The Bridge: Looking Into The Abyss

In 2001, I was sitting at my desk in my office here, and I saw the World Trade Centers hit and collapse. I was very aware of the people who made the choice to jump out of the building rather than perish in the flames. So, in a way, since I had already seen people leap to their death, I was sort of prepared to film The Bridge. On the other hand, one can't emotionally prepare to see the end of a human life.

Before, when I worked as a producer on films like Angela's Ashes and Bringing Out The Dead, there was a much bigger collaboration going on, and I wasn't the one steering the ship. In this case, I was the one trying to make sense of what was happening and what we were seeing day in and day out.

In trying to make sense of it all, I think the film tries to pose a series of questions, rather than provides answers. There must be some reason the Golden Gate Bridge is the top suicide destination in the world, but I think we may only be able to understand why subliminally.

The film offers a number of possibilities. One is that the bridge is incredibly beautiful. There is no denying how stunning it can be. It's also incredibly easy to climb over a four-foot rail; a seven-year-old could do it in a matter of seconds. There are lots of people there all the time, and not a lot of safeguards. Lastly, it's hard to jump off that bridge and not perish, so once you jump, there is no way out.

I also think that one of the reasons people choose the bridge is the likelihood that they will be seen.