TaserFilm

In NYC this week

2010-05-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

Checking out the now officially named Killing Them Safely in New York so far. We are preparing it for some fall submissions. I know we promised a trailer and website months ago, but you have to make sure you do the press right! Everyone stay posted, I am just thrilled about how everything has gone thus far.

Nick

Read today's Columbia Tribune

2010-05-10T07:24:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,
If you get a chance, read today's Columbia Daily Tribune. Reporter Brennan David wrote a piece about the film, which has been officially titled Killing Them Safely. The first cut will be completed at the end of this month, so we are getting close to having a finished product. Thanks for all your support!

Nick

2010-05-03T15:32:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

The facebook page is finally up! Go on facebook and search Killing Them Safely. The link is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Killing-Them-Safely/107581589284677. Join up when you get a chance!

Nick

Bay City

2010-03-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

The Bay City Times did an interview with me to discuss the movie. Bay City, Michigan, is where Brett Elder, a fifteen year old, was tragically killed after being tasered by police. He was tasered because he was commanded to sit on a couch during a disturbance, sat down on the couch, but then stood back up. The officer claimed he took a "combative stance" and that justified tasering Brett. Brett's one year anniversary just passed, so everyone keep him in your thoughts. To find the article, search Bay City Times on google, or follow me on Twitter @NickBerardini where I will be retweeting the link from yesterday.

Nick

Status Update

2010-03-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

Hello fans!

We are making great strides in post-production. We have a terrific editor from New Jersey named Brien Lee who is currently organizing footage, remixing the audio, and making awesome graphics. Our web designer, Jason Goldstein, is putting together a remarkable site that everyone will be able to visit soon. Right now, we are waiting for some video to get shipped in for our trailer, and then as soon as we get that cut, we are going to launch the official site. I cannot express how pleased I am with our progress so far, and I truly believe this film will be a groundbreaking project that brings tasers and the intellectual debate over them into mainstream America. We also will be starting a fan page on facebook that everyone can follow. Stay tuned, as I will be updating more frequently now since we are getting closer to having the first cut of the film done.

Nick Berardini

Official Website Up Soon

2010-02-15T10:17:00.000-08:00

The official website for the film was designed on Saturday. We are going to launch the site and the official trailer concurrently, so that everyone can get a glimpse of what took us so long to finish!

Nick

WE'RE BACK!

2010-02-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

To everyone who was following Taserfilm:

Due to the highly controversial nature of tasers, I decided to shut down this blog for the past few months while we finished shooting our film. After spending time in Louisiana in late September, I decided that it would be in the best interest of the safety of my crew to not publicize what we were doing until we could finish shooting. It also was in the best interest of my film, because we did not want people to try to sabotage the project. After interviewing at Taser International last Friday, we have officially wrapped the production, and have already begun editing. Within the next few weeks, the official movie site will be posted, as well as a Facebook page. Follow the film on Twitter @Taserfilm and on this blog to get all the latest updates. I am so excited to be writing on the blog again, and thank you all so much for your support!

Sincerely,

Nick Berardini

Director/Producer

Congratulations Scott

2009-10-06T11:02:00.001-07:00

Scott Schaefer, the director of photography for my film, won six regional emmy awards on Saturday for his work at NBC affiliate KOMU. He is currently in New York receiving a National Murrow Award. Congratulations to Scott for all his success. Last week was an off week for my crew as we prepare for more travel this month. Check back this week as I profile the Harlan family, and also ask why a double amputee in California was tasered in California last month.

Back in Columbia

2009-09-26T07:25:00.001-07:00

Hey everybody. My crew and I got back to Columbia, Missouri last night about 10 p.m. We did some very interesting things in Louisiana, and I was very impressed by our interview subjects. Scott Schaefer, my director of photography, shot outstanding video. We may not do too much this week, as Scott has the regional emmy awards to attend. He is already a multiple emmy winner, and he is nominated for seven regional emmies this week, so good luck to him. Then, he also has to go to New York to accept his national Murrow Award. His ability behind the camera is as good as any photographer at 26 years old in the country. We are lucky to have him behind us. On another note, in case any of you would like to see some of the stories that I did as an investigative reporter on Stanley Harlan's taser death, check out KOMU.com and search Nick Berardini-Moberly Taser. Of course, I will update you all soon as there is news.

Nick

Kayshon Collins interview

2009-09-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

Earlier today we had the privilege to sit down with Kayshon Collins, Baron Pikes' stepmother. Her stories about Baron's life and what he was like showed me how difficult it must be for her and her family to move on without him. She talked about Baron's young son, and then extensively about the circumstances surrounding Baron's horrible death. She mentioned that witnesses to Baron's arrest told her about how the young man begged for officer Scott Nugent to stop tasering him and was screaming repeatedly. Baron was tasered nine times by Nugent, and the Winn Parish coroner stated that Baron was probably dead before the final two shots. Baron died alone and scared in police custody, had no drugs in his system, and was unarmed. He was tasered while in handcuffs, and begged for his life. His story is a powerful reminder of the reality that all of us face when our lives hang in the balance. The fear and desperation he faced in the final minutes of his life are heartbreaking details for Ms. Collins to have to cope with in her own mind. This story needs to remind people that death is not something to be trivialized, but it truly is the end of life on earth. Baron's family must find a way to survive without someone they loved so dearly without being able to justify or explain his death. Of course, the most tragic part of all, is that Baron's son will never get to know his father. Tonight I will be sure to say a prayer for Baron "Scooter" Pikes, and I hope all of you will do the same. Peace and Love.

2009-09-24T07:25:00.001-07:00

Just finished the interview with Tony Brown. Tony Brown is the host of the radio program "Eyes Open with Tony Brown" that airs in over 200 cities and throughout three states. He is a true professional, and his passion for investigative journalism is very inspiring. It was a tremendous experience for me to be on his radio show to discuss my film, and he then graciously answered questions about the Baron Pikes case. Tony Brown was the journalist to first uncover the corruption surrounding Pikes' death and his story about that process was incredible. Big thanks for all his help, and to his staff for being so gracious in letting my crew operate during his show. We have some more big interviews today, so I will check back in later.

2009-09-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

Crew got into Louisiana tonight at 11 p.m. My co-producer, Scott Peifer, is rolling with one-liners. Got to keep it light-hearted to handle the very difficult travel schedule, as we have a 4:30 a.m. wake up call tomorrow. Should be an emotional day for everyone while speaking to some of Baron Pikes' relatives. Will let everyone know how it goes tomorrow.

2009-09-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

Interviewed Captain Greg Meyer, formerly of the LAPD last week. Fascinating person-spent his life's work finding less-lethal weapons for law enforcement. Had some very interesting things to say about the original development of the taser and its evolution over time. This week I will be in Louisiana with my crew interviewing people about Baron Pike's tragic death. For those of you who are unaware, Baron Pikes died after being tasered nine times while in police custody. Why did the police taser him so many times? Did he have any drugs in his system when he died? I have all the answers, and I will share them with you as the week goes on! Just in case you are up, check me out Thursday morning on the radio program "Eyes Open with Tony Brown" to discuss the film and Baron Pikes case.

2009-09-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

Follow my film on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Taserfilm!

Hello Everyone

2009-09-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody and welcome to Taserfilm, my blog about directing, writing, and producing NRB Productions first project: a documentary film about taser use throughout North America. The project is currently in its second month of filming, and so far my crew and I have traveled all the way to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and St. Louis, with stops coming in Louisiana, Ohio, Detroit, San Francisco, Washington, Miami, and back to Chicago and Phoenix. This film is about truly discovering taser use throughout North America, and finding answers for the families of people who have died "in-custody deaths" following a taser incident. We are telling remarkable stories of both advocates for and against taser use. In the coming weeks I will be detailing our interview subjects, and letting all of you know about the evolution of this film. I encourage any of you out there to contact me with your thoughts, comments, or advice by emailing me at NBerardini.NRBProductions@gmail.com! Look forward to hearing from all of you and I will update you soon!