Zero Day
Encyclopedia
Zero Day is a 2003 American film directed by Ben Coccio
about a school shooting much along the lines of the Columbine High School massacre
.
The final scenes of the movie show the boys arriving at school on May 1 and preparing their weapons in the car. They then run into the school, armed with three pistols (a Ruger GP-100 .357, a Glock 17, a Revolver
), an M1 Carbine
, a 12-gauge pump action shotgun, and at least twenty pipe bombs. The entire shooting is shown through the eyes of security cameras. Making their way through the school, Andre and Cal eventually watch law enforcement arriving in large numbers outside. After arguing over whether or not to shoot at the police, Andre and Cal decide to count to three, then shoot themselves.
The next scene is set on May 10, nine days after the shooting. A group of youths film themselves going to a park where memorial crosses have been set up. The youths reveal that Andre and Cal killed 12 students and themselves. They find Andre and Cal's crosses and set them on fire before running back to the car. The last scene shows the two crosses on fire before cutting to the credits.
in 1999. According to Coccio, he began writing the film shortly afterwards, and completed the film in mid-2001, using no professional cameras. The film's initial release was cancelled after September 11
, to avoid distress. The film was then edited over the next six months, and eventually released in 2003, nearly two full years after being completed.
The film's camcorder-style perspective was based on the basement tapes made by the perpetrators
, in which they discussed their plan to assault Columbine High
. The penultimate scene uses security camera, and is based on the footage from the Columbine High School cafeteria during the shooting.
The scene where the shooting takes place has generated some misunderstanding on websites such as YouTube
and discussion blogs. The shots are all filmed on security cameras, and uninformed viewers have mistakenly believed that the footage in the film is actually the surveillance footage from Columbine. Andre and Cal's rampage lasts only sixteen minutes, which is one-third the duration of the real-life Columbine High shooting
.
, Dave Cullen as "the one great Columbine film."
Ben Coccio
Ben Coccio is an American filmmaker from Niskayuna, New York. He is best known for directing the feature film Zero Day and for co-writing The Place Beyond The Pines.-Bio:...
about a school shooting much along the lines of the Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
.
Plot
The film, told almost exclusively through Andre's video camera, begins with the introduction of Andre Kriegman and Calvin Gabriel announcing their intention to assault their high school, calling their plan "Zero Day". They keep a video diary on the camera, carefully hiding this from their friends and families. The majority of the film depicts the boys planning, preparing, and explaining some of their motives. There are also unrelated scenes such as the boys at a party, egging the house of someone they dislike, and Cal going to the prom while Andre works at a pizza place.The final scenes of the movie show the boys arriving at school on May 1 and preparing their weapons in the car. They then run into the school, armed with three pistols (a Ruger GP-100 .357, a Glock 17, a Revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
), an M1 Carbine
M1 Carbine
The M1 carbine is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S...
, a 12-gauge pump action shotgun, and at least twenty pipe bombs. The entire shooting is shown through the eyes of security cameras. Making their way through the school, Andre and Cal eventually watch law enforcement arriving in large numbers outside. After arguing over whether or not to shoot at the police, Andre and Cal decide to count to three, then shoot themselves.
The next scene is set on May 10, nine days after the shooting. A group of youths film themselves going to a park where memorial crosses have been set up. The youths reveal that Andre and Cal killed 12 students and themselves. They find Andre and Cal's crosses and set them on fire before running back to the car. The last scene shows the two crosses on fire before cutting to the credits.
Cast
In order of appearance:- Andre Keuck as Andre Kriegman
- Cal RobertsonCal RobertsonCal Robertson is an American actor. His most notable performance was that of teenage murderer Cal Gabriel in Zero Day, a film based on the Columbine High School massacre and perpetrators Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Robertson was cast in the role of Gabriel when director Ben Coccio scouted for...
as Calvin Gabriel - Christopher Coccio as Chris Kriegman
- Gerhard Keuck as Andre's Father
- Johanne Keuck as Andre's Mother
- Rachel Benichak as Rachel Lurie
- Pam Robertson as Cal's Mother
- Steve Robertson as Cal's Father
Origin and filming style
The film was made in response to the Columbine High School massacreColumbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
in 1999. According to Coccio, he began writing the film shortly afterwards, and completed the film in mid-2001, using no professional cameras. The film's initial release was cancelled after September 11
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, to avoid distress. The film was then edited over the next six months, and eventually released in 2003, nearly two full years after being completed.
The film's camcorder-style perspective was based on the basement tapes made by the perpetrators
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Eric David Harris and Dylan Bennet Klebold were American high school seniors who committed the Columbine High School massacre. They killed 13 people—including teacher Dave Sanders—and injured 24 others, three of whom were injured as they escaped the attack...
, in which they discussed their plan to assault Columbine High
Columbine High School
Columbine High School or CHS is a high school in unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado, United States.- History :Columbine High School opened in the fall of 1973. There was no senior class in its first year. The school's first graduating class was the class of 1975...
. The penultimate scene uses security camera, and is based on the footage from the Columbine High School cafeteria during the shooting.
The scene where the shooting takes place has generated some misunderstanding on websites such as YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and discussion blogs. The shots are all filmed on security cameras, and uninformed viewers have mistakenly believed that the footage in the film is actually the surveillance footage from Columbine. Andre and Cal's rampage lasts only sixteen minutes, which is one-third the duration of the real-life Columbine High shooting
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
.
Reception
Zero Day initially sparked some controversy, but received mostly positive reviews. Zero Day also won several awards at film festivals throughout America. It has been cited by Columbine journalist, and author of a Columbine book from DuttonDutton
- Places :*Dutton, Alabama, town in the United States*Dutton, Cheshire, village in England*Dutton, Lancashire, village in England*Dutton, Montana, town in the United States*Dutton/Dunwich, Ontario, town and municipality in Canada*Dutton, South Australia...
, Dave Cullen as "the one great Columbine film."
Awards
- Atlanta Film Festival – Grand Jury Award 2003
- Boston Underground Film Festival – Best of Festival 2003
- Film Fest New Haven – Audience Choice Award, Best Dramatic Feature 2003
- Florida Film Festival – Grand Jury Award 2003
- Had to be Made Film Festival – Outstanding Festival Feature 2003
- Rhode Island Film Festival – Audience Award 2003
- Slamdunk Film Festival – Grand Jury Award 2003