Return To Dwight and Nile: The Crash Of PSA 182

Produced, Directed, Edited and Written by David Fresina

The tragic story of the 1978 crash of PSA Flight 182 in San Diego has intrigued me since I watched it unfold on TV when I was 11 years old. I decided to make a Documentary Film on the crash because I felt it deserved more then just a 2 minute retrospect once a year from local News Stations. And I wanted to tell the story from the point of view of those who witnessed it first hand and those who had to spend days at the crash site cleaning up what was left of flight 182. I wanted to hear the stories of the people who lived and still live in the surrounding neighborhoods and to hear from the families of the victims and the great people who worked for PSA. My hope is that this film will allow people to interact with others who share a common bond; an important step for the healing process to begin and to allow people to finally put closure to a terrible tragedy.

After 2 years and 2 months since I started my research and 18 months since I left San Diego with 40 hours of interviews and raw footage, I am happy to report that the Documentary Film about the tragedy of PSA Flight 182 is complete and ready to be brought to San Diego for its official premiere!

With an official run time of 00:56:46, the film is a lovingly told tribute to everyone who was impacted by the tragedy. My biggest challenge was finding the right people from the 70 interviews and 40 hours of raw footage who could tell the story in a way that was unique, compelling, heartfelt and dignified. I wanted the people to tell the story and not succumb to cliché documentary techniques like narration, reenactments or digital recreations of the tragedy.

The people tell the story, because it is their story. The 13 main subjects of the film all have a unique experience to tell yet they are all connected by a common bond. Their individual stories are a remarkable account of the human side of that terrible day.

I am forever grateful to everyone who had the courage to sit with me during those two weeks in September 2008 and open their hearts and homes to allow myself and the crew to record what will be known as the definitive telling of the crash of PSA Flight 182. And I am eternally grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such an amazing production and post production crew – Rick, Tony, Laura, David, Rob, Heidi, Mark and David B. What we experienced together is profoundly unforgettable.

The Premier will be in San Diego on April 7,2010 at the Ultra Star Cinema at Mission Valley-Hazard Center 8:00pm Showing. Click on the top banner for advanced Tickets.

David Fresina is the author of a dozen unproduced screenplays and as many unpublished short stories. He produced, wrote and directed several short films in the 1990’s and decided at age 40 that he would finally do what he had always wanted to accomplish; to make a documentary film. Finding the right topic to film was a challenge. He remembered watching a series on the Discovery Channel several years ago, that showcased a different air tragedy each night for a week. He thought for sure they would show the horrific 1978 crash of PSA Flight 182 in San Diego as he always wanted to know more about it from when he watched it unfold on TV as an eleven year old boy. There was nothing about the crash during that week and David made a promise to himself that if he ever got around to making a documentary, he would use this crash as his subject. Now, one year and 3 months after posting an ad on Craigslist in San Diego asking if there was anyone out there who wanted to talk about the 1978 tragedy, the film is halfway to completion and he is hopeful that it will be finished and ready for its World Premiere in North Park this summer -- 31 years after the tragic crash. Contact David Fresina

SOUND TECHNICIAN, PRODUCTION MANAGER,
2nd UNIT DIRECTOR

RICK BOWMAN (San Diego, CA) Rick started his own company in 1996, LETHAL SOUNDS, which has been providing high-quality sound design and music. Rick has a broad range of experience, in film, television, animation, video gaming, and the internet. He offers professional sound design; managing audio projects from concept to completion. more about Rick at www.lethalsounds.com

Mark Manning

MUSIC

MARK MANNING (San Diego, Ca) Mark scored his first film project (a 30 sec spot for Trophy’s) in his early twenties using an out-of-tune upright piano, a hand-held metronome and a skittish VCR unit. Happy with the outcome, the Agency offered more projects (Children’s Hospital and Circus Circus), and valuable experience with demanding producers and tight deadlines. Since then Mark has gone on to compose music on more commercials, feature-length and DVD projects, documentaries, animation, educational and learning media, infomercials, webisodes and various independent films. www.mmtrax.com

CAMERA OPERATOR, LIGHTING, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

TONY BALDRIDGE (San Diego, CA) Tony has been working in San Diego’s rapidly growing film industry since graduating from The Art Institute of Phoenix, AZ in 2000. Tony has worked on numerous Feature Films and Short Films as Camera Operator, Editor, Writer, Director. Tony’s short film “” which he Wrote, Produced, Directed and Edited premiered at The San Diego Film Festival last September to great fanfare. Tony currently works at Legend Films, Inc. in San Diego.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

ROBERT ESSIG (New York, NY) Robert works construction in NYC and is proud to have worked on three important projects in NYC: the new Jet Blue Terminal at JFK and the new Mets and Yankee stadiums. Robert is currently pursuing a career in acting, film production and is working on getting his personal trainers liscense. Robert has worked on several short student films in NYC and routinely auditions for acting and modeling gigs during his spare time.

ART DIRECTOR “Hans Wendt” Interview

HEIDI STRYKIEWICZ (San Diego, CA) Heidi graduated from San Diego State University in 2004 with a BA in Media Studies and a Minor in Film. Heidi works as a freelance Art Director in the film, TV and print industries.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

LAURA RAE (San Diego, CA) Laura graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2007 with a degree in Film Production. Her recent credits include: MacMillan/McGraw-Hill: Teaching Math – PA (2009), Shoot The Hero – Boom Operator (2008), Padres Spec – Grip (2008), Balboa’s 2nd Annual Shakespeare Festival PBS – Camera Operator (2007), , Wicked, Wicked Games FOX TV Station – Camera PA, Set PA (2006), Skid Marks – 2nd Assistant Camera (2006).

POST PRODUCTION

President of Gray Matter Entertainment specializing in Post Production. Dave has been in the editing and post production field for over 15 years and has contributed to many films, Documentaries and TV productions including "The Legend Of Lucy Keyes", "Seven's Gate" (An AFI Award Winning Comedy Short), PBS, Discovery Channel, McDonalds, Atari, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Fox Sports Net and many others. http://www.gmatter.tv

LEAD STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER, TECHNICAL ADVISER

DAVID MATT GREEN(San Diego, CA) David has spent much of his working career with his hands on either a keyboard or a camera. A 1967 graduate of St. Augustine High School in North Park, He earned a BA in Journalism from San Diego State University in 1972 and went on to write for the local Catholic newspaper, The Southern Cross. He has shot hundreds of music and theater events, and his images and complete bio can be see on his website, www.shycloud.com