The U.S. and the Holocaust Social Campaign

Survivor Stories

This short-form, in-feed video series offers glimpses of some of the stories the survivors—notably Eva Geiringer, Guy Stern, and Susan & Joseph Hilsenrath—share in the film.

Rather than reveal an entire story or anecdote, these early-out videos showcase just a brief look into their interviews. Through this series we enticed audiences with the powerful, compelling stories to come.

Social Promos

As part of our large scale marketing campaign, we produced social versions of broadcast promos. Promos were versioned specifically for social media - square on Facebook and Twitter, and vertical for Instagram Reels. The promos highlighted the various themes of America's response to the Holocaust.

In addition to the two posts below, seven more promotional videos were posted across PBS' Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts. They were titled: "Challenged," "Window," "Apple Pie," "Past," "Story," "Carefree," and "People."

Statements

Static graphics showcase the most powerful and moving quotes from the film. For this series, we’ll particularly aimed to highlight statements and topics that are especially relevant today (e.g., refugees, intervention in war, etc.).

The Big Questions

This motion series uses kinetic typography to present the questions that the film explores and seeks to answer. Designed to generate engagement and conversation on social, each question is paired with a supporting clip.

All Sides of the Story

Instagram Reel videos on difficult or controversial topics that require sufficient context from the film to tell a complete, compelling story.

Due to the sensitive or complicated nature of these topics or scenes, these videos are longer-form and have no design or motion embellishments. Goal here is to let the film and post copy provide the necessary storytelling, information, and context for social audiences.

Frank Family Reels

Mix of short Instagram Reel videos provide snapshots of the Frank family: their back story, relocations, and struggles living in Nazi-occupied Europe, with a particular focus on Otto Frank.

Through the series we entice audiences with the draw of providing new perspectives on the famous and notable family story.

Public Opinion Polls

What do public opinion polls reveal about Americans during the era of the Holocaust? The results may surprise you.

These social animations of U.S. public opinion polls from the 1930s and 1940s reveal the gap between the disapproval of Nazism and the willingness to act on behalf of the victims of the Holocaust.

The U.S. and ______

A multi-topic Instagram Reel video series revealing the historical role and policies—both foreign and domestic—of the U.S leading up to and during WWII. These snapshots demonstrate how preceding events and policy decisions influenced U.S. decision making when it came to WWII and the Holocaust. In sharing this historical context, we also draw parallels to modern-day issues.

Impactful Words

This series highlights quotes from the historians and experts in the film, especially those in the opening first act that speak to the complexity and nuance of the topic, and the importance of examining America’s role and history. For additional emphasis, the quotes are revealed in fragments, lending weight to their message as the full statement is carefully and impactfully revealed.

Faces of the Past

In this custom motion piece we move through dozens and dozens of the available source images—the black-and-white photos, passports, documents, etc. We transition to images slowly at first, employing custom motion and effects to each transition (reference on top right.) By the end of the video, the speed of the transition is very rapid (reference on bottom), conveying the scale, scope, and reach of both film and its subject matter.

This is a big, complicated story to tell, built from numerous stories from survivors, rescuers, politicians, reporters, and more. This attention-grabbing video is designed to communicate the film is the drawing together and interweaving of these stories and threads.

Voices for Action

A short video highlighting those—both before and during WWII—who spoke out in the U.S. and the press against Germany and in favor of action to help the Jews. This clip is an informative look at those individuals who, despite US policy of the time, were aiming to advocate and educate.

Filmmaker Quotes

This teaser series uses custom typography and motion to animate select quotes from the filmmakers about the series.

Twitter Response

A bulk of the positive social response we saw on social was on Twitter. With user permission, we produced a social video that highlighted some of the Tweets received in response to the film's premiere.