share this kind of information which does not need any online presence.

Another idea would be to target different locations where I may be able to find these type of people and give them leaflet’s on how to involve themselves.

- Thorntons cafe
- TJ Hughes
- Marks & Spencers
- Local Pubs
- Care Homes

Online access is not essential, it could be more real if the candidate wrote a letter of their memory, and added some photo’s in which would also add more sentiment – even so, it is very easy to scan and upload this type of paperwork by the story runners.

Watch the video below too find out more about 'People's stories'.