Documentary WALKOUT to Debut October 25th, Five Years after El Paso Mass Shooting

Rob Smat’s independently produced feature film investigates Walmart employee protests following the tragedy.

(EL PASO / SAN BRUNO) – August 3rd, 2024 marked five years since the El Paso mass shooting, one of the ten deadliest such events in modern U.S. history, and an event which led to the largest gun reforms that had been seen in a generation. Award winning writer and director Rob Smat’s documentary debut WALKOUT will release October 25th, 2024, detailing the Walmart employee protests that erupted in the wake of this tragedy.

Thomas Marshall, the employee who made national headlines with his email to tens of thousands at the company, will officially break his silence on the event. Moreover, WALKOUT features expert interviews with attorney Jahan Sagafi (Netflix’s WHITE HOT). The film will also debut new footage from the City of El Paso’s August 2024 ceremony and new memorial.

WALKOUT is filmmaker Smat’s second feature film and first documentary. He notes, “This film exposes a new breed of activism in an age of corporate oligarchy. It’s a groundbreaking true story with lasting implications, and one I continue to be inspired to tell.”

The film has been featured twice as a part of Columbia University’s MFA program in business ethics and screened for the Lone Star Film Society’s screening series. A companion commentary podcast series will be released on all platforms in tandem with the film, interviewing those involved in production and related academic fields.

The documentary features re-enactment performances by actors Jasmine Aivaliotis, Bobby Curelli, Krystin Baggett, Gene Arroyo, and Bradley Duane Phillips. It’s been awarded Best Documentary by the Chandler Film Festival and Best Editing by the Silver State Film Festival.

WALKOUT will be available for rental or purchase on Amazon, Google Play, and Apple/iTunes.