The choir consisting of descendants from the 'Schokkers,' the Schokkerkoor, sings on the former island down at the reconstructed lighthouse. F.A. During your career as a producer, has there been a project that you really wanted to produce but were unable to do so due to certain obstacles and complications? If so, can you talk a little bit about this project and how you were planning to execute it? F.J. At this moment, I’m working on a historical documentary called “Doomed to Death, The Schokkers, and Their Island.” And soon, I’m going to have to decide whether I should continue working on it or not. The project is about the former island Schokland, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since 1942, Schokland has been a part of the reclaimed land of the Noordoostpolder of Holland. 150 years ago, the inhabitants of Schokland were forced to evacuate from the island due to the fear that the island would disappear under the waters of the Zuiderzee. The grandchildren of these Schokland “refugees” still cherish the memory of the tough life lived on the island by their ancestors. The story of the Schokkers and the difficulties they faced while they adapted to living a life as “immigrants” in hostile towns has never been told. 2009 is the year that one looks back on this untold Dutch story of the struggling lives of the Schokland people. F.A. What were the reasons that this project could not come to life? And how can similar problems like these be avoided in the future (ex. financing, distribution, etc.)? F.J. The main reason was the difficulty of finding the right amount of financing. I succeeded in finding half the amount needed. But the problem is that the subject matter is too regional for investors. Also, a participant who was going to apply for a EU fund withdrew his application and jeopardized the whole project. F.A. Would you be interested in giving another chance to this project by taking today's technologies into consideration, such as online/digital film promotion and distribution? Do you think that the new distribution platforms can create a direct relationship between the producer and millions of viewers as well as a new range of investors, advertisers and sponsors? F.J. Interesting option. Though I can’t imagine millions of viewers being interested. I do have four regional and digital broadcasting stations participating, but they don’t have a lot of money. Frederieke Jochems makes experimental films and focuses on photography and social art projects. For the past years, she has been focusing on documentaries about historical subjects, art and music, and linking the past to the present. For more information, visit www.filmannex.com/frederiekejochems Interview by Eren Gulfidan: www.filmannex.com/erengulfidan