WWII Jewish Concentration Camp Barrack ? (location?)

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
I wrote a short script, more a scene really, but I am thinking of making it into a short short film (3-5 pages). An assignment from about a year and a half ago when I took Karl Iglesias's Dialogue course (well worth it). Anyhow, it all takes place in a POW barracks, WW2. Okay I know this is the sw forum but as I am the writer and might need to rewrite tweak this, thought I would ask here-- any brainstorming ideas (all accepted!) on what 'location' I could use for this?

There is a summer YMCA camp about a half hour from me, but those cabins are log cabins, rounded log wall interiors. I sure would like something closer in look to a POW barracks, you know like in The Great Escape, Hogan's Heroes, etc.
randall
 
Randall_Oelerich said:
I wrote a short script, more a scene really, but I am thinking of making it into a short short film (3-5 pages). An assignment from about a year and a half ago when I took Karl Iglesias's Dialogue course (well worth it). Anyhow, it all takes place in a POW barracks, WW2. Okay I know this is the sw forum but as I am the writer and might need to rewrite tweak this, thought I would ask here-- any brainstorming ideas (all accepted!) on what 'location' I could use for this?

There is a summer YMCA camp about a half hour from me, but those cabins are log cabins, rounded log wall interiors. I sure would like something closer in look to a POW barracks, you know like in The Great Escape, Hogan's Heroes, etc.
randall
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I really suggest you search for camp photos, either POW or KZ Camps.

Here's a reference to the only KZ Camp that I've visited, about 20 years ago now, Dachau. http://www.scrapbookpages.com/dachauscrapbook/OldBarracks.html

Dachau, as a KZ Camp, was originally used to warehouse political dissidents. During the June/July 1934 Purge, many of the 'leftist' wing of the NSDAP were taken here, and later executed.

While Jews would be taken to any camp, the predominantly "Jewish" KZ Camps for extermination, that most people think of, are located in the East, like Poland and what is now the Czech Republic, etc. Otherwise, many of the other Camps housed slave labor.

As for Dachau... almost any facility that has brick buildings, in a 1930's or earlier style, and a big iron gate, would probably 'locate the viewer' for the master shot... and of course "Arbeit Macht Frei" on the gate
would cinch it.
 
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Not sure where Icewind Dale is...
But if you're in So Cal, there's an abandoned prison work camp on rose valley road off highway 33 above Ojai that's close to perfect.
 
I haven't been there in a bit, but I believe that Fort Worden, near Port Townsend, WA, may have old barracks that would fit the bill, though they're likely to be well maintained.
 
Randall_Oelerich said:
Jewish concentration camp technically, but I will take any location close to the look of that or a POW camp.
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I'd suggest looking for 20/30's vintage abandoned manufacturing plants or complexes. This is in fact what some of the KZ camps were 'founded' upon. I think you should also look for a place that is outside of a city/town, and so there would be mostly empty/farm fields. With CGI you can build in either additional buildings, or better match the terrain of eastern Europe...

Since I don't live in your area, which I think is somewhere in the upper midwest say Minnesota or the like... I don't know what there is around...

But the watchwords are 'bleak, alone'.

Here is a poem, and there is music for a song as well... of the sort of image...

Die Moorsoldaten

Wohin auch das auge blicket --- (loose translation for a few lines...) where ever the eye gazes
Moor und heide nur ringsum --- Moor and heath surround
Vogelsang uns nicht erquicket --- Birdsongs don't stir us
Eichen stehen kahl und krumm --- Oaks stand bald and bent.

Wir sind die moorsoldaten --- we are the moor soldiers
Und ziehen mit den spaten --- and work with spades in the moor.
Ins moor

Hier in dieser öden heide
Ist das lager aufgebaut,
Wo wir fern von jeder freude
Hinter stacheldraht verstaut

Wir sind die moorsoldaten
Und ziehen mit den spaten
Ins moor

Morgens ziehen die kolonnen
Durch das moor zur arbeit hin
Graben bei dem brand der sonne
Doch zur heimat steht der sinn

Wir sind die moorsoldaten
Und ziehen mit den spaten
Ins moor

Wir sind die moorsoldaten
Und ziehen mit den spaten
Ins moor

Auf und nieder geh'n die posten
Keiner, keiner kann hindurch
Flucht wird nur das leben kosten
Vierfach ist umzäunt die burg

Wir sind die moorsoldaten
Und ziehen mit den spaten
Ins moor

Wir sind die moorsoldaten
Und ziehen mit den spaten
Ins moor

Doch für uns gibt es kein klagen
Ewig kann nicht winter sein
Einmal werden froh wir sagen
Heimat, du bist wieder mein!

Dann zieh'n die moorsoldaten
Nicht mehr mit den spaten
Ins moor

Dann zieh'n die moorsoldaten
Nicht mehr mit den spaten
Ins moor
 
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For look-and-feel (aside from historical documents) Life is Beautiful and Schindler's List pretty much nailed the architecture.
 
So long as you only need shots of individual buildings, look for old farm buildings. You may even get lucky and find something with old bunk beds inside. And of course there's nothing saying the interiors and exteriors need to be the same buildings, although that can introduce more work trying to match windows. Definitely look for other camps, the more run-down the better :)
 
dougspice said:
Try what's left of Fort Ord, near Monterey.
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I believe the OP lives somewhere in the Midwest... something like Minnesota/Swissconsin... So Fort Ord... or Camp Robers to the south, would probably not be possible...

Most military reservations probably have some amount of paper work to shoot on base, so, depending on the script, may not be interested in a project.

Heck, in California we have "Manzinar" which was a japanese KZ camp used for the 'evacuation' of the Japanese from the West Coast during WWII. But as I recall there are either no buildings left, or perhaps one or two for the museum (it's been a really long time since I was there...).
 
If you're scared of paperwork, making films may not be the right choice for you. Just sayin'.

Anyway, I thought someone had mentioned he was in California. But you're probably better off if not – there should be tons more stuff around the midwest.
 
Been researching this, for another reason (starting a real one, LOL, J/K). And dougspice nailed what I have seen so far. Clapboard buildings, in various states of disrepair.

But any rough looking dorm buildings would work if you could show the despair in the situation, through lighting and angle. Just avoid modern buildings.

Ord/Roberts would not be a hard location to get. May take time...but not hard.
 
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