JULY 29 • 2021 | 35

P

roduction on Keith Famie’s Shoah 
Ambassadors Holocaust docu-
mentary film continued July 15 
at Tempermill Studios in Ferndale, as the 
Detroit Children’s Choir took part in a 
filming session of what will serve as the 
vocal tracks for the film’s final scene.
The film has been in production for 
more than 18 months and is focused on 
educating the youth about the horrors 
and atrocities of the Holocaust through 
ambassadors Curtis Bates and Hailey 
Callahan, who have been selected to tell the 
Holocaust story through their own unique 
artistic expression. 

The choir will be featured in the film 
singing and dancing through the streets 
of Detroit while they sing the closing song 
“Never Again,
” written by Bates, a sing-
er-songwriter from Detroit. This will be the 
third song Bates has written for the film.
During the filming session, the kids had 
the opportunity to lay down their vocal 
tracks for the song. The song drives the 
thought of unity with a call to action for the 
younger generation to take the lead as they 
grow into the world’s future leaders. Bates’ 
song touches on important discussions with 
a hope to catch the attention of the coun-
try’s youth, the very intention of the film.

“When we heard about this project, it 
really spoke to what we’re all about,
” said 
Eric Taylor, musical director of the Detroit 
Children’s Choir. “This idea of supporting 
and loving one another and making a more 
inclusive world for everyone to be a part of.
”

Sandee Singer, executive director of 
development and operations for the Detroit 
Children’s Choir, believes it’s the perfect 
time to inform the young generation of 
current and past human rights issues. 
“I’m hoping as they engross themselves 
in this project and learn more about it — 
it’s going to create an awareness they can 
grow and share with their friends and fam-
ily, become more involved and a voice that’s 
heard throughout the world,
” Singer said.
Now, Famie and his team have to go 
shoot the actual visuals of the film’s final 
scene, a process the team is working on 
scripting right now. 
The visuals for the final scene are 
planned to be shot throughout the streets 
of Detroit, including at iconic Detroit land-

marks and possibly finishing at the Aretha 
Franklin Amphitheatre, with Holocaust 
survivors, the choir and Curtis and Hailey 
all there at the same time for the climax. 
Famie is looking forward to closing out 
the film in a perfect bow. 
“We’re bridging generational gaps 
through this song,
” Famie said. “It’s like 
we’ve gone through this whole story in the 
film, you’ve met Holocaust survivors, you 
understand the journey Curtis and Hailey 
have been on, so where do we go from 
here? 
“It brings it all together with youth and 
lets youth drive where we go today with a 
very powerful message,
” Famie said. 
For updates and to learn more about the 
film, visit shoahambassadors.com. 

MUSIC
Members of the Detroit 
Children’s Choir lay down
tracks for the film’s final song.

A member of the sound crew for Shoah 
Ambassadors works on the taping.

Detroit Children’s Choir featured in Shoah Ambassadors fi
 lm.
Young Voices

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS BY KEITH FAMIE

