Rebecca hall on the humanity of christine chubbuck, the. Two films about the life and death of television news anchor christine chubbuck premiered in 2016. Christine chubbucks suicide on live tv explored in new film. Instead, the movie, directed by antonio campos and starring rebecca hall as. Her ashes were spread on the gulf of mexico by her family, a place they said she loved, on july 18, 1974. Christine chubbuck august 24, 1944 july 15, 1974 was an american television news reporter who worked for wtog and wxlttv in florida. Christopher sorrentinos short story condition, published in 2002, is a fictionalized account of christine chubbucks final moments on the air. Fury at rebecca hall film about christine chubbuck who shot. Christopher sorrentinos short story condition, published in 2002, is a fictionalized account of christine chubbuck s final moments on the air.
The station quickly ran a standard public service announcement and then a movie. Christine chubbuck wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Born in hudson, ohio, christine chubbuck attended the laurel school for girls in nearby shaker heights. The video of her suicide was scraped off the face of the earth and for the next few decades, it has been completely unavailable. Christine chubbuck, an onair correspondent for a news station. It stars actress rebecca hall as news reporter christine chubbuck struggling with depression, along with professional and personal frustrations as she tries to advance her career. Of course, this was witnessed by thousands, but no known copies of the footage have ever surfaced until now. Christine chubbuck has slipped out of knowledge, and the fact that she committed suicide on. The horrific moment that christine chubbuck, morning host of sun coast digest on wxlt in sarasota, florida, pulled a. At sundance, two different films examine the life and myth. These two films about the tragic death of christine chubbuck in. Exclusive clip from the true story of a televised suicide. As sarasota, florida newswoman christine chubbuck sat at her anchor desk on july 15, 1974, she said into the camera, in keeping with channel 40s policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts, and in living color, you are going to see another firstan attempted suicide. Oct 08, 2016 christine chubbuck flicked away her long hair and stared into the camera as she prepared to deliver the most shocking moment in broadcasting history.
Dramatic and disturbing as this incident was, the sad life and death of christine chubbuck was swiftly consigned to the archives of broadcasting history the footage has never been made public. Rebecca hall family of christine chubbuck slam hollywood. The existence of christine chubbucks suicide video has been. Rebecca hall on true life tragedy of christine chubbuck in new film christine duration.
Christine chubbuck was a news anchor who committed suicide live on air in july of 1974. Jan 24, 2017 dramatic and disturbing as this incident was, the sad life and death of christine chubbuck was swiftly consigned to the archives of broadcasting history the footage has never been made public. The host, who was suffering from depression, wrote a. Thousands witnessed the tv reporters suicide live on air. At the end of the video, at 8 minutes and 46 seconds, there appears to be footage of the suicide as it happened. Christine chubbuck onair suicide in 1974 video has been. Her death was so tragic, that a movie, christine, based on her life, was released at the sundance film festival in 2016. How the video of christine chubbucks suicide became a. Jan 26, 2016 but now, more than four decades after the onair suicide, two films are looking at chubbucks life and death in feature films. Oct 08, 2016 coming out on the same date, kate plays christine, is a film about an actress, kate lyn sheil, who struggles to develop into the character of chubbuck as she attempts to portray her in a movie.
Video was widely used by broadcast companies and production houses. Newsreader christine chubbucks onair suicide in 1974 has long been a source of morbid internet fascination, and earlier this year not one but two films about it were premiered at sundance. As sarasota, florida newswoman christine chubbuck sat at her anchor desk on july 15, 1974, she said into the camera, in keeping with channel 40s policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts, and in living color, you are going to see another. On the morning of july 15, 1974, christine chubbuck, a 29yearold television presenter, arrived at work with a. Mar 08, 2018 two films about the life and death of television news anchor christine chubbuck premiered in 2016. Christine chubbuck flicked away her long hair and stared into the camera as she prepared to deliver the most shocking moment in broadcasting history. The second is the documentary kate plays christine, about an actress who gets a job to play the newscaster in another project, then moves to sarasota to investigate chubbucks life. Christine chubbuck suicide footage tape july 15, 1974 by kyuss. It is in black and white, with distorted audio and video. When christine chubbuck, a 29yearold reporter for a florida television station, put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger in the middle of a. Two sundance films revisit story of journalist christine. Carolyn kormann on how christine chubbucks friend rob smith ended.
Fury at rebecca hall film about christine chubbuck who. It was christine chubbucks account of her own death, written in longhand. A new film released wednesday tells the tragic and little known story about christine chubbuck, a television anchor in florida who was the first person to commit suicide on live television. In a bizarre coincidence, this years sundance slate included two different movies one documentary, the other narrative about a grisly footnote in the history of american broadcasting. During her years at laurel, she started a small tongueincheek group called the dateless wonder club. A movie like christine has every chance of going wrongof courting, wittingly or not. The existence of christine chubbucks suicide video has. She attended miami university of ohio for one year, majoring in theatre arts, then attended endicott college in beverly, massachusetts before earning a degree in broadcasting at.
Because of that approach, he says, christine isnt merely a film about suicide even though her death served as his entry point to her story. The novel mandy and alecto by rebecca mcnutt has the character alecto, when planning his own demise, quoting chubbuck s final words towards the end of the book. The creators of the chubbuck narrative movie at sundance, christine, never even tried to find the footage. Rebecca hall gives a mesmerising performance as christine chubbuck the newscaster whose death marked a shocking moment in us. Now, 40years later, chubbucks tragic tale is the driving force behind two films selected to debut at the sundance film festival, underway in park city, utah christine, directed by antonio. She died on july 15, 1974 in sarasota, florida, usa. Christine chubbuck august 24, 1944 july 15, 1974 was an american television news reporter who worked for wtog and wxlttv in sarasota, florida. Oct 14, 2016 because of that approach, he says, christine isnt merely a film about suicide even though her death served as his entry point to her story. But all copies of the video were reputedly destroyed at the request of her family. Christine rebecca hall tries to push a new idea to michael tracy letts, but only finds disappointment.
Theres a parallel with the character jean in the movie, who is a. She is greatly missed by her family and many friends. Christine chubbucks suicide on live tv explored in new. Christine chubbuck biography facts, childhood, family. Several years before her death, chubbuck had moved into her familys summer cottage on siesta key, florida. The program was a community affairs talk show in which chubbuck interviewed guests on a wide variety of issues. Chubbuck started her career with wxlttv as a reporter and then was given the opportunity to host the talk show. The new christine chubbuck fake footage may or may not be fake. Christine chubbucks leaked footage debunked youtube. Chubbuck may have turned her own death into a public spectacle, but christine works best as a private story of someone terribly alone, isolated by sexual insecurity and using her broadcast. May 20, 2017 lost media chronicles episode 8 christine chubbuck repost doesnt contain death footage duration.
Brother of tv anchor christine chubbuck who killed herself. Her ashes were spread on the gulf of mexico by her. The christine chubbuck story is at number 1 on the list. But now, more than four decades after the onair suicide, two films are looking at chubbucks life and death in feature films.
A few months after chubbucks death, smitty left florida to drive a fiat across mexico. Chubbuck was only 29 years old when she pulled the trigger on herself. The internet has changed that although, thankfully, online footage of chubbucks death remains elusive. A few months back, we published an article that centered around a curious and tragic figure in the history of american broadcasting. The christine chubbuck tape lost onair suicide footage. Hall plays christine chubbuck, a 29yearold local news reporter in sarasota, florida, who shot herself in the head while anchoring a live news broadcast in 1974. Christine chubbuck was a television news reporter whose sole claim to fame was her unprecedented 1974 suicide live on air.
A shocking suicide, a longlost friend, and a movie trailer the. This video details the death of news anchor christine chubbuck. Oct, 2016 music, film, tv and political news coverage. Feb 11, 2016 now, 40years later, chubbucks tragic tale is the driving force behind two films selected to debut at the sundance film festival, underway in park city, utah christine, directed by antonio. Aug 24, 2016 a new film released wednesday tells the tragic and little known story about christine chubbuck, a television anchor in florida who was the first person to commit suicide on live television. Chris chubbuck is eulogized, sarasota heraldtribune, july 18, 1974. Christine was the host of suncoast digest, which appeared on abc affiliate wxlttv channel 40. Tragedy on screen two films grapple with the short life of christine. To me, this is nothing more than a cynical exploitation of my sisters death.
Aug 31, 2015 this video details the death of news anchor christine chubbuck. Coming out on the same date, kate plays christine, is a film about an actress, kate lyn sheil, who struggles to develop into the character of chubbuck as she attempts to portray her in a movie. Jan 05, 2020 rebecca hall on true life tragedy of christine chubbuck in new film christine duration. Entertainment television, which aired february 2425, march 1, march 3, march 6, 2007 in the evening. Oct 14, 2016 the internet has changed that although, thankfully, online footage of chubbucks death remains elusive. The novel mandy and alecto by rebecca mcnutt has the character alecto, when planning his own demise, quoting chubbucks final words towards the end of the book. Brother of tv anchor christine chubbuck who killed herself on. Was christine chubbuck a symbol of her times, our timesor. Sadly, she took her own life during her july 15, 1974 broadcast. Christine chubbuck onair suicide in 1974 video has been located. Rebecca hall plays chubbuck in the new movie, christine. There is no real movie for ms sheil to make and there is very little information.
Jan 29, 2017 t wo films made last year explored the wrenching, reallife story of the floridabased local news reporter christine chubbuck who in 1974 took her own life on live television. Christine is a 2016 biographical drama film directed by antonio campos and written by craig shilowich. A shocking suicide, a longlost friend, and a movie trailer. The new film christine, opening october 14, doesnt provide any answers to the questions posed by her tragic death.
Look up faces of death videos there was one where a girl is tied to a chair and then. Christine chubbuck suicide video has been located the. The new christine chubbuck fake footage may or may not. At sundance, two different films examine the life and myth of. Last year, the widow of the news stations owner, robert nelson, claimed she had found a copy among his effects. Oct 02, 2016 on the morning of july 15, 1974, christine chubbuck, a 29yearold television presenter, arrived at work with a. True story of televised suicide behind two of this years biggest sundance films. When christine chubbuck, a 29yearold reporter for a florida television station, put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger in the middle of a live. T wo films made last year explored the wrenching, reallife story of the floridabased local news reporter christine chubbuck who in 1974 took her own life on live television. Antonio campos christine stars rebecca hall in a fictional telling of chubbucks story, while robert greenes kate plays christine takes a looselydocumentary approach as it follows actress lyn sheil preparing. On july 15, 1974 christine chubbuck committed suicide on live television during her program suncoast digest.
Lost media chronicles episode 8 christine chubbuck repost doesnt contain death footage duration. The standard was 3 tape, until the narrower formats 1, betamax which was still used by broadcast companies in the early part of the 21st century and svhs before digital arrived. Christine chubbuck true story popsugar entertainment. How the video of christine chubbucks suicide became a very. She is known for being the first person to commit suicide on a live television broadcast. Why did reporter christine chubbuck shoot herself live on air. On the morning of july 15, 1974, christine chubbuck, a 29yearold television presenter, arrived at channel 40, the local florida tv station where she worked. Christine chubbuck august 24, 1944 july 15, 1974 was an american television news.
Christine chubbuck was born on august 24, 1944 in hudson, ohio, usa. Christine chubbuck biography facts, childhood, family life. In keeping with channel 40s policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts, and in living color, you are going to see another first. Feb 17, 2017 christine chubbuck was a news anchor who committed suicide live on air in july of 1974. The story of christine chubbuck, a 1970s tv reporter struggling with depression and professional frustrations as she tries to advance her career. Playwright michael finke created a musical about chubbuck in 2010 called reporting live. Jun 09, 2016 newsreader christine chubbucks onair suicide in 1974 has long been a source of morbid internet fascination, and earlier this year not one but two films about it were premiered at sundance. While the original footage of christine chubbuck s suicide does exist the tv stations master tape is held by a law firm, this isnt it.
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