Celebrating family history: Who do you think you are?
For most Americans, where we live and raise our families is often shaped by the forces of history, a series of events our ancestors obviously had no control over. Perhaps our forefathers or foremothers were forced to relocate because of war, persecution or famine. Or maybe simply the desire for a better economic opportunity.
We've long been fascinated with the American immigration experience, as you can see with our production coordinator Ursula's Irish Lucky Charms story. And it seems that stories like these can prove to be a ratings bonanza.
On the heels of Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates' PBS series "Faces of America," tonight NBC debuts its new family tree venture:"Who Do You Think You Are?"
The show banks on celebrity power -- Lisa Kudrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Spike Lee, Matthew Broderick, Brooke Shields, Susan Sarandon and Emmitt Smith -- to make the case that family history research shows "just how connected everyone is not only to the past, but to one another."
Kudrow, one of the executive producers of the series, gives an overview of all the celebrity family history discoveries here. Parker discovers she has a tie to the Salem Witch Trials and Smith treads on the very soil where his ancestors were shackled and exported as slaves.
Living in the Media Age is a tremendous opportunity to make sure our families never have to wonder where they came from. In all likelihood, PBS or NBC isn't going to make a film about your personal heritage, regardless of how fascinating it might be.
But you CAN give your kids and grandkids a broadcast-quality documentary film about your family. Or you can honor your parents or grandparents or uncles/aunts at a milestone birthday or anniversary celebrating their accomplishments and meaningful impact on your life.
Explore some of the possible themes of capturing real life stories through our personal documentary service. Reel Profiles preserves the history most important to YOU.