Fear of Heights

In 1983, film student Rich Murray was handed $20,000 in a brown paper bag by a mobster. The money was for directing his first music video for a virtually unknown Philly rocker named Alan Mann. Mann's song "Christmas on the Block" became a Philly radio staple and Murray's music video, against the odds, became the first indie video to play on MTV. This experience, tainted by Mann's tragic passing, remained with Murray through the years. With "Fear of Heights," Murray travels back to that time to answer some nagging questions and to illuminate the dark, mysterious life and music of Alan Mann. In 1983, film student Rich Murray was handed $20,000 in a brown paper bag by a mobster. The money was for directing his first music video for a virtually unknown Philly rocker named Alan Mann. Mann's song "Christmas on the Block" became a Philly radio staple and Murray's music video, against the odds, became the first indie video to play on MTV. This experience, tainted by Mann's tragic passing, remained with Murray through the years. With "Fear of Heights," Murray travels back to that time to answer some nagging questions and to illuminate the dark, mysterious life and music of Alan Mann.