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Film captures suicides on Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 01/19/2005 | Philip Matier and Andrew Ross

Posted on 01/19/2005 9:46:47 AM PST by TenaciousZ

Golden Gate Bridge officials are seething that a moviemaker who told them he was working on a "day in the life" project about the landmark was, in fact, capturing people on film as they jumped to their deaths.

Eric Steel initially told officials he planned to spend a year filming the "powerful and spectacular interaction between the monument and nature" and that his work was to be the first in a series of documentaries about national monuments such as the St. Louis Arch and the Statue of Liberty. That's how he got the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's permission to set up cameras on parkland overlooking Fort Point.

Now, however, Steel has revealed in an e-mail to bridge officials that the cameras -- which were operating almost continuously during daylight hours for all of 2004 -- filmed most of the 19 jumpers who went off the bridge last year plus a number of attempted suicides.

Apparently, that was the point all along. Steel says his goal is to "allow us to see into the most impenetrable corners of the human mind and challenge us to think and talk about suicide in profoundly different ways."

"Are we angry? Absolutely," said bridge district spokeswoman Mary Currie.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: bridge; dusuicides; ericsteel; film; filmmaker; goldengatebridge; ichabodcrane; kerplunk; kerryjumps; lurch; pork; sanfrancisco; suicide; suicides
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To: NorCalRepub

I always thought it was because they walk in from the south (City) side, which is on the right, facing SF. Few would come in from the north, at the Marin headlands.


21 posted on 01/19/2005 9:58:50 AM PST by TFFKAMM
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To: TenaciousZ

"What else did he film?'' added board member Brown. "The underside of the bridge? The security patrols?"

You would think that would be a concern BEFORE they granted ANYONE permission to mount cameras there.

Geesh!


22 posted on 01/19/2005 9:59:10 AM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: rellimpank

The number isn't touted, but it has passed 1,000. Grim.


23 posted on 01/19/2005 9:59:39 AM PST by TenaciousZ
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To: Tijeras_Slim
---I'm talkin' 25 years ago--it's gotta be double that by now, I would suppose.
24 posted on 01/19/2005 10:00:11 AM PST by rellimpank (urban dwellers don' t understand the cultural deprivation of not being raised on a farm)
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To: NorCalRepub
they put up big barriers on the side facing the City

No, they haven't. This has been long talked about and debated, but there is no such barrier.

25 posted on 01/19/2005 10:00:55 AM PST by TenaciousZ
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To: Tijeras_Slim

We need an exit strategy!


26 posted on 01/19/2005 10:01:30 AM PST by gopwinsin04
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To: TenaciousZ

--thanks--


27 posted on 01/19/2005 10:02:05 AM PST by rellimpank (urban dwellers don' t understand the cultural deprivation of not being raised on a farm)
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To: gopwinsin04
We need an exit strategy!

I think they understand the gravity of the situation.

28 posted on 01/19/2005 10:02:21 AM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: TenaciousZ

i thought they had put up some nets or such years ago.. didn't they do something.......if I"m wrong I stand corrected but I thought they put up at least some sort of deterrent.......


29 posted on 01/19/2005 10:03:50 AM PST by NorCalRepub
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To: TFFKAMM

i'm sure that is part of it......i was just going off of what reports said several years ago........thanks


30 posted on 01/19/2005 10:04:27 AM PST by NorCalRepub
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To: NorCalRepub
It seemed like jumpers mostly jumped facing SF as opposed to facing the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean for some psychological gratification to see SF while dying....they rarely jumped on the Pacific side........

When driving from San Fran, is it easier to jump from the pacific side or the san fran side? Do you have to cross the road in order to jump on the san fran side?

What were the places of residence for those who did jump on the san fran side?

31 posted on 01/19/2005 10:04:43 AM PST by smith288 (I have posted over 10,000 times. The more I post, the more intelligent you become!)
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To: TenaciousZ
"Are we angry? Absolutely,'' said bridge district spokeswoman Mary Currie...

...(between bites of her ham and cheese sandwich and sips of Snapple, while leafing through pages of 'The Advocate')

32 posted on 01/19/2005 10:05:09 AM PST by F16Fighter
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Comment #33 Removed by Moderator

To: rellimpank

I saw a guy jump off the Bay Bridge at the top of the incline section. Two cars ahead me. Guy put his hazards on, stopped his car, got out, and hopped over the railing.

One of those "did I just see that?" moments.


34 posted on 01/19/2005 10:05:56 AM PST by L,TOWM ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I read that some where once.)
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To: TenaciousZ
Maybe they should put up a "Death Toll" booth
35 posted on 01/19/2005 10:06:15 AM PST by digger48
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To: frog_jerk_2004
KERRY (pushed): "Did I mention I served in Vietnammmmmmm!!!...(croshfzzzt!!!!)

You got a big laugh out of me for that one.

36 posted on 01/19/2005 10:06:21 AM PST by Sundog (Cheers.)
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To: TenaciousZ
SPLAT!
37 posted on 01/19/2005 10:06:50 AM PST by jslade (People who are easily offended......OFFEND ME!)
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To: TenaciousZ

So we will be able to see these jumpers, but are still forbidden from seeing the 9/11 WTC jumpers who died as a result of terrorism?


38 posted on 01/19/2005 10:07:06 AM PST by montag813
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To: TenaciousZ

This "film maker" is a troglodyte... attempting to capitalize on others pain and tragedy... should be gutted.


39 posted on 01/19/2005 10:07:59 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: traumer

Obviously DUers.


40 posted on 01/19/2005 10:09:00 AM PST by jslade (People who are easily offended......OFFEND ME!)
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