The Story
On November 5th, 2009, Major Nidal Malik Hasan went on a shooting spree, firing 146 rounds, killing 13 and wounding 32 people at Fort Hood, Texas. It was the worst attack on a military base since Pearl Harbor and was the second most deadly terrorist attack in our history. Civilian Police Sergeant Kim Munley was the first on scene getting off 10 shots but only striking Hasan once before her weapon malfunctioned. She was shot three times by Hasan. Sgt Mark Todd fired five times, hitting Hasan three times at close range.
Our story will focus on the events of that day, following a number of the key people involved, including Kim Munley, one of only a few civilians involved in the shooting. The story will consistently flashback to earlier events in Kim’s life that led to her becoming the person that she was that day, the person who was able to confront the shooter and save countless lives as Hasan had 177 rounds of ammunition left.
Director’s Statement
I first became aware of the story like most, through the media coverage shortly afterwards. In the contemporary ‘shooting of the week’ age there were a number of items that stood out to me that made this unique. The first was that the shooter was an Army psychiatrist and Muslim of Palestinian descent. Additionally, the fact that he was slowed down by a female civilian police officer in the middle of one of the largest Army bases was intriguing to say the least. However, in the time since then, I have befriended that ‘civilian police officer’ and I can tell you that Kim Munley is no ordinary civilian. Her story is at the heart of this story. Hers is a tale of modern America, of self-reliance, of David versus Goliath, of women breaking ranks with tradition, and, in turn, saving the lives of many people.
There are so many facets to this story that are still unknown to most Americans. I can honestly tell you that this event, as it actually happened, is more filmic in its nature than most films. The heroism shown that day dwarves most fiction. Sgt Munley’s gunfight was more dramatic than any Western you have seen. Therefore, it is our goal is to bring the complete story of the shooting at Fort Hood to the American people, centered on Kim Munley.
The Team
Heath Franklin (writer, director, producer) has produced five feature films that have garnered theatrical and national broadcast release and foreign releases. Additionally he has directed and produced over 200 commericals.
Kim Munley, a civilian police sergeant at the time of the shooting, will be instrumental in her role as an advisor. Her years of service in the Army coupled with her first hand knowledge of the shooting will give us valuable insight when making the film.
Brandon Luck (Producer) has produced a diverse range of film projects including the indie hit "The Jailhouse" and the youtube short series Tight Lies (which has millions of viewers).