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Hello, Hello!
In this episode, filmmaker and former performer Michael Gier explains how he made his documentary The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph. He shares stories of first responders, civilians, Flight 93, the boat lift, and rare footage from the Pentagon. The conversation also explores creative careers, rejection, film school, entrepreneurship, and what it means to MAKE IT.
We also talk about:
- The personal stories behind the documentary, including Will Jimeno’s rescue, the “Man in the Red Bandana,” and Lauren Grankolus’s voicemail.
- Michael’s journey from theater and television to building Geier Productions after losing his real-estate business in the 2008 crash.
- Lessons from Wounded Heroes, including Michael’s search for treatments that help people living with post-traumatic stress.
- The “Praise You” video, the Torrance Community Dancers, Spike Jonze’s Richard Koufey persona, and the group’s three MTV Video Music Awards.
- Michael’s advice on versatility, business skills, collaboration, learning by doing, and staying grounded through career setbacks.
People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:
People — Show & Family
Michael Gier
Terri Gier
People — 9/11
Will Jimeno
Scott Strauss (NYPD ESU)
Sgt. John McLoughlin
Lauren Grandcolas & Jack Grandcolas
Welles Crowther
Jules and Gédéon Naudet
Pavel Hlava
Wolfgang Staehle
Jude Koch
People — Performers & Filmmakers
Gregory Hines
Spike Jonze
Sofia Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Wayne Newton
Elton John
Deidre Hall
Louie Anderson
Zach Galifianakis
Gary Sinise
Sean Penn
Christopher Nolan
Paul Thomas Anderson
Matt Damon
Nicolas Cage
Martin Short
John Madden
People — Other Public Figures
Burt Reynolds
Clint Eastwood
Brad Pitt
Tom Cruise
Jennifer Aniston
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Vin Diesel
Paris Hilton
Jake Paul
Daejon Love
Orson Welles
Alfred Hitchcock
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Eddie Van Halen
Eric Clapton
Peter Frampton
Chris Rock
Eminem
Ricky Martin
Will Smith
Groups & Characters
Torrance Community Dancers
Guns N’ Roses
Korn
The Kardashians
Prince Akeem
Jiminy Glick
Projects
The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph
Wounded Heroes
Healing the Heroes of 9-11
Gier Productions
Torrance Rises
Fatboy Slim — “Praise You”
Make It Academy
TV & Film
Sunset Beach
Days of Our Lives
Baskets
The Princess Bride
Tombstone
The Matrix
The Bourne Identity
The Odyssey
Avatar
The Brutalist
One Battle After Another
Mystic River
Wild Wild West
Coming to America
Places
San Diego
Balboa Park
Hollywood
Torrance
Coronado
Beverly Hills
Malibu
New York City
Manhattan
World Trade Center
The Pentagon
US Capitol
Hudson River
Las Vegas
Nashville
San Francisco
Japan
Australia
Scotland
Ireland
Paris
Brno
Stuttgart
Lamb’s Players Theatre
Aladdin Hotel
Metropolitan Opera House
TCL Chinese Theatre
Vanderbilt University
Harvard
Zamunda (fictional)
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