Itchen Bridge, Southampton, UK
It was Thursday night when Luke had proposed that members of the group visit a prominent suicide location near to us; Itchen Bridge in Southampton. Other members of the group were not available for the shoot - so Luke and myself opted to go on the trip as a small crew; bringing our friend Euan along as a Grip Assistant.
Kit Loadout
1 Sony HVR-V1E HDV Camera
1 Sony Wide-Angle Converter
1 Marantz 661 Sound Recorder
1 Canon 450D with Tamron 200mm
Feelings
It was midday, and just starting to get cold when we left for the bridge from Southampton train station. The winds were breezy, winter chills were definitely plaguing us all as we made our way through town to the water's edge. We'd missed the most ideal lighting and by the time we reached Itchen, we were losing light - illuminated only by yellowish decaying light of the street-lamps that took up the areas of the bridge that Samaritan 'talkboxes' did not occupy. Whilst walking with my headphones, boom mic and camera, I spent the first half of the trip examining Luke's reactions to my own probing questions... During our walk back I took up the role of Producing sound man - Nick Broomfield style. I suppose really, we were both feeling slightly overwhelmed by the fact that our documentary would be bigger than this, yet the feelings we were receiving from only one location were overly intense and powerful - how could we cope with the strain of multiple locational study and even character study of those who are/were involved at the time? We both didn't know. What was certain; was that we both wanted to take as much as we could from the situation, and the privilege of being out in the field. Nothing can quite come close to standing at the point at which someone had decided to end their life - in search of something on a higher spiritual plain; or in stark contrast, in search of the end of it all. Euan, our provisional crew member had made a comment during our walk to the peak of the bridge, that cut straight through the pain of the cold and winds and stole my attention for the remainder of the walk: what does the walk do? Why must they take themselves right to the top? What is the preparation involved - how should one think to be in the mindset of a suicidal person? I think I stopped becoming a 'researcher' and a 'documenter' when I contemplated this; I became involved. For a moment, I became a person with suicidal thoughts - it had to happen in order for me to truly understand. I think this project is potentially something very dangerous, and I do at times fear for the mental safety and the effects of our research on our group - who will be the first to crack, and more importantly, in which of us will this become more apparent?
Interviews
We managed to obtain three interviews with people -
A cyclist named 'Jane' - cycling the bridge
Two ladies walking up the bridge
A standby Ambulance patrol woman on duty at the bottom of the bridge
Blog
The photographs and video footage taken on the night will be edited and output as a video blog on the site very soon.
By Jonathan Beal
Budd Dwyer Live TV press conference suicide
Budd Dwyer born November 21 1939 was an America born politician. He worked his way up through the ranks of The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the House Senate to eventually become a big player amongst the sate treasury department.
During the early 1980's the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania overpaid millions of dollars in taxes. As a result the state solicited bids from accounting firms wishing to take on the task of working out how much each employer was due in refunds.
One man John Torquato Jr used his in state connections and a series of bribes to secure his firm would take on the task earning him a reported $4.6 million. This scam was found out when then Governor of Pennsylvania Dick Thornburgh received an un-named letter informing him of what had happened.
Budd Dwyer was convicted of taking a $300,000 kickback in exchange for his ability to steer the contract towards Mr Torquato's company. Dwyer was found guilty in December 1986. His maximum sentence Dwyer could have faced was $300,000 fine and 55 years in jail. He continued to plead his innocence as did those close to him.
On January 27th 1987 one day before his sentencing Budd Dwyer called a press conference. Through out the press conference that was being broadcasted live Dwyer seemed nervous and uneasy. He went on to proclaim his innocence once more.
Dwyer then called for three of his staffers and to each he gave a sealed envelope. In one a letter to the newly elected Governor Robert P. Casey, another contained an organ donor card and in the third a suicide note to Dwyer's wife.
Dwyer the pulled from a larger envelope a .357 Magnum Revolver and asked the crowd, "Please leave the room if this will offend you." Many screams from those attending the press conference could be heard with one member moving forward to stop Dwyer, Dwyer responded saying, "Dont this will hurt someone." With that Dwyer placed the barrel of the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. He dropped to the floor violently into a sitting position with blood pouring from his nose and head.
Dwyer was proclaimed dead at the scene at 11.31 am.
At the time of broadcast which went out live on some stations a terrible snow storm had left many schools closed meaning many children witnessed the suicide whilst watching their TV's at home.
In the end his co-defendant Robert Asher recived a year in jail and went on to serve as a Republican National Committeeman for Pennsylvania.
By Robert Ferrin
To view video footage of Dwyers suicide click on this link. (*Warning*Graphic*) http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=860c9b9f3b
