Cape Fear River transforms into Lower Manhattan for 9/11 maritime rescue film
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – A film crew on the Cape Fear River is transforming a downtown Wilmington boat dock into what will look like Lower Manhattan for a new short film.
“On that day September 11, there was an extraordinary event that happened, it was one of the darkest days of American history,” said Dale Fabrigar.
Fabrigar is the director of the new film “Boat Life 9/11” bringing viewers into the largest maritime evacuation in U.S. history.
“It’s a story that not a lot of people know about and when I first heard this story I was really blown away about the humanity,” said Fabrigar.
A fleet of ferries, tugboats, fishing vessels and private boats rescued more than 500,000 from Lower Manhattan.
“They called all of the boats in the area and people came and this is a story about one of these people who made the decision to help in that moment,” said Sofia Helin.
The film stars Helin as “Jan” the main character who is a long-time tug boat operator with her daughter.
“Trying to put myself back to that situation, I’ve had to take it like in chunks because it’s really difficult story, it’s a heartbreaking story,” said Helin.
“Boat Life 9/11” is the work of Suzanne DeLaurentiis, if that name sounds familiar, she’s the cousin of the late Dino DeLaurentiis who built the first sound stage in Wilmington in the 1980s.
DeLaurentis said the majority of the film is shot in Wilmington with some portions in New York.
“We had a small window of time when we could do this and we couldn’t have shot everything in New York right now because of the snow and the blizzard,” said DeLaurentiis.
Fabrigar said the Cape Fear River was the next best option.
“The weather is great, the crews here are fantastic and the river just really works for our story and we’re really happy to be here,” Fabrigar said.
The film is sponsored by The Mendez National Institute of Transplantation Foundation, aiming to bring awareness to the many people who came down with kidney cancer and diseases from breathing in toxins and debris.
“There’s a scene where someone that’s being rescued has a port because they’re going through kidney dialysis,” said DeLaurentiis.
Fabrigar hopes this film will keep the brave actions of these boat operators from becoming forgotten history.
“On that day, it was an excellent, amazing example of humanity, so I think it’s a story that needs to be told and remembered,” said Fabrigar.
Filming in Wilmington is expected to wrap up on Sunday. The short-form film will be released on Sept. 11 this year on the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
