SANTA BARBARA: The poignant and powerful “36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime” delves into the tragic events surrounding the 2015 Chapel Hill mass shooting in the United States, shedding light on the lives lost and the enduring impact of hate-fueled violence.
On February 10th, 2015, it took Craig Hicks 36 seconds to end the lives of three young Muslim Americans and this 99-minute documentary, directed and executive produced by Tarek Albaba, and tells the story of the three victims — Deah Barakat, Razan Abu-Salha and her sister, Yusor Abu-Salha.
Albaba approached the families of the victims with a goal of authentically sharing their story.
“We felt like we had to keep fighting and it was a story worth telling,” Albaba said. “Even if you hit those walls, you remind yourself how important the film is, especially with the rise of hate crimes. So we were in it for the long haul.”
Filming began in 2016 but took eight years as the crew waited for the shooter’s trial and sentencing to be completed. Due to the lack of footage of the shooting, the crew filmed reenactments in order to connect the audience with the reality of the event.
Executive producer Sean Dash, known for his work on popular shows like “Deadliest Catch” and “Bering Sea Gold,” highlighted the rarity of projects with the potential for genuine impact.
“You rarely get the opportunity to do something where you have a chance to make an actual difference and reach people in their hearts,” Dash said.
Against the backdrop of ongoing hate crimes, Albaba stressed the importance of amplifying the film’s message through mainstream channels.
“We could get more involved,” he said. “We can utilize law enforcement to our advantage. We can use resources even on social media to combat hate speech and cyberbullying. The ripple effects of hate are way too severe. We have to stop it before it gets there.”
