Editor of 9/11-inspired 'New York Says Thank You' Film Doc Reflects on Tough Creative Decisions

It has been my honor and privilege to become a part of this story of the American spirit. There has been no other event in my career to which I have been so profoundly and personally attached as I have to the “New York Says Thank You” documentary film. Through the hundreds of hours of footage and nine months of editing that it has taken to bring this film to life, Scott (Rettberg, who's the documentary's director) and I have anguished, laughed and cried, and have been continually inspired by the courage and selflessness of ordinary folks who “put aside their pain so they can help others deal with theirs."

One of the hardest creative decisions that we had to make initially was how to assemble six years of footage into a cohesive and easy to follow narrative.

I think the “individual flashback” style that we chose is perfect for linking these stories through time, giving them a deeply personal feel while underscoring, in a loftier sense, how these folks give of themselves year after year to make a difference, both in their own lives and in the lives of others. It’s about “paying it forward.” And that, I believe, is the message of this film. As the founder of the New York Says Thank You Foundation Jeff Parness says, it’s not about what happened on 9/11, it’s about what happened on 9/12. I hope that this film inspires you as much as it has me.

By Bryan S. Norfolk

Norfolk edited the documentary "New York Says Thank." A 2011 movie release date is pending.