In 1966, University of Texas engineering student Charles Whitman shot and killed over a dozen people, wounding over 30 more, from the large clock tower on campus. His story has been told in movies before, but the new documentary “Tower” uses animation to chronicle of the events of that day like never before.
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The first thing that jumps out at the viewer when they see the newly released trailer for “Tower” is the animation. Using rotoscopic animation to show what happened, as told by survivors, heroes, and witnesses, audiences get a completely different point of view of that tragic day. Directed by Keith Maitland and executive produced by Meredith Vieira and Luke Wilson, “Tower” has already received rave reviews and is the 2016 SXSW Grand Jury and Audience Award Winner in the Documentary category. Here’s the official synopsis:
August 1st 1966 was the day our innocence was shattered. A sniper rode the elevator to the top floor of the iconic University of Texas Tower and opened fire, holding the campus hostage for 96 minutes in what was a previously unimaginable event. TOWER combines archival footage with rotoscopic animation of the dramatic day, based entirely on first person testimonies from witnesses, heroes and survivors, in a seamless and suspenseful retelling of the unfolding tragedy. The film highlights the fear, confusion, and visceral realities that changed the lives of those present, and the rest of us, forever – a day when the worst in one man brought out the best in so many others.
“Tower” begins rolling out in New York on October 12, followed by Los Angeles on October 14.
