In the heart of Los Angeles, the poignant Oscar-nominated short film, “All the Empty Rooms,” delves into the devastating aftermath of school shootings, spotlighting the families striving to mend their shattered lives.
With its pressing relevance, this film arrives at a time when gun violence in schools is alarmingly prevalent. Data from Everytown for Gun Safety highlights that in the past year alone, there were 163 instances of gunfire on school premises, tragically resulting in 54 fatalities.
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In “All the Empty Rooms,” CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman guides viewers through the poignant, unoccupied bedrooms of children who lost their lives to school shootings.
Our conversations with Hartman and the film’s director, Joshua Seftel, shed light on their motivations and the impact of their work.
Pennacchio: “It appears that many families you spoke with were not hesitant to revisit those rooms.”
Seftel: “Each family’s connection with these spaces is unique. Some choose to keep the door shut, visiting sporadically, while others enter daily. Yet, they all share a common desire: to keep their children’s memories alive.”
Hartman: “The overwhelming frequency of school shootings compelled me to pursue this project. Society seemed to have become desensitized, and I believed that by standing in those rooms, we might inspire change.”
Seftel: “We were with the parents during the nomination announcement. Brian Muehlberger, Gracie’s father featured in our film, was moved to tears, saying, ‘Gracie’s dancing in heaven right now.’”
Gracie, 15, was one of two students killed in 2019 when another student opened fire at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California. Three other students were injured.
Hartman went on to say, “This is the most important story that I’ve ever done. But I feel like it has the greatest chance to change the world. I don’t necessarily think that’s gonna happen. It just has a better chance of changing the world than anything I’ve ever done before.”
Watch the 2026 Oscars live on ABC and Hulu this Sunday.
Live red carpet coverage starts at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars.”Catch all the action on the red carpet live on ABC, or stream on Hulu and OnTheRedCarpet.com.The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. and will be followed by “The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose.”
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