Tower Documentary

Using the mix of animation, archival footage and interviews, the film “Tower” shows the events which took place on the day of August 1, 1966. On this day, a gunman went up to the observation deck at the University of Texas Tower and opened fire. The animated documentary tells the stories of the victims, survivors and heroes of that day, while vividly displaying the occurrence. The film starts with a journalist reporting from the scene while driving toward the campus. “This is a warning to the citizens of Austin. Stay away from the University area. There is a sniper on the University Tower firing at will”. After which the film shifts to tell the stories of the first victims of the shooting. Claire Wilson, about 8 months pregnant, and her boyfriend, Tom Eckman are leaving the Student Union after getting coffee and as they are
Rita Starpatter and Artly were not injured but were heroes of that day, especially for Claire Wilson. Starpatter laid down next to Wilson comforting and keeping her conscious. Eventually then, Artly, James Love and others went out to help Wilson as well as retrieve Eckman’s body. Allen Crum and the three police officers, McCoy, Day and Ramirez, all headed to the Tower to put a stop to the shooting. The four of them made it to the observation deck and were successful at stopping Whitman. Ramirez shot Whitman seven to eight times, emptying his gun. The appalling 96 minutes of nonstop shooting and chaos was finally over. This historical documentary film “Tower” creatively told the stories of the many victims of the hot tragic day of August 1, 1966 at the University of Texas. The interview based, animation was used to show the reflection of the victims of that day, to give insight and demonstrate their trauma. The film went on to end with the survivors describing their feelings, and reflecting back on the