Light Out of Darkness App

Functionality & Mechanism

This interactive documentary app, originating from a student film project at UCLA, presents intimate video testimonies from Holocaust survivors in the Los Angeles area. The platform compiles filmed interviews that chronicle the survivors' lives before, during, and after World War II, illustrating their resilience and their journeys to America. The interface allows users to navigate these personal accounts to learn about this historical period through the lens of individual experience, as captured in the 2015 documentary.

Development & Context

• The project was developed by two UCLA students as a senior film project, inspired by a university seminar on interviewing Holocaust survivors.
• The news coverage notes the film was sponsored by the UCLA Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies and linked to programs like Hillel at UCLA's Bearing Witness.
• Developers based the documentary on 51 hours of raw footage filmed in the homes of the 18 participating survivors.
• The effort received support from community partners, including the Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust.

Intended Use & Scope

This application is designed for students, educators, and the general public as an educational and commemorative resource. It provides access to the curated narratives featured in the 2015 documentary film. The content is intended for personal learning and reflection based on the intimate testimonies of 18 specific survivors from the Los Angeles area.