"One Six right captures the spirit, joy and beauty of flight. One of the
finest aviation films ever made." - Harrison Ford
One Six Right is an exhilarating documentary film that celebrates the
unsung hero of aviation -- the local airport -- by tracing the life, history, and
struggles of an airport icon: Southern Californiaï¾’s Van Nuys Airport. Featuring
thrilling aerial photography and a sweeping original score, the film dispels
common misconceptions and opposes criticism of General Aviation airports.
Through the love story of one airport, past to present, the film shares the
timeless romance of flying with all ages.
The film takes viewers on a
journey of spectacular aerial sequences and tells a romantic story through the
accounts of passionate pilots, air traffic controllers, historians and flight
enthusiasts, including well-known faces such as Sydney Pollack, Lorenzo Lamas,
Paul Moyer, Hal Fishman and many others. There is no off-screen narrator.
The film uncovers the rich history of this airport -- Amelia Earhart broke a
world speed record over its runways, Marilyn Monroe was discovered while working
in its hangars, and scenes from Casablanca were filmed on its grounds. Almost
every type of aircraft has graced its runways, from the primitive airplanes of
the 1920ï¾’s to the state-of-the-art business jets of today. Through the history
of the Van Nuys Airport (VNY), the viewer comes to have a new appreciation for
the significance of all General Aviation airports as a critical component of the
communities they serve. Located in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, VNY is
today the world's busiest General Aviation airport and contributes over $1
billion each year to the Southern California economy.
"One Six Right" explores common misconceptions about General Aviation airports,
which are often criticized for noise pollution and viewed as exclusive playgrounds
for the rich. The film creates an awareness of the threat to these community
airports through staggering statistics of airports that no longer exist, and the
rapid rate at which they are continuing to close (1 per week in the U.S.).
Airports are not a renewable resource -- these smaller and often forgotten airports
are the foundation of the entire aviation industry, contributing significantly to
global commerce and are the breeding ground of the pilots of tomorrow.
About the Producer and Director, Brian J. Terwilliger:
Terwilliger's personal experience is a big reason he set out on an over five-year
mission to make this documentary. "Ever since I was a kid I wanted to learn how to fly," he explained to
the audience. "That was the one thing I always knew - that when I grew up I wanted
to be a pilot."
While growing up in Connecticut, he wanted to be a professional pilot,
but he gave up on that dream when he discovered he was colorblind. At the age of
16, Terwilliger moved to Southern California. In high school, he picked up
another interest when he took a high-school course in cinematography. After
graduating he became involved in the film industry. He worked on a variety of
films from "Big Fish" to "The Core" to some commercials and other small
projects, as well as website development and design.
In 1995, when he was 19, the yearning to fly was still there, and he took his first
flight lesson at Van Nuys Airport. He soloed three months later and got his
license six months after that, and says that flying is a big part of his life.
As pilots tend to want to do, he feels the need to share his passion for flight.
"This film hopefully captures what I love about flying, and why I've
always been so fascinated with it," he said. "One Six Right," named after the main runway at Van Nuys Airport, started "as a very
small idea that wanted to capture the romance of flying." "I wanted to archive the airport where I learned to fly, which I think is one of
the most fascinating airports in the world," he said.
But the project continued to grow. Along the way, Terwilliger received a lot of
help. What started as a small project to archive the previous seventy-five years
of history at Van Nuys finished as an incredible story about pilots and the
romance of flight. "Literally hundreds of people came together to help me make this film," he said.
Continue your experience with the companion DVD, One Six Left
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Running Time: 73 minutes