9/11

In the spring of 2001, three documentarians (Jules and Gedeon Naudet, with James Hanlon) began a project following a New York City rookie firefighter’s rite of passage. On September 11, they ended up inside hell. With the men of Engine 7, Ladder 1, they bore witness to history and to extraordinary courage in the face of catastrophe. Their work became the heart of the CBS broadcast 9/11, containing the only known pictures of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center and what may be the only videotaped record of some of the final moments inside those buildings. 9/11 does not explain the events of September 11. Instead, it uniquely and intimately documents what that day was like for one New York City firehouse. The shock of September 11 has been forever etched in our memories with impressions formed by footage of the plane crashes, the fleeing people and the aftermath of the attacks. This documentary, hosted by Robert DeNiro, opened a window for a new set of impressions of that day. The faces of New York’s top firefighters in the lobby of the World Trade Center’s Tower One told a story America had read about but had not seen—a story of disbelief, controlled panic and remarkable courage. When this entry was broadcast in March 2002, it became a part of the national conversation. The Naudets and Hanlon worked as Executive Producers with Susan Zirinsky, Graydon Carter, and David Friend. The Senior Broadcast Producer was Tom Forman, with Producers Paul LaRosa, Ian Paisley, Susan Mallie, Richard Barber, Michael J. Maloy, Bruce Spiegel, Jason Schmidt and Mead Stone. Rob Klug, the Naudet brothers and Hanlon directed. Executive Editor Hal Gessner helped shape the 180 hours of raw videotape and recent interviews into a 110-minute piece that aired on CBS. For its unique, powerful and deeply personal perspective on a day filled with unforgettable tragedy and horror, 9/11 receives a Peabody Award.