Students’ film focuses on healing after the pain
PARKLAND They survived one of the country’s deadliest school shootings — and now they’re sharing their story of pain, hope and healing with the world.
Broadcast students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High released a documentary on Tuesday, less than a month after the Feb. 14 shooting that killed 17 students and faculty and wounded 17.
“We wanted to honor the injured and the people who passed,” said Eric Garner, the school’s broadcast teacher and executive producer of the film. “We decided not to go after the pain and the tragedy. The entire thing is a tragedy, but we didn’t want to start there. We wanted to say we’ve been through this and this is where we’re going. That’s really what MSD Strong is. It’s how we’re rebuilding our lives across the board, for all of us.”
The 27-minute narrative, titled MSDStrong Docualumni mentary, was made with the help of schools from around the country, Garner said.
Fifty of spent on the film.
“I like to think we beat all the big news organizations,” Garner said with a laugh. “But it helps being an insider. The heart and soul of the kids is to be in that class and to be doing what they love. They’re used to pushing to get things done.”
The film also provided them with a venue to channel their emotions.
“This brought a little piece of normalcy back to them,” Garner said.
On Tuesday afternoon, he posted their labor of love on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
“We just want the message out there,” he said. “We’re still here and we continue to move forward. We’re still MSD Strong.”
The documentary includes interviews with the school’s burgeoning stars — Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky and David Hogg — along with teachers and Garner’s students hours working York, Hawaii.
It ends with a from Principal Ty “We will get this together.”
The film pays homage to those who died that day, with a collage of photos next to their names.
Before the final credits, the screen fades to black with a quote from the school’s namesake, Marjory Stoneman Douglas: “There is always the need to carry on.”
Students tell of how they got through those first few days and how they will not give up until changes are made to keep schools safe.
Schools across the county weigh in, sharing footage of protests in cities near and far. Stoneman Douglas grads now living in Orlando, Philadelphia and Chicago encourage the school’s kids to stay strong, passionate and proud.
“You are not alone in your grief,” one man said. “We’re all grieving with you. The entire country is grieving with you.” from as far as New California and
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