An Eastern geography professor and student will be premiering a preview of their documentary about the human-interest aspect of the British Petroleum oil spill at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Cameron Craig, a geography professor, and Zach Nugent, of WEIU-TV, co-directed the documentary “Returning to Paradise: Voices of the Human Spirit” after they traveled with students to the Alabama coast in June 2011 and again in February to interview residents.

“We want the bigger picture to be presented,” Craig said. “People know that there is the oil situation and disaster, but we want to show them the little stories about people who live there day-to-day.”

The premiere preview will be in the Buzzard Hall Auditorium where parts of the documentary will be shown and food will be available for attendees.

“We don’t want to give too much away at the preview but we will present why the project was put together, and people can see parts and pieces of the interviews with key footage,” Craig said.

The full documentary will air on WEIU-TV at 6 p.m. Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the oil spill.

Craig said they went to different parts of the coast, including Dauphin Island, where they interviewed four residents.

“We talked to individuals and they were very concerned with their livelihood,” Craig said. “They just got done with Katrina so this was the first year they were making some money and then this disaster occurred and their lives went right back down the tubes.”

John DeMatteo, a senior geography major, went on the second trip in February and he said the documentary will give people a different viewpoint of what to think about the oil spill.

“You will really be able to get to know the lives of these people and how they are still feeling the impact even after the cap of the oil spill and are living through hard times,” DeMatteo said.

Craig said they decided not to include any narration in the documentary because they wanted viewers to make their own opinion about the oil spill.

“You are going to get a different viewpoint of the disaster,” Craig said. “You are getting a direct source from a sampling of feelings, not an interpretation because we want the interviewees, those who were impacted, to tell their story.”

The documentary is about an hour long and Craig said they incorporated themes like the environmental issues with fossil fuels, the aspect of drilling in deep waters, the BP claims process and the day-to-day routine of residents.

“It is very emotional because when the interviewees explain their situation you become wrapped up in their moment,” Craig said. “It truly is an educational experience and I learned a great deal from going down there so I am more than sure it will do the same for the students.”

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-2812 or rjrodgers@eiu.edu.