A first-hand witness to history
Paul Eliacin remembers the smoke first. Thick. Dark. Unnatural. It filled the air long before the news made it clear what was happening.
Three days after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Paul did not watch the tragedy unfold on television. He was a first responder at Ground Zero. With his camera in hand.
“I never intended to be part of history that day,” says Paul. “But when the world changed, I was right in the middle of it.”
He wasn’t just a spectator. As a long-time theater teamster in the New York film and television industry, Paul had years of experience on production sets. But 9/11 wasn’t a movie set. It was real. Raw. Frightening.
And he captured it.
A filmmaker’s eye in a moment of crisis
When the towers collapsed, Paul, a kind-hearted and caring man, was upset. And wanted to do whatever he could to help. When he finally got the chance to help after his first day there, he noticed that no one was documenting it. He grabbed his camera and did what came naturally to him and documented it. Not for profit reasons. Not for fame. But because he knew that these moments were important.
“I didn’t know what I was recording,” he says. “I just knew I had to do it.”
Over the course of those first few days and weeks, Paul Eliacin shot five hours of footage. He also took over 300 photos. Some of what he saw was almost too difficult to process: first responders working around the clock, people covered in ash searching for their loved ones, and the still silence where the towers once stood.
What he captured wasn’t just destruction – it was humanity. Courage. Sorrow. Resilience.
Why he waited to share it
Paul was in no rush to release his footage. He stuck with it for over two decades. Now, as the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the time is right for him.
“I want to create something powerful,” he says. “Not only to remember what happened, but also to honor the people who lived through it, those we lost, and the strength that came after it. WE MUST NEVER FORGET.”
Paul is planning a documentary that will use his previously unreleased footage and photos to tell the story from the street’s perspective. It will combine personal experiences, community voices and untold stories
He doesn’t approach this project as a distant filmmaker. He was part of it. He believes his perspective – both behind the lens and as a New Yorker – offers something special.
If you are interested in getting involved in film and have experience in post-production, film festivals, editing or directing documentaries, or if you are a writer or student looking to get an internship and learn about any area of the film industry, or if you would like to help out at Ground Zero. And never had the chance. Please contact me at paulee27777@outlook.com.
Thank you very much.
A life based on resilience
Paul’s decision to tell this story now is rooted in his own journey. He grew up in Brooklyn as one of eight children and became dissatisfied after his mother’s mental health crisis. Struggling with feelings of failure, he dropped out of school and at one point thought he had no future.
But he changed his life. He got his GED, studied theology and worked his way into the New York film industry – where he spent over 30 years as a teamster on big sets like Law & Order SVU, Men In Black and The Sopranos. He even directed and released his own feature film, Up In Harlem, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Still, he says nothing in his career has stuck with him as much as 9/11.
“I can’t forget the faces,” Paul says quietly. “I can’t forget the fear. And I can’t forget how people came together.”
A call for reflection and response
Paul hopes his upcoming project not only informs, but continues to inspire conversation.
“Everyone remembers where they were,” he says. “But not everyone saw what I saw. I want people to share their stories too. What they felt. What they feared. What they learned.”
Where comments are allowed – on social media, on streaming platforms or at community events – he encourages people to share how 9/11 shaped them.
“I want it to be a space where people connect with each other. That’s how healing happens.”
Outlook for 2026
As the 25th anniversary approaches in 2026, Paul is quietly working behind the scenes. He goes through hours of footage. Sort photos. Writing scripts. He approached the people he met that day and in the weeks that followed.
He knows it won’t be easy to tell this story. But it is necessary.
“This isn’t just my story,” he says. “It’s the story of New York. It’s the story of America. And we can learn more from it.”
