Man on the Tower (a short film)
Donation protected
With each new mass shooting in our country I always return to a powerful memory from my childhood in Austin, Texas. On August 1, 1966 as my mother, younger brother and I returned home from an errand, we were greeted by a neighbor frantically shouting “there’s a man on the tower shooting people”. We ran into the house and turned on the radio to hear the live, on location news broadcast from Austin reporter Neal Spelce. In the background of the newscast you could hear the popping of gunfire and waling of sirens. With our house located only about a mile from the University of Texas campus we had a clear view of the University Tower from our back porch and could see puffs of smoke coming from Charles Whitman’s rifles as he shot and killed 15 people and wounded 39 that day (in addition to killing his wife and mother the night before). My dad, a Professor of Architecture at UT-Austin, was on campus as the horrific event took place. His classroom windows faced directly toward the tower. We had no idea if he was okay. Many hours later he finally came home.
Today, as mass shootings continue to occur with increasing frequency, I strongly feel the need to finally convey this story in a film, told through the eyes of a young boy, dramatizing how childhood bliss and innocence was forever altered on that day. The short film, "Man on the Tower", will be a semi-fictionalized account of my memory of that hot August day. While the film is not meant to be overtly political or a public service announcement, I do hope the film promotes real conversation about the tragic phenomenon of mindless mass shootings that currently plagues our nation.
We are now seeking contributions to help finance the making of this film. All donations are greatly appreciated and you will be given an on-screen special thanks. Additionally, if we successfully meet our goal, 10% of all the funds raised will be contributed to The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV).
We thank you for your interest and contribution and look forward to creating a thought provoking new film.
Please visit our Facebook page for more information -
https://www.facebook.com/Man-on-the-Tower-928363340854929/
Today, as mass shootings continue to occur with increasing frequency, I strongly feel the need to finally convey this story in a film, told through the eyes of a young boy, dramatizing how childhood bliss and innocence was forever altered on that day. The short film, "Man on the Tower", will be a semi-fictionalized account of my memory of that hot August day. While the film is not meant to be overtly political or a public service announcement, I do hope the film promotes real conversation about the tragic phenomenon of mindless mass shootings that currently plagues our nation.
We are now seeking contributions to help finance the making of this film. All donations are greatly appreciated and you will be given an on-screen special thanks. Additionally, if we successfully meet our goal, 10% of all the funds raised will be contributed to The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV).
We thank you for your interest and contribution and look forward to creating a thought provoking new film.
Please visit our Facebook page for more information -
https://www.facebook.com/Man-on-the-Tower-928363340854929/
Organizer
Karl Shefelman
Organizer
New York, NY