Ten Seconds
The Ten Seconds Mission
A 501(c)(3) NonProfit
TO HONOR THE 9-11 JUMPERS WHILE HELPING THEIR FAMILIES, PROFESSIONALS
AND THE WORLD AT LARGE UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF "RATIONAL SUICIDE"
As Dr. David Lester pointed out in his paper, Those who jumped from the Twin Towers on 9/11: Suicides or not?, there was a rational reason that people decided to jump to their deaths. It can be difficult for many to understand that decision... unless one is put into the same situation, in the same place and time. That is precisely what this film does -- places the viewer on the roof of a burning, NYC skyscraper and asks, “What would you do?”
THE FILM’S STATUS
We raised enough during our initial round of funding to shoot and edit the film, which stars Kris Sidberry (Detroit) and Sean Patrick Hopkins (Chappaquiddick). As it is next to impossible to shoot a film live on the roof of a skyscraper, we shot it in-studio, against a green screen. The New York City skyline, the vivid blue sky, and the black, billowing smoke, will be created by Clear Cut FX (Games of Thrones, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Hunger Games). The score will be provided by Alison Plante (Chair of Film Scoring, Berklee College of Music). We will hire professionals to do the sound editing, ADR, Foley, mixing, marketing, etc. A successful second round of funding (tax deductible) will push the project across the finish line. (Full Budget available.)
THE RELEASE PLAN
Upon completion, the film will be entered in A-level film festivals (Tribeca, Sundance, Toronto) and supported with a significant PR push. Based on the reception at the festivals, there are several paths the film could travel:
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Be picked up for distribution (e.g. Netflix, HBO, Amazon, etc.).
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Be distributed as an educational film (ethics, psychology, death & dying, etc.)
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Become an exhibit at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
PRAISE FOR TEN SECONDS
“Well, it sure brought tears to my eyes… Even when suicide is rational, it is never easy.”
Dr. David Lester, American Association of Suicidology
“I didn’t know what to expect, but I was dazzled!”
Ed Hume, Emmy-winning screenwriter
“BRILLIANT! It succeeds in so many ways: as literature and social analysis, as explication of psychology and ethics, as an educational tool, and as damn good theater. It deserves to be seen by a wide audience… I simply loved it.”
Dr. Ira Byock, palliative care expert (60 Minutes, News Hour, Fox and Friends)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FILM.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, the attack on the World Trade Center changed the world forever, especially for the families of the more than 2,700 people who died there. Many of those victims were faced with a grim decision — be consumed by fire or jump to their deaths.
On that same fateful morning, a man was attending a financial training session on the 61st floor of the
South Tower when the North Tower was hit. Confusion ensued. By the time the attendees were told to evacuate, power to the elevators had already been cut. Thousands of people filled the stairwells and descended as quickly as they could. The man noticed that one of his peers, a physically challenged woman, was having tremendous difficulty making her way down the stairs. He and his cohorts decided to stay with her and help her — even after the South Tower was hit — encouraging her step by step, floor by floor, down to the lobby and out to safety, just minutes before the building collapsed.
These two situations — one a horrific dilemma, the other an incredibly selfless act — were the inspiration for Jay MacNamee’s multiple award-winning 10-minute play, Do I Look Like Your Wife?, a darkly funny, visceral, thought-provoking story of two people trapped on the roof of a burning skyscraper; strangers thrown together by fate, sharing their last few minutes on earth together.
Left Bank Films is turning that play into a live-action short film, produced by Chase Bailey, HEIDI BUNNELL AND JAY MACNAMEE.
Chase has worked with John Malkovich, Johnny Depp, Uma Thurman, Rupert Friend, John Goodman,
Dana Delany and many, many others.
For this project, TEN SECONDS, Chase has assembled a group of award-winning professionals that includes Christopher Webb (Director), Jonathon Millman (Cinematographer), Heidi Bunnell (Producer), Christian Boudman (VFX) and Jay MacNamee (Screenwriter & Producer). Casting has Found two fabulous actors Kris Sidberry and Sean Patrick Hopkins for the Roles of Janet & Michael.