Nickel
on the
Grass
He spent his career preparing for war. On September 11th, he discovered
the hardest battle would begin after he landed.
A True Story of Duty, Trauma, and Grace
In the tradition of Hacksaw Ridge and Father Stu
The mission lasted hours, the consequences lasted decades.
The Story
What Happened After
Air National guard fighter pilot and airline pilot Michael “Hammer” Hall is scrambled on the morning of September 11th with an unthinkable order. He survives the day, but he cannot leave it behind. As trauma and survivor’s guilt close in on everything he loves, the one move his training never allowed becomes his only way home:
Surrender.
Duty | Trauma | Redemption
A story about the limits of strength — and the grace that waits on the other side of surrender.
Though rooted in the events of September 11th, Nickel on the Grass is ultimately about something universal: what happens when the strongest among us discover they cannot heal themselves.
Some stories can only be written by someone who was there.
Nickel on the Grass — written by one of the first fighter pilots scrambled on September 11, 2001.
Brotherhood
The Men Who Carry It Home
“Fighter pilots don’t get PTSD”
Surrounded by men who fly the same skies, Hammer carries home a wound none of them know how to name. This is not a war film — it is the story of a man who has to make an impossible decision.
Why This One
A story only one person could tell
No research can manufacture it — written by an actual F15 pilot and airline captain who flew the skies on September 11th.
The Opportunity
Built for the right partner
Production Value
Authentic fighter aircraft access, airline simulator access, and real-world aviation expertise create production value far beyond the budget.
Audience
Built for faith audiences, veterans, first responders, military families, aviation enthusiasts, and mainstream audiences drawn to true stories of courage and redemption.
Attached
Original songs and score by Nashville recording artist Carly Tefft—an artist whose voice of gratitude, resilience, and hope make her the perfect musical partner for Nickel on the Grass.
Carly Tefft
Original songs and score by Nashville recording artist Carly Tefft.
The Mission
“It’s a memorial to those who didn’t make it, a celebration of those who did, and hope for those still battling.”
—Marty Richard
The Script
In Hollywood for the Hard Faith Film Festival, June 26. The full screenplay is available to industry professionals on request — every inquiry is read personally.