Aussie Wendell

"The Bridge"

"In this bold and thought-provoking documentary about suicide and its complex aftermath, Steel spends from dusk until dawn filming the Golden Gate Bridge everyday for a year, capturing nearly two dozen suicides that occurred in 2004. Intercut with these frightening leaps are interviews with the family and friends of the deceased." - David Kwok (Senior Programmer, Tribeca Film Festival)

What can I say other than how unbelievably happy I am for and proud I am of one of my best friends of all time, (pictured) Eric Steel. Over the years, he and I have been through/shared what at times felt like lifetimes of adversity combined with great triumphs and happiness; this is, however, his (and vicariously my) shining moment.

A few years ago, Eric called me to tell me about this crazy idea he had for a new movie after having read an article about the "tragedy" of people committing suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. For those unaware, since the Golden Gate Bridge opened May 28, 1937, an estimated 1,300 people have leaped to their deaths from the span. Officials estimate that at least 24 people commit suicide there every year.

Without going into the unbelievable trials and tribulations he went through to not only get the movie started, but even harder to get it completed, (and not without much controversy) "The Bridge" had its world premier at the Tribeca Film Festival last week to much fanfare. From ABC News, The New York Times, LA Times, Good Morning America to yes, even here in Sydney this morning in The Sydney Morning Herald, the movie has brought to surface San Francisco's "dirty little secret."

Eric e-mailed me the other day and said, "I am sitting in the parking lot outside of a screening room where in about 45 minutes I am showing the film to the families and friends of people who jumped. I really might get crucified." Well just the opposite has happened. Coincidentally (?) in the the same week that the movie had its premier at the San Francisco Film Festival, directors of the Golden Gate Bridge and the SFO Highway and Transportation District secured $2 million for a feasibility study of a suicide barrier for the bridge. Eric and his movie have been heralded for single-handedly bringing about proposed safety changes to the bridge that have been sought for years by legions of people affected by suicide....statistically speaking, most of us!

I'm so happy to have been able to have shared in this unbelievable journey with Eric from different cities, states and now countries...I remember the day he read that now famous article and the adventure began, spending time filming at the bridge and the day he got the call from Tribeca Film Festival. Yes, if googled, you'll find a host of opinions about the movie, its intent and of its creator for that matter, but for those of us lucky enough to know Eric his intentions and his resolve, we know what an amazing person he is and today I find myself so incredibly happy for his success, but moreover for our continued friendship....I can't wait for the movie to have its premier in Australia so I can see you again!

(Eric, hopefully no copyright laws have been broken by using those pictures...)

http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/tixSYS/2006/filmguide/event_np_summary.php?EventNumber=1903

http://fest06.sffs.org/films/film_details.php?id=13

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Entertainment/story?id=1896367&page=1

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/director-leaps-to-defence-of-bridge-suicide-film/2006/05/05/1146335930536.html