A veteran CBS correspondent has turned his lens to the empty bedrooms of children killed in US school shootings in an Oscar-nominated documentary, describing it as his most daunting challenge yet. Steve Hartman, known for his feelgood human interest stories since 1996, has reported on school shootings since 1997 but felt America was moving on from each tragedy faster than before. Eight years ago, he decided to try a different approach.
The 34-minute film, All the Empty Rooms, follows Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp as they visit and photograph the bedrooms of four children: Dominic Blackwell, 14; Hallie Scruggs, 9; Jackie Cazares, 9; and Gracie Muehlberger, 15. The tiny details, from a SpongeBob SquarePants pencil pot to unwashed laundry, are intended to evoke a powerful emotional response. Bopp, who has photographed volcanoes and poachers, said he had never been so frightened as before photographing a bedroom in Parkland, Florida.
Jada Scruggs, Hallie’s mother, said the family was initially overwhelmed by press attention after the shooting but agreed to participate after Hartman wrote to them. The photographs were printed in hardback books for the families. Scruggs hopes the film captures Hallie’s joy and effervescence, and spurs viewers to push for policy change. “We wanted Hallie to be known,” she said. “Her absence is the hole we will never be able to fill.”
Hartman and Bopp hope that by stepping into these rooms, people will feel something that leads to real change. The documentary has been nominated for an Academy Award.
