sympathy for the devil

There are several people who are very angry because they think that An American Crime is attempting to make Gertrude a sympathetic character.  I find it a little surprising, because I’ve never before talked to anyone who’s seen the movie who could actually feel sorry for this twisted soul.

What some people are calling sympathizing, I would call humanizing.  There is a big difference.  It would be too easy to demonize Gertrude — to turn her into a barbaric version of Mommie Dearest.  In my opinion, that would have made the film too much of a horror movie.

What Irene Turner and I were trying to do with this script was serve up some explanation of how a woman who was so beloved by the neighborhood children and so pitied by her friends and neighbors, could tip over the edge and commit such an atrocity against poor Sylvia.  To show that it wasn’t simply a ‘villain’ who was responsible for these horrible acts, but a human being.

I’m not sure that we answered all of the questions that this terrible crime brings up — the issues are far too complex.  But I am glad that it has started a dialogue.  That is the most important thing.  As far as I’m concerned, the fact that it gets people talking — trying to find ways to explain the unexplainable — brings us all one small step closer in attempting to keep something like this from ever happening again.  And that is very important, to me at least, in honoring the memory of Sylvia.

Ladies and Gentlemen…

For those of you who have yet to see it, tonight's the night! I'm happy to report we've been getting great reviews. Today The New York Times called An American Crime 'one of the best television movies to appear in years.' I will add links here to ...


to stephanie…

Or anyone else who knew Sylvia or the Baniszewskis. Konrad Marshall, a reporter for the Indianapolis Star, has recently contacted me to talk about the movie, which will premiere on Showtime on May 10. He's interested in getting reactions to the release of the film from survivors or ...


an american crime score

For our closing credits, pop ingenue Petra Haden came in for a couple of days to record an a cappella piece. The composer, Alan Ari Lazar, laid down about twenty tracks of her voice -- Petra sings every instrument! It makes for a beautifully haunting recording. Click here to ...


it’s official

'An American Crime' will finally have its premiere this May. Exact date to be determined. It was postponed from March so that both Catherine and Ellen would have time to support the movie. The film will be released on DVD in the fall some time. Probably ...


trials and tribulations are coming to an end

So the word is out, and it is true -- An American Crime will be premiering on Showtime later this year. Probably March or May. Many seem disappointed that there will be no theatrical release -- this was certainly not the original plan, after all. We had ...