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       Route 91: The Show Must Go On is a story about America. It begins in Las Vegas, a city whose very history embodies the best and worst qualities of a complex country: creativity, ambition, and dreams, but also greed, exploitation, and violence. In the midst of a national debate about the role of firearms in American society, a lone gunman kills 58 people and wounds some 850 others in less than 10 minutes. But those are only the physical injuries. For many of the 22,000 country music fans attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival, life changed that day.

       This documentary feature film is not about the events of October 1, 2017. Rather, it is about the heartbreak, healing, and hope Route 91 survivors and their families have experienced every day since then. The narrative unfolds through a series of personal storylines: the fear, guilt, and confusion, the pain of losing loved ones in a senseless act of violence, and the strength to move forward and honor those who did not survive.

       For many, those 10 minutes of horror only renewed their faith in humanity. Strangers helped strangers, instinctively risking their lives to save people they had just met. As Route 91 Survivor, Sue Ann Cornwell, said “Nobody cared what race they were, what religion they were, nothing. We just saw people that needed help, and we helped. It was amazing to be a part of that aspect of it because I saw that, when it comes down to it, there are still good people in the world.”

This is ultimately a story of resilience in the face of adversity. Heroism in the face of danger. And redemption in the face of despair. What could be more American than that?

       The five deadliest mass shootings in American history have all occurred since 2007. Three of those occurred in 2016 and 2017 alone. It is therefore no surprise that some describe today’s children as the “Mass Shooting Generation.”

       We do not speculate as to the reasons behind the dramatic increase in mass shootings. And we take no political stand regarding solutions to address this complex crisis. Instead, we recognize that in nearly every mass shooting far more people survive than are killed. Yet their story is rarely told.

       In this documentary, we explore the longer-term impact of a uniquely horrific event on its survivors. Many continue to struggle with emotional disorders, including PTSD and survivors’ guilt. But many also recall acts of selflessness and bravery that renewed their faith in the human spirit. These stories must be told if we are to fully understand the human cost associated with mass shootings.

       I am fortunate to have never experienced a mass shooting first-hand. However, as a member of the "Mass Shooting Generation," this possibility has always been in the back of my mind. As a documentary filmmaker, I am drawn to stories that need to be told. Over the last year, I have spoken with dozens of survivors of the Route 91 shooting. Some lost loved ones that day. Others watched helplessly as strangers died beside them. Mere inches often made the difference between life and death. For those who survived, the experience was life-altering.

       One can imagine that a survivor might feel anger, bitterness, or despair. And some surely do. But many more see October 1, 2017 as a turning point—a chance to start over, to no longer take life for granted. After all, as one survivor told me, “the show must go on.”

       This perspective — optimistic, yet pragmatic — drives our team to tell Route 91 survivors’ emotionally inspiring stories: about resiliency, courage, and community. Because, in the end, our love for each other is more powerful than the hate that would tear us apart.

- Hailey Millar, Director

Production (In Progress): Through Oct 2019

Post-Production: Nov 2019 - August 2020

Release of Promos / Trailers: Early 2020

Distribution: October 2020

Our $30,000 goal is the absolute minimum we need to raise for our next phase of production. Our team began filming using our own funds but realized that far more resources will be required to tell the powerful story that is unfolding. 

Please Follow & Share!

Sharing our campaign on your social media is just as helpful as a donation. If every person who attended Route 91 were to donate just $1, we could do this easily! Please spread the word.

And doing BOTH goes a long way to helping bring Route 91: The Show Must Go On to life! STAY TUNED for updates on our film, as we raise funds, continue production, and kick off post-production. All members of our team work other jobs full-time during the week. This documentary has become a labor of love that we work on every spare moment we have - evenings, weekends, you name it. We are driven and incredibly passionate. Please understand that without these funds, we cannot tell survivors’ powerful, inspiring stories. If you have any questions prior to supporting this project, please reach out. We’d love to talk to you!

Thank you SO much for considering our project.

For more info, please visit www.route91film.com and subscribe to our newsletter! If you have any questions or comments please feel free to e-mail [email protected] - we are always happy to chat!

Love,

Hailey & The Millar Media Team