TLC announced that journalism professor Dan Birman's documentary film, Brace for Impact, about the remarkable landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River will premiere Jan. 10 at 9 p.m. EST/PST. Birman is the executive producer. Actor and 
Joining Birman (pictured) are three USC Annenberg alumni. David Eisenberg (M.A. Broadcast Journalism ’06) was the show's associate producer — and he edited the first rough cut; Adriana Padilla (M.A. Broadcast Journalism '08) was one of the production coordinators and also helped locate the plane when that information was not publicly available; and Megan Chao (M.A. Broadcast Journalism '08) assisted with research, including helping to build a database on all 150 passengers.
“It's pretty cool that we can bring Annenberg graduates to a high-profile project like this — it says a lot about our program,” Birman said.
The documentary features interviews with Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III, passengers, air traffic controllers and some of the boat captains who assisted in bringing the passengers to safety. Stunning graphics, combined with compelling first- person accounts, create a 360-degree perspective of that fateful event, which gripped global attention the afternoon of January 15, 2009.
Birman, who directed and wrote the show said, "TLC's audience is in for a fantastic ride. We got some great footage flying the route that puts viewers right in the pilot's seat with Sully, capturing his story in gripping detail. The unprecedented access and participation of agencies and individuals — including in-the-moment accounts from air traffic controllers, passengers, and boat captains — makes an extraordinary hour of television."
The story centers on Captain Sullenberger, whose heroic actions during the incident enabled him and his crew to save the lives of the 155 people on board that flight. The documentary reunited Sully with the actual plane, and flew Sully in a helicopter along the path of Flight 1549 from New York's LaGuardia Airport to the Hudson River. During the flight, Sully explains what happened and takes the audience through the choices he made within seconds after striking a flock of Canada Geese while navigating a crippled aircraft over Manhattan.
"I'm honored and gratified by the attention I've received as a result of this event. On January 15, we had a remarkably good day, and I'm proud that my crew and I were up to the task," Captain Sullenberger said. "I am sure that this documentary will convey the ongoing power of this story and its ability to touch and inspire people around the world."
"Brace for Impact not only celebrates Sully, but honors everyone involved in making this event, and its positive outcome, so unforgettable," said Eileen O'Neill, president and general manager of TLC. "With the aid of personal stories and amazing CGI, viewers will be taken through the entire, incredible journey."
The one-hour documentary airs in high definition and is produced for TLC by Daniel H. Birman Productions Inc. and executive produced by Birman.
