Archive 2008 Donauschwaben Film Project

This article was submitted in September 2008 as a "Donauschwaben Issue" for discussion purposes. It was initially posted in the newsletter.

Comments to this article/issue can be viewed following the article on this webpage.

To
Danube-Swabian clubs & associations in the US & Canada

Pasching, August 28th 2008

Dear ladies and gentlemen,
Dear Danube-Swabians,

Perhaps you are surprised to receive a letter from an Austrian stranger. You see, I am writing to you with a request for your support. But before I tell you the details, please let me introduce myself in a few words.

My name is Stephanie Angerer, I am 25 years old and live in Pasching, which is situated close to Linz in Upper Austria. My connection to the “Donauschwaben” runs on my mother’s side. My grandma was Juliane “Julisch” Frank (née Sprecht, parents: Adam & Christine Specht, sisters: Katharina & Irma) from Karlsdorf, Yugoslavian Banat, my grandfather was Nikolaus “Niki” Frank (a national handball league player) from Orzydorf, Romanian Banat. Since very early on I have been, and to this day still am in contact with the “Donauschwaben” community (esp. families Deckert & Basch), their dialect and the “Kirchweih” festivals are very familiar to me. Even in her last weeks in 2003 my grandmother still loved to tell stories from before the internment.

Through my studying communications at university with a major in audiovisual media, which I successfully completed in March 2007, my attending an 8-week-screenwriting workshop at the New York Film Academy in London England and my affinity to film in general, it has become my heart’s desire to write a screenplay about my grandmother’s story of internment, flight and re-settlement and to see it on the big-screen one day.

Unfortunately, the Austrian film business is a rather limited one and the topic of the “Donauschwaben’s” history is still a controversial one. I gained working experience in event-management as well as an editor for a website-based television station, my screenplay still lies within a drawer, waiting.

After having introduced myself briefly, I’d like to add that I will not give up this dream of one day working in the international film industry. It would be wonderful to get in contact with the right people, until one day to find someone who can help me to put my grandmother’s Danube-Swabian story on the screen. I would be glad to find a co-writer, as well as a producer with contacts. My major concern is this:

This story has to be told because my grandmother’s generation, the Donauschwaben that had to endure an awful fate, must not be forgotten. I’d love to tell this story of strong will and character to the world but cannot do this alone!

This is where I come to my plea:
Should you work/have worked in the film-business or should you know someone who does/did - I would be grateful if you could promote my cause and forward my contact details. I am dependent on your support and good will.

I am anxious to receive your answer and am looking forward to any response from you, even if you are not able to help in any way. Please find my CV on the next pages to get a bigger picture of my background.

Please note that I will send this letter to various Danube Swabian communities throughout the US and Canada.

With the best wishes from Austria,
Yours,
Stephanie Angerer

Postal address: Ringstr. 2, A-4061 Pasching, Austria, Europe
Email address: stephanie.angerer@gmx.at
Phone: +43 650 721 7610