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April 12, 2009

Andrew Robinson

Posted: 09:19 PM ET
Andrew Robinson wrote and directed 'April Showers.'
Andrew Robinson wrote and directed 'April Showers.'

It’s been 10 years since the massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, left 12 students and a teacher dead. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the date. April 20, 1999, is a date no one watching the events unfold will forget. And, as we’ve sadly seen, it wasn’t the last school shooting, with the Virginia Tech shootings and others that followed.

Andrew Robinson wasn’t watching the news from afar like most of us. He was there. Living it. Smelling it. And running from it. Andrew was in the computer lab in the middle of the campus when the shooting started. He ran to physical safety, but the days and years to come proved to be emotionally perilous.

Andrew wasn’t a filmmaker in Los Angeles, California; he was in advertising. But he sat down to write a story based on his experience at Columbine, and the screenplay for "April Showers" was born in three days. That’s when Andrew realized: “Wow, that’s been in the back of my head for all these years.” He says those years brought about side effects rarely seen in the media: guilt, community persecution and the post-traumatic stress disorder. “I’m just trying to share what I’ve learned so no one else has to go through it,” Andrew says of the goal of his anniversary film.

Update: Watch the CNN.com Live interview

Filed under: Entertainer


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starviego   April 13th, 2009 10:53 am ET

My question is how does Andrew account for all the witnesses who saw and identified other students who were involved:

http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/columbineeight.php
April Showers Movie-In Theaters April 24 2009 » Blog Archive » April Showers Dates and Schedules   April 13th, 2009 5:23 pm ET

[...] • April 13 2009: Andrew covered in CNN's Young People Who Rock. Read it here. [...]
micha   April 13th, 2009 8:00 pm ET

My question is....Many people don't think of Omaha and Plattsmouth Nebraska when thinking about where to film a movie. Besides having roots in Omaha why here thought and not somewhere else? What made you choose Plattsmouth High School.
Brianna   April 13th, 2009 8:50 pm ET

You say you were in the computer lab for the first part of it. At any time did you see the gunmen? Also, after you started fleeing the building, did you hear the gunshots?
see4   April 14th, 2009 2:54 pm ET

great experience! this boy is courageous
MaikBey   April 16th, 2009 6:18 am ET

How do you feel, when you see news about school shootings in the following years.
Is it the same sad feeling to see it in other countries like Germany or Finland.
John B   April 16th, 2009 7:36 am ET

I would love to chat with Andrew and learn from him. I jumped out of a 14 year sales and marketing career to help schools develop programs that create and sustain a positive school culture. Through my research I have found astounding information from students giving key insight into how to implement long-term culture changes. People like Andrew are on the cutting edge of the type of awareness that has to happen to open the skeptics eyes. Believe it or not I ALWAYS run into a percentage of teachers and administrators that are quick to tout that "that type of student or bullying is not at our school. Way to go Andrew! John B ... http://www.crossingthemiddleground.com – Helping you to create and sustain a positive school culture.
Irene   April 28th, 2009 12:26 am ET

This is a great story on Andrew. Although he was not there at the actual scene at Columbine, he was there to witness through the shootings. At least he was safe so that today, he can tell a tragic story in another point of view. The movie "April Showers", I think, will be a realistically captured phenomenon! Also, a great insight and encouragement to other children that violence is not the answer. This film would be a great communication tool for children. An "easier" way for parents to shine the light on their children that violence is NOT okay. Good job to Andrew and his production staff!
Vanessa   September 11th, 2009 4:50 pm ET

Andrew, You are amazing, keep p the great work! You are an inspiration to me.
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Nicole LapinYoung People Who Rock is a weekly interview series focused on people under 30 - from CEOs to entertainers to athletes to community and political leaders - who are doing remarkable things. Nicole Lapin finds them and introduces them here by writing a weekly column that goes out in time for you to chime in before she interviews them Fridays on CNN.com Live.

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