New Pulse documentary highlights need for survivor support
The Florida Film Festival played host to the world premiere of “Surviving Pulse: Life After a Mass Shooting,” a new documentary that not only tells the story of what happened on the night of the 2016 mass shooting, but also catches up with survivors and loved ones several years later, many of whom are still dealing with feelings of grief and PTSD related to the event.
According to producer Nancy McBride, it was important to make sure that this film debuted in Central Florida, and the Florida Film Festival provided the perfect opportunity to showcase this important story.
“The film festival [was] where we wanted to premiere it in the first place because this is home,” McBride said. “It really strikes a chord here and that was important to us.”
The documentary uses a mix of news footage, social media video and interviews which were all shot in a single take. “When they sit down, they’re saying it one time,” McBride said of the interview style used for the film. “I’m not gonna go back and have [the survivors] repeat themselves. I want it raw. I want it crisp.”
The film is separated into two parts, the first of which was filmed soon after the shooting and features survivors describing what happened inside Pulse and the immediate aftermath. The second half then picks up several years later with the survivors discussing how the effects of the mass shooting are still impacting their daily lives.
“Pulse has disappeared out of the news. But our people are still struggling,” McBride said.
The team behind the film, which includes director Alexa Sheehan and editor Julie Chalhoub, said their goal was to make the documentary as apolitical as possible. “We don’t want to turn off anybody,” Sheehan said. “We just need people to be aware.”
However, toward the end of the film, Gov. DeSantis’ 2021 veto of mental health funding for Pulse survivors is mentioned.
“These people do still need help,” Sheehan said, adding she hopes audiences who are able to see this documentary come away asking themselves what they can do for Pulse survivors.
“How do we help these individuals get past that? The mothers, the fathers who are still grieving?”