Inspired by her quest to learn more about her late mother's childhood experience on the Kindertransport - the World War II rescue mission that saved nearly 10,000 children from Nazi-occupied territories in Europe through relocation to foster homes and hostels in England - Deborah Oppenheimer researched the subject and produced the film "Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport."
Oppenheimer accepted the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the March 25, 2001 Academy Awards. The film received historic accolades from German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at the Berlin premiere and from Prince Charles at the Royal Premiere in London. Now available in both video and DVD, the two-hour film has a companion book, soundtrack and study guide. A German edition of the study guide has been created as part of the compulsory Holocaust education in Germany, with copies made available to every school in the country. A United Kingdom edition is currently being edited as well, for release throughout Great Britain.
Community members are invited to a special viewing of an edited 40-minute version of the film from 12:30-2 p.m. at South High School, for which Oppenheimer will be available to answer questions.
Currently one of the most prolific producers in television and president of Mohawk Productions, Deborah Oppenheimer serves as executive producer of the hit ABC comedy series "The Drew Carey Show," now entering its eighth season; the new ABC comedy series "George Lopez"; and "Wanda At Large," a pilot for Fox starring Wanda Sykes ("The Chris Rock Show").
The daughter of Central High School graduate Eric Oppenheimer ('42), she was born and raised in Green Acres (Mill Brook) on Firethorne Lane and attended Forest Road Elementary School. Oppenheimer credits South High School with launching her entertainment career through her appearance as "Ginger" on the Gilligan's Island float in the North-South parade. Her jobs in high school included unpaid file clerk at her family's Central Hardware store on Central Avenue; confidential file clerk at the Green Acres Dime Savings Bank; and hostess at the International House of Pancakes on Sunrise Highway.
After graduating in 1975 from State University College at Buffalo, where she majored in English, she began her career in publishing as an editor for John Wiley & Sons in New York.
Starting in 1981, she served as a development and production executive at Lorimar, where she developed and ultimately produced programming for pay television and PBS. During her time at Lorimar, she and executive Michael Brandman developed the classic Athol Fugard telefilm, "'Master Harold' . . . and the Boys," starring Matthew Broderick, which won a CableACE Award.
Oppenheimer then segued into feature and television production as vice president for production at Lorimar Productions, where she oversaw features, made-for-television movies, miniseries, and episodic and half-hour television. In the late 1980s Lorimar merged into Warner Brothers, where Deborah Oppenheimer still works today. She is currently writing a children's book about her mother for Scholastic Press.
South High School is located at the end of Jedwood Place, off Mill Road. Parking will be available on Jedwood and on Gladys Street at the other side of the school. For information, please call South High School, 791-3310, or Community Information Coordinator Arlene Hinkemeyer, 872-5605.
