In 2003 a college history instructor, Tony
Kocolas, was commissioned by a mass media outlet to write
a series of short vignettes about the importance
of Ancient Greece for TV distribution. Though favorably
received, the “shorts” were never used.
At the same time, the Fresno AHEPA
(American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association), through
members Chris E. Rockas and Robert Sexton,
was trying to create a simple video production about Ancient
Greece with the support of the Fresno County Office of
Education. Because of issues that arose at the Office of Education,
it was unable to provide any support or encouragement for Rockas’
and Sexton’s Hellenic project.
Since Kocolas had experience in
producing documentaries, he helped create Thucydides Productions,
whose goal is to produce the documentary Our Greek Heritage:
The Greek Roots of Western Civilization.
Tony Kocolas approached Victor
Davis Hanson and Bruce S. Thornton to
participate in the documentary – both agreed. It should be
noted that Hanson and Thornton
are two of the most recognized and respected scholars of the Classics
in the United States.
Randy Cohlan, who was Kocolas’
mentor in previous documentaries, agreed to be the director.
A talented protégé of Cohlan, Mark
Cole, will be director of photography
as well as video editor. Numerous support personnel
will be recruited as the production begins.
When the Fresno AHEPA became aware
of Kocalas' project, they enthusiastically
embraced it.
Chris E. Rockas and Robert
Sexton saw their initial objectives resurrected in a more
complete documentary and were excited about the prospects.
Fresno AHEPA Chapter 151 unanimously
endorsed a resolution supporting the project. The Fresno
AHEPA Chapter 151 then went to the District 21
Convention and received unanimous commitment for the project.
Armed with this support, Chris E. Rockas went to
the Supreme AHEPA Convention in Miami Beach, Florida,
in July 2004 to request its assistance for the project.
At that national convention, AHEPA,
the largest Greek-American organization in the United States, which
also covers Canada, unanimously adopted
the documentary Our Greek Heritage: The Greek Roots of Western
Civilization! The Supreme Convention further authorized
the creation of a non-profit entity to raise money for the
project.
The fund-raising arm of AHEPA went
back to the roots of the project – Fresno, California. With
the approval and support of the Supreme Convention,
the tax-free entity Hellenic Project, AHEPA
Chapter 151, was created to fund documentaries that promote
Hellenism.
Our Greek heritage will be the first documentary
funded by the Hellenic Project. When this documentary is fully funded,
Hellenic Project AHEPA Chapter 151 will consider other worthy projects.
During 2005 all the legal and technical issues relating to the tax-free
status of the entity were resolved. The fund-raising efforts
under the tax-free Hellenic Project, AHEPA
Chapter 151, began in November 2006.
