Our Wildest Dream: A True Crime Blog of Filmmaking

2011 Top Ten List of Most Memorable quotes about Of Dolls & Murder

2011-12-30T06:49:00.000-08:00

2011 brought so many wonderful and gratifying moments for Of Dolls & Murder. Audiences have been beyond kind, appreciative, savvy, and insightful.

But there’s one in every crowd, isn’t there? Take that “one” and add it to emails, tweets, and Facebook posts that range from fabulous to frightening, and you have the:

2011 Top Ten List of Most Memorable
quotes about Of Dolls & Murder

10. I’m pretty sure one of your dolls slipped on a banana peel and died. That’s pretty funny.

9. I left during the Body Farm scene to go to the bathroom, not because I couldn't handle it. But it was pretty gross. (Just to be clear, you are talking about the scene and not your trip to the bathroom?)

8. I saw your film on Thursday night. I had no idea that a woman directed it until the end credits. I think that's hot. Are you single? Are you looking for someone who will appreciate your dark side? (Um, no.)

7. I would buy two copies of your film but besides my daughter, I can't think of anyone else who would want it. I could take my chances with the gift exchange at work, but I think I will pass. (So…just one DVD for you then?)

6. Keep me posted on your GLOBAL DOMINATION!

5. I wish someone would have warned me that your documentary is pretty much a horror film. I just wasn't prepared. (And here I was worried that putting “Murder” in the title would scare people off.)

4. I liked the DVD extras so much better than the actual movie.

3. Your film gave me nightmares! (You and me both.)

2. (From a Q&A following a screening) What deep dark thing happened to you to make you make this film? (What deep dark thing happened to you to make you want to see it? Hmmm?)

1. I could just kill you for not revealing the answers to the Nutshells. But I won't because that would be justifiable homicide and where's the mystery in that? (I really can’t argue with this.)

Honorable mention: “I can’t wait to show your film to my students!” – At least 3 elementary school teachers. (I only wish I was kidding.)

Here’s to a 2012 full of memorable quotes for everyone!

Happy Holidays from Of Dolls & Murder!

2011-12-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a year! We wish you peace and happiness in the new year. And may all your holidays be homicide free!

Of Dolls & Murder First Guest Blogger!

2011-12-04T07:45:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to post an entry from our first guest blogger, writer Luke Zimmerman. Luke's connection to the Of Dolls & Murder film project goes back to a fundraising party we threw 4 years ago. Luke, who is also a musician, played to help us raising money for our very first shoot.

We asked Luke to be our first guest blogger after he shared his insights with us about the film; we knew that this is precisely the new direction we want to go with our blog - a continuation of the themes we merely touch on in the film. If you are interested in guest blogging for us, be in touch!

A big thanks to Luke Zimmerman for his entry and we hope you enjoy!

In the last five years or so, I have started running. It was not my plan growing up to be a runner but there it is. I’m not going to apologize for it. But there is a typical joke, one that I used to use, when someone says they went running the other person says, “What from?” and you are supposed to make up something witty or whatever and say crushing debt or the police or rabid bears or the like. When really the answer is most likely death. I am trying to run from death. But there I go being dramatic.

Being out in the country like I am and running on the shoulders of country roads like I do, you are liable to smell the roadkill before you see it. There is a rank smell that everybody knows and this is the smell of death. You know the smell. It is similar to the gagging stench when you don’t notice that the mousetrap in your utility room has caught a mouse and you go into the room and see a flattened rodent and reach for the gloves. Why do you reach for the gloves? Because you can’t stomach the idea of touching a dead mouse. But I shouldn’t bring you into this. It is all about me anyway.

But this mouse was flattened and caught by the head in the trap. I had nothing against the mouse. It was most likely disease-free. No buboes. No small pox. I don’t even think it had scurvy though I’m not sure that mice carry that. I don’t think mice carry diseases that can be cured by limes. A person smarter than me might mention Lyme’s Disease in a funny way here but I’m not a person smarter than me. I think urinary tract infections are cured by cranberries and they’re no joke at all.

I saw the mouse when I was going into the utility room to look for carpet cleaner so I could clean up the vomit. Vomit has a particular stench, too, that lingers like death. It is a smell that only parents and fraternity brothers get to ignore. Probably hospital workers, too. I might mention why there was vomit but I think the mystery of it makes for a better connection with the movie, “Of Dolls and Murder,” for which I am doing this blog. I suppose I should be making a bigger connection to the movie. That would be the generous thing to do. But I don’t remember seeing vomit in any of those dioramas, the “nutshell” dollhouses but there’s probably a lot to go round. I’m not sure, though. I’ve never seen CSI.

This is getting a little too much into vomit. But bear with me. It’s not gross out humor. I think it’s going somewhere.

Armed with my gloves, I gingerly lifted the mouse. I was however greeted with the sickest of all sensations, stickiness. The mouse had stuck to the floor. I peeled it off, trying to ignore the death smell billowing in the room, only to see an amorphous grey sludge dripping from the middle and the obvious wriggling white maggots feasting on the mouse’s insides. A ball gathered in my throat as I released the mouse into a plastic bag. To throw up myself would only add to the olfactory disaster and so I fought it as I went outside and released the mouse into the woods. The maggots could finish their business in peace.

This will happen to us all someday.

Now, there are people for whom these sorts of horrors are not an issue. They in fact are not horrors at all but deep fascinations, puzzles to be solved. They are the people that instead of recoiling at the sight and smell of a maggot ridden carcass, will squeal, “Ooh! Look at that!” I am not one of those people. But I hold no grudges. I choose to believe that they are not morbid fetishists or sadistic sociopaths. They most likely have great empathy for the cycles of nature. I do not have great empathy for the cycles of nature and think it’s a damn shame that I have to be maggot ridden someday. I feel it’s a bit of a rip off.

I had a survivalist friend who was driving in northern Minnesota in the wintertime. He had an errand to run and was returning to his campsite when he noticed that there was a roadkill raccoon that was not there when he passed only an hour or so previously. He stopped his truck and got out. He threw the raccoon in the bed and returned to the camp. He skinned it and roasted the raccoon over an open fire. When it was cooked, he ate it. I’m not sure how much he ate, because at this point in the story I was too bowled over that he was eating roadkill. That his reaction to seeing the raccoon was, “Good eating!” when my reaction would have been, “Veer left!”

“What’s the big deal?” he said. “It’s all meat.” Don’t I know it.

These are the sorts of people that inhabit the movie, “Of Dolls and Murder.” They are curious and dedicated. Even more so, they are able to separate the idea of the body as a human with the idea of the body as a physical object. This is most evident with the workers at the Body Farm in Knoxville, Tennessee. I should say that “Body Farm” is a bit of a cheeky name for the Anthropological Research Facility (incidentally, it was originally the Bass Anthropological Research Facility, but the title was abandoned because the acronym was BARF. So I am not the only one with vomit on the brain.). The facility was started by Dr. Bass to study forensics, and in particular decomposition in a variety of settings. There are over 100 bodies donated to the facility each year. And there they are, out in the open, slowly rotting, some recreating the various ways a body can be stored—garbage bags, piles of leaves, water, trunks of cars, that sort of thing. The skin turns colors as the blood pools, the resilient maggots crawl, the forces of nature return the body to the earth. The researchers tend to the bodies and record the progress in order to chart what happens to the physical body when the life goes out of it. This is the point when I have a metaphysical breakdown, and the scientists begin observing.

I have to admit that I felt flushed during this scene. Perhaps even a bit faint. Sick. It is one thing to think about death in a little box. It is another to think about it in the open. Plush lined caskets with silver pall bearing rails put a regal spin on the most degrading element of human existence. We take so much pride and care in how we look trying to forget that the eventual decay will catch up to us. And here it is, all spelled out for us. One day after you die, you will look like this. After a week, like this. A year later, this is what is left of you. Your perfectly cut hair, your finely trimmed toenails. Those extra five pounds that you wanted to lose.

But these people in “Of Dolls and Murder” are able to block that out. They are made of stuff that can withstand existential crises. There are problems to be solved. There are crimes to be solved. I don’t think these people, the detectives, the morticians, the scientists, are oblivious to the terror of death, but I think they are trying to understand physical death. They are seeing what it looks like firsthand. They are gathering secret reconnaissance about the world’s only common enemy. And by trying to understand physical death, to understand the enemy, we maybe can conquer a small part of the mystery. At least we know what we are facing. And more to the point, the “nutshell” dollhouses along with the Body Farm help to solve crimes. While a solved crime can never bring back that person, it can bring relief or closure to the loved ones left behind. To solve the mystery of a death can make life just a hair better.

I’ve been thinking about these things a lot lately. I know this is not the proper place to put this. I know it might seem exploitative. But it is on my mind. Last week they found a man I went to high school with dead with no explanation from anyone. He had massive head injuries. The newspaper said that he was found in his driveway still alive with blunt force trauma. He died the next day. The police say that it is a “suspicious incident”. I saw pictures of the evidence tags and the “Do not cross” ribbon in the newspaper. The police have not released any information on suspects, have not said anything about what could have happened. I don’t know if they know. This was a brilliant person. I knew him when we were both very young and I still picture him just like that and try not to imagine anything else. I sometimes think I am still young too. I don’t know what to do with any of it.

So I run and I try to escape death. It’s not working, I know. Every once in a while I see a raccoon carcass at the edge of the road. Sometimes I even have to step over it and smell it. I try to stay upwind. I see the flies buzzing around its exposed mandible. The teeth are crushed and the pelt looks like a crappy carpet in an abandoned icehouse. It has become a thing to be avoided and no longer a life. Turtles are bad, too, with their smashed shells. It is shocking and sad and reminds me how ugly and unfair death is. Whenever I see a youngish person in the obituaries, I look to see if someone mentions what caused the death, as if this might help. In the end, we end up feeding the worms possibly at a crime scene or possibly slowly decomposing in a field behind a university building in Tennessee. It does bring me small comfort to know how it was the raccoon met his end. Hopefully he never saw it coming.

Luke Zimmerman has an MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University

Of Dolls & Murder November Newsletter

2011-11-20T11:32:00.000-08:00

In our Of Dolls & Murder November Newsletter:

Our London Premiere
Dr. John Troyer
Of Dolls & Murder necklaces
DVDs on sale
And More!

Mid November Update

2011-11-15T07:42:00.000-08:00

We've been a tad too busy to post lately, but there is good news! We are working with several guest blog writers to revamp and expand our blog. Look for new blog entries coming soon.

Also, we are trying to get Of Dolls & Murder to more people in the criminal justice field. And you can help! Click here to learn more about Give MN.

Also, we are thrilled to announce that Of Dolls & Murder will be screening at the Horse Hospital in London on the Nov 30, 2011! One of the stars of Of Dolls & Murder, Dr. John Troyer will be on hand to field questions.

More updates coming soon!

Buy the DVD/Back sequel

2011-10-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

A sneak peak at a doll from our sequel, created by Cynthia von Buhler

The big news for the next couple weeks is all about Kickstarter - an online crowd sourcing site to help artists raise funds. It's an all or nothing deal. We are trying to raise funds to launch a sequel to Of Dolls & Murder and one of the rewards for backing the sequel project is the DVD of Of Dolls & Murder. Win/Win!

So if you want more and more dead dolls, watch this video and hopefully donate!

October is Of Dolls & Murder month!

2011-10-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

The Regional Premiere of Of Dolls & Murder at the Heights Theater in Minneapolis 9-28-11

October is here and we declare it Of Dolls & Murder month!
(We did the same thing last year and no one objected, so we're just going to run with it.)

Thanks for signing up for the Of Dolls & Murder newsletter. Periodically, we will send you updates on the film, such as news about screenings, DVDs, new content on our website, interviews and new projects.

The Of Dolls & Murder DVD is available for purchase! Go to www.ofdollsandmurder.com or click here. The DVD includes the extended version of the film as well as extra features. Of Dolls & Murder merchandise (necklaces and posters) are also available and we will be adding more soon.

Kickstarter & DVD

If you're looking for more bang for your buck, you can receive a DVD of the film as a reward when you donate to our new kickstarter campaign for Of Dolls & Murder - the Sequel. We just launch a campaign today based on the work of artist Cynthia von Buhler, who is creating her own dollhouse crime scenes based on a murder mystery in her own family. We're hoping to feature her story in a new documentary film.

Read more about it and watch the video here.

Screenings

We started screening Of Dolls & Murder this summer and now we seem to be adding new screenings each week. We hope to make it to your favorite independent theater.

October Screenings

Oct 18 -20 Copenhagen at the Huset i Magstræde
Oct 22 Edina, Minnesota, Edina Film Festival
Oct 24 New York City (Shh! Secret location for now. See why here.)
Oct 25 Lowell, Massachusetts - Lowell Film Collaborative
Oct 26 Gloucester, Massachusetts - Cape Ann Community Cinema

Of Dolls & Murder in the News

We received some great reviews and press recently:

Euan Kerr of Minneapolis Public Radio produced a wonderful segment. You can read or listen here. He interviewed us as well as John Waters for the segment.
For the life of us we can't understand why this reviewer called our film a "puppet show" but it is a truly well-done and insightful article.
Great and thoughtful article by Max Sparber.

We also won Best Documentary Feature Film at the Arizona Underground Film Festival!

Dolls & Murder Sequel!

2011-09-30T13:09:00.001-07:00

Because one documentary film on dead dolls, just isn't enough. Want to be apart of the sequel?

October is Of Dolls & Murder month!

2011-09-18T08:55:00.001-07:00

We declare that October is Of Dolls & Murder month. (And really, who's going to argue?) Officially the DVD goes on sale on October 1, 2011. However, we just happen to have DVDs all ready for the buying. Click here to get your copy. Wondering if we ship overseas? Why, yes! We want new fans all over the world.

New screening dates coming soon!

Of Dolls & Murder screening updates - September

2011-09-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

This may be the best website on the Internet and they let us curate a capsule! How lucky are we? And how lucky are you now that you know about How to be a Retronaut!

Screenings! Get your screenings here!

Sydney!

Arizona! (AZ Underground Film Festival)

Minneapolis!

Lowell, MA!

Oct 18 -20 Of Dolls & Murder screens in Copenhagen at the Huset i Magstræde!

Scottsdale AZ Museum of Contemporary Art!

Of Dolls & Murder Minneapois Screening

2011-08-19T10:06:00.001-07:00

We are pleased to announce that Of Dolls & Murder will have a regional premiere in Minneapolis on Sept 28, 2011 at 7:30p. Q & A will follow and then a premiere party at 331 Club with the band Bernie King & the Guilty Pleasure.

You don't want to miss it. This screening will likely sell out, so get your tix ASAP!

Get your tickets here!

The screening will benefit IFP MN!

Of Dolls & Murder screening updates

2011-07-25T05:03:00.000-07:00

We surely love the Revelation Perth International Film Festival. Of Dolls & Murder had two screenings at the 2011 fest in July and this included a closing night screening. Our film was called "the quirky surprise hit of the film festival." Have we mentioned how much we love the good people of Perth?

We will soon have news about other screenings!

Of Dolls & Murder screening updates

2011-07-16T09:24:00.001-07:00

Let us know if you saw our film at the Revelation Perth International Film Festival. Curious to hear what you think. Also, did you hear that John Waters will be making his way to Perth soon with his Filthy World show?

Just a few reminders: Save the date for a screening of Of Dolls and Murder in Minneapolis on September 28, 2011. 7:30pm. Q & A to follow and party at 331 Club afterwards featuring Bernie King and the Guilty Pleasures.

You can find us on twitter
You can like us on facebook
Join our facebook group
Watch and share our trailer on youtube
Request a screening through our website.

We're setting up screenings right and left, so check in with us for the latest.

Also, Susan did a guest blog for Defrosting Cold Cases. You can check that out right here.

Of Dolls and Murder at Revelation Perth International Film Festival

2011-06-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

We're very excited to announce the Australian premiere of Of Dolls and Murder! Can you make it? Revelation Perth International Film Festival has a great line up for 2011!

John Waters at the Walker Art Center

2011-06-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

Of Dolls and Murder narrator and icon, John Waters at the Walker Art Center talking to Of Dolls and Murder director, Susan Marks and her husband.

What a night! John Waters entertained the hell out of a packed house at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. To read more go here.

John and Susan (pictured above) were talking about the screening of Of Dolls and Murder on June 16, 2011 at Moviate Harrisburg! We hope you can make it!

Happy Memorial Day from Of Dolls and Murder

2011-05-28T15:43:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Frances Glessner Lee
(pictured here at age 16)
1878–1962

In what has become a tradition each Memorial Day since we started the Of Dolls and Murder film project, we've posted about Frances Glessner Lee, the Patron Saint of Forensics, who spoke so eloquently for the dead. The world of criminal justice would be very different if it weren't for the pioneering work of FGL. And without her, we wouldn't have this wonderful story to tell.

At her funeral, hundreds of law enforcement officers from all over the East Coast and Canada came to honor her in a fitting tribute.

We hope she realized how many lives (and deaths) she impacted. RIP Mrs. Frances Glessner Lee.

Update: The Of Dolls and Murder DVD will be available in July 2011. We also have several screenings lined up too. More information on that soon.

Questions? Be in touch with the filmmakers at doll.documentary [at symbol] gmail.com

Of Dolls and Murder Documentary Film Trailer

2011-05-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

Of Dolls and Murder Necklaces

2011-03-18T05:07:00.000-07:00

Give the gift of doll murder or keep the mystery for yourself. Collect all 4! Be the first kid on your block to have them! Shop here! It's safe and secure!

All proceeds go to offset the cost of making Of Dolls and Murder!

Of Dolls and Murder - Filmmaking Notes

2011-03-13T18:19:00.000-07:00

If you want to know a bit more about Of Dolls and Murder, read on.

Filmmaker Notes

Director Susan Marks

From the moment I first saw the Nutshells of Unexplained Death I was hooked, for life. These intricate, and dare I say beautiful, dollhouse crime scenes were like nothing I’d ever seen. I wanted to chase down the brilliance behind these miniature crime scenes, tell that story and share it with audiences that would fully appreciate the Nutshells for their art, creepy quotient, and deeper connection to the pursuit of justice.

Making a motion picture film about dollhouses that are anything but in motion was problematic. But through the immense talent and skill of cinematographer Matt Ehling, co-producer John Kurtis Dehn, who also serves as sound recordist, editor and composer, and finally, post-sound engineer Carly Zuckweiler, I knew I had the perfect filmmaking team to put a little bit of life back in these dioramas of death.

Early on we realized that the Nutshells, small as they are, reflect real-life scenarios that play out again and again, every day. So, we took our cues from the miniatures and expanded the scope of the film to include true crime.

Our three-year filmmaking journey was fascinating. Every encounter at the morgue, medical examiners office, police station, museum, college, crime lab, crime scene, and yes, the Body Farm, left us in awe. The people we met along the way showed such generous and fierce devoted to the pursuit of justice that it was an honor to be in their presence and to learn from them. In particular, we are deeply indebted to Jerry Dziecichowicz, Dr. David Fowler and Eleanor Thomas of the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, as well as Detectives Rob Ross, Bob Dohony and Sean Jones from the Baltimore Police Department.

One of the things that impressed us the most was the deep respect everyone has for Frances Glessner Lee, the creator of the Nutshells. We, in turn, were captivated by her story and chased it down to the best of our ability, yet she remains somewhat of an enigma to us. We have more questions about her than answers. But this hasn’t deterred us; we are still chasing her genius.

I’m often asked how we got John Waters as our narrator, and I can’t help but think luck had a little something to do with it. Both John and the Nutshells reside in Baltimore where he was introduced to them a number of years ago by Judge Elsbeth Bothe. John became an instant fan and this eventually led him to answering our call, so to speak. Needless to say, we were thrilled that he agreed to be in our film. He is simply perfect for the part. Again, lucky for us because we never considered anyone else.

Throughout this whole process of making Of Dolls and Murder, John has been so supportive and wonderful. And at the risk of sounding like a schoolgirl with a crush, I think he may be the most brilliant person I’ve ever met. Imagine if he and Frances could have met. It would have been nothing short of extraordinary.

While we were in the early phases of production on Of Dolls and Murder many fans of the television show CSI asked me if I was aware that the seventh season of CSI had a story arc about a miniature serial killer. Indeed I was aware and I knew the inspiration came from the Nutshells Studies of Unexplained Death.

The producer and showrunner of CSI, Naren Shankar happily sat down with us to talk about the 7^th season, the CSI effect, Nutshells, Frances Glessner Lee, and forensics. Besides being eloquent and charming, we were so impressed with Naren’s background. While he played it down, we were aware that he is a true scientist with several degrees in science including a Ph. D. in applied physics from Cornell. After our interview with him, my co-producer and I joked that Naren was some sort of science superhero and then we realized that the crime scene investigators portrayed on CSI are precisely that.

Deep in the edit process we found that we were missing something, some voice to help us link together various organic topics within the film, and that’s when we looked to Dr. Katherine Ramsland. Not only is she a Frances Glessner Lee and Nutshell scholar, but she’s also written numerous books on forensics and crime scene investigation, including The CSI Effect. She teaches criminal justice classes at DeSales University and was gracious enough to invite us to film her student processing a mock crime scene. But this wasn’t any ordinary mock crime scene! It was a life-sized replica of one of the Nutshell Studies cases, “Attic.” The similarities were uncanny and Katherine’s interview proved invaluable to us.

And finally, I have to say a few words about the music in our film. The soundtrack was far from an afterthought; my co-producer, John Kurtis Dehn and I talked about it constantly. We are both inspired by Angelo Badalamenti’s soundtrack for Twin Peaks, and we hoped that our soundtrack could resonate in a similar way.

Fortunately, John is also a talented musician and songwriter, creating much of the Of Dolls and Murder soundtrack.

We also worked with other musicians and singers such as Grant Dawson and Joseph Carl to create haunting melodies for the score. When we happened upon a haunting song by Jefferson Rabb from the website for the book, Strange Piece of Paradise (Terri Jentz, author) we thought it was perfect for our film. Both Jefferson and Terri graciously granted us permission to use song. Once again, we considered ourselves lucky and awed by the generosity of the individuals we’ve met encountered while working on this film.

If it sounds like working on Of Dolls and Murder was too good to be true, it might be. Maybe I’ll wake up and find out it was all just a wonderfully creepy dream. And yes, there is an Of Dolls and Murder II in the works!

Filmmaker Notes

Producer John Kurtis Dehn

When Susan Marks first approached me to co-produce a documentary about antique dollhouses and bloody doll corpses, I have to admit I had some reservations. Part of my hesitancy may have been that as a boy, I was never really raised to appreciate dolls and dollhouses. When I would play with dolls (or action figures as I called them) it usually involved some kind of warfare, but I never went so far as to decorate them in fake blood. Also, I was concerned that these miniature dioramas and the woman who created them might not be strong enough to sustain an entire film. I eventually agreed to be part of the project, mostly on faith in Susan’s instincts, and it wasn’t until I saw the dollhouses for myself, that I came to appreciate their power. I also had no idea where these miniatures would lead us.

I can’t imagine beginning a documentary project and knowing how it’s going to end. The things you learn along the way are bound to determine where your film goes, and that was certainly the case with Of Dolls and Murder. Seeing the Nutshells for the first time, I was taken in by their sublime beauty and intricacy. The detail and construction inspires awe and the dolls themselves, curiosity. We knew right away, that we had to try to make a beautiful looking film. Susan brought Matt Ehling into the project as Director of Photography and he did an amazing job, capturing some truly beautiful images. Matt’s experience as a documentary filmmaker was also a huge help to us and he chimed in as cheerleader whenever Susan and I showed any hint of doubt about what we were doing.

Susan’s beautiful photography of the Nutshells played a crucial role in our film as well. Because of the tiny scale of the dioramas, and the cramped quarters where they were displayed, we were limited as to the angles we could get at with our large video camera. Many of the detail shots that are used in the film are actually still photos that Susan was able capture.

The 2^nd big discovery that ultimately shaped Of Dolls and Murder, was the men and women who work at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore and homicide detectives, Rob Ross, Bob Dohony and Sean Jones. We were profoundly moved by their dedication to their work, their respect for Frances Glessner Lee, and their generosity towards us.

The time we spend with these people, taught us that our film needed to be empathetic as opposed to sensationalistic, and that instead of going for gore or shock value, it needed to be a human film. Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. David Fowler says in the film that, “behind every single person that comes in here there is usually a group of friends, family, who have now suffered a significant loss. And so it’s not just one victim, the victim is in fact a group of people.”

The doctors, the autopsy technicians, the lab techs and the detectives that we came to know, have that sense of purpose of giving voice to all of the victims–all of them. As filmmakers we started to feel a responsibility as well, that we couldn’t be careless, and that we had an obligation to treat our film with the same seriousness and sense of purpose.

Lastly, having the chance to shape the soundtrack of the film was a big thrill. Susan had a strong sense of what she was looking for, which also matched my sensibilities. Again, empathy for the victims and the haunting beauty of the Nutshells were guideposts.

I’m very proud of our film. I feel extremely fortunate to have made many friends along the way and to have worked with such wonderful and talented people in the process.

Of Dolls and Murder Post Production Pics

2011-03-05T19:56:00.000-08:00

This is Carly at HDMG mixing the sound on Of Dolls and Murder.

This is what Of Dolls and Murder sounds like.

Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death

2011-02-26T15:06:00.001-08:00

Are you curious to know a bit more about the inspiration of our film? In a nutshell, here's a little background on the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death:

(By the way, keep those comments and questions coming! We love it.)

The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death

Created in the 1930s and 1940s, The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death are a series of eighteen intricately designed dollhouse-style dioramas. The creator, Frances Glessner Lee, was a millionaire heiress who is affectionately known as the “Patron Saint of Forensic Science.”

Lee designed these detailed scenarios, based on composites of actual cases, to help train detectives sharpen their investigative skills. Each Nutshell contains a doll corpse (or several) in a death scene that could be easily misinterpreted.

The dioramas first were used in the 1940s for a law enforcement lecture series known as the Harvard Associates of Police Science (HAPS) through the Harvard Legal Medicine department. In 1966, when the department dissolved, the Nutshells went to the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), where they are on permanent loan. The Nutshells are still used today as teaching tools in the HAPS seminar series that Lee founded.

Originally, Lee and her carpenters created 20 Nutshells. One was destroyed in transit to the Maryland OCME and another is missing. The Nutshells are not open to the general public, nor are the solutions available in order to preserve their integrity as a teaching tool.

The scale of the Nutshells is 1:12 inches.

Give the Gift of Death!

2011-01-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

Of Dolls and Murder will soon be selling dead dolls! The proceeds will go towards finishing our film. Do you like?

Of Dolls and Murder links

2011-01-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

By the way, please find us and like us on facebook! And see our clip on youtube! Have questions about Of Dolls and Murder? Email us at doll.documentary [at symbol] gmail.com. We appreciate your support and interest in our film!

Of Dolls and Murder's Frances Glessner Lee

2011-01-23T09:45:00.000-08:00

I get a lot of questions about the heroine of our film, Frances Glessner Lee, so here's a quick overview of her life. Keep checking back for more Frances Glessner Lee posts. We have a lot more to share about this woman of mystery.

Frances Glessner Lee

(1878 – 1962)

By all accounts Captain Frances Glessner Lee was a genius, an artist, a scientist, and light years ahead of her time. As the heiress to the International Harvester fortune, Lee spent much of her life stymied by societal pressures and family expectations. Yet she was able to contribute greatly to the scientific and criminal justice realms in an extremely captivating and eloquent way.

Born in Chicago in 1878, Lee grew up on 1800 South Prairie Avenue. Her house is now a historic house museum. Lee’s parents, John and Frances Glessner, forbade their only daughter from attending college. Lee’s brother, George, however, attended Harvard. This injustice didn’t waylay Lee’s ambitions, it just postponed them.

George introduced Lee to his Harvard classmate, George MaGrath, who became close with the Glessner family. MaGrath, in turn, introduced Lee to the concept that police detectives weren’t properly trained to process crime scenes for medical evidence. At the time, in the 1890s, forensics was called Legal Medicine and it was a very new concept. Lee and MaGrath would eventually join forces to popularize forensics in the United States.

At age 20, Lee married Blewett Lee – an attorney. The marriage was an unhappy one. While three children resulted from their union, the couple separated for many years and ultimately divorced.

While raising her children, Lee also nurtured an interest in creating miniatures, which was considered an acceptable pastime for socialites. By the time Lee was a grandmother, she had combined her pastime with her passion for murder mystery into creating the Nutshells Studies of Unexplained Death. She also donated $250,000 to establish a Legal Medicine program at Harvard in 1932. She literally paid for her friend George MaGrath’s salary as department chair. Her continued interest led to a donation of over 1,000 books and manuscripts, which became the MaGrath Library of Legal Medicine.

The Nutshells were used in a popular seminar series Lee founded, the Harvard Associates of Police Science (HAPS), to help train detectives to sharpen their investigative skills.

For her contributions to forensics, Lee was appointed State Police Captain in New Hampshire in 1943. She was an honorary captain at first, but then she went on to get all the rights and privileges of a police captain. Lee was the first female member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, which is the leading forensic science organization in the world. She was also the first woman invited into the International Chiefs of Police Association.

Throughout the 1940 and 1950s, Lee continued with her well-attended HAPS seminars where she earned the respect of the attendees for her dedication to the pursuit of justice. Author Erle Stanley Gardner attended Lee’s HAPS seminars for research with his Perry Mason novels. To show his appreciation, he dedicated his novel The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom, to Lee.

When Lee died in 1962, hundreds of mourners, including several hundred police officers and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, attended her funeral.

The film Of Dolls and Murder is dedicated to her memory.

Keeping it Creepy in 2011

2011-01-17T17:39:00.000-08:00

2011 has been busy for Of Dolls and Murder. So far we've recorded filmmakers' commentary for the DVD extra or "Bonus Feature." It was a blast! John Kurtis Dehn, Matt Ehling, myself, and Carly Zuckweiler poured some drinks and recorded our commentary at HDMG.

We have one more dvd extra to edit and that should be it!

We're also working on our new website and press kit.

Spring of 2011 should be exciting for Of Dolls and Murder!

Find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year from Of Dolls and Murder

2010-12-23T23:54:00.001-08:00

We wish the best to you and yours this holiday season. May all your holiday gatherings be homicide free!

We can't wait to share our film with you in early 2011!

Of Dolls and Murder Documentary Film Trailer

2010-12-06T05:06:00.000-08:00

Of Dolls and Murder movie trailer. And yes, that is John Waters narrating.

Of Dolls and Murder update

2010-11-21T18:03:00.000-08:00

Production still from Of Dolls and Murder

Does it ever feel like our post are filled with a lot of non-news? All I can say, is no news is good news...

Of Dolls and Murder Documentary Film Trailer

2010-11-14T12:38:00.000-08:00

Have you seen our trailer for Of Dolls and Murder?

FAQ about Of Dolls and Murder (Updated)

2010-10-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

FAQ about Of Dolls and Murder

Answers by Director Susan Marks

Update 10/2010

When will the film be done? Where can I see it?

Soon! Winter or spring of 2011? Maybe earlier? Honestly, I wish I knew. If you want updates on the films progress and screenings, send me an email doll.documentary [at symbol] gmail.com to be added to the email update list or find Of Dolls and Murder on Facebook and Twitter.

How did you become interested in making a film about dollhouse crime scenes?

While I don’t think that anyone who knows us is actually that surprised, we still get this question a lot.

Here’s the scoop: Back in the late 1990s, I read an article about unusual collections and museums throughout the United States. I thought it would make a great documentary film to explore the people who started these collections. But since I was busy writing a book, making a different documentary, working, and attending grad school, I decided to “back burner” the idea.

In 2004 I read an interview with Corrine May Botz, author of The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her book! I waited months and it finally arrived. It is genius and I recommend that everyone buy a copy or two. (This book makes a great gift. I’ve personally given it to about 8 people.) However, the book was written a little too well. I couldn’t get it out of my head. It had so many unanswered questions and raised so many new ones.

So after thinking about all the fascinating topics connected with the Nutshells, it hit me that I need to make a film about the Nutshells, homicide, forensics justice and our uneasy relationship with death. I got the go-ahead from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Maryland. And then I brought in my producing partner, John Kurtis Dehn and we dove in.

But what inspired you to make this particular film?

Oh, I get what you’re asking!

Dollhouses are supposed to represent an idealized version of domestic bliss, and yet these crime scene dioramas represent a domestic dystopia that is a creepy and horrific reality for many. I also love the idea that a woman created these dollhouses for men to use.

Another reason I made this film is because there’s a lot of myth about crime investigation, and I just love being a part of debunking and exposing—shaking up people’s reality.

So whenever I begin a project, I had to ask myself two questions:

Would I want to watch a documentary film about dollhouse death scenes?

Answer: Hell yeah.

Has it been done before?

Answer: Nope.

And that’s all I need to get hooked on a project. I love it when people say they can’t wait to see this film. I feel the same way.

What are the Nutshells of Unexplained Death?

A collection of dollhouse dioramas created in the 1930s and 1940s to help train detectives to interpret evidence from a medical perspective.

This was a cutting-edge concept back in the day when most of the Untied States used a coroner system as an opposed to a medical examiner system. (Coroners were elected officials that may or may not have had medical backgrounds.)

18 Nutshells exists today. Originally there were 20. The 19th was accidentally destroyed and the whereabouts of the 20th is a mystery! If anyone knows anything bout it, please let me know.

Who created the Nutshells?

A fascinating and mysterious woman, Frances Glessner Lee.

How are you raising money to make this film?

We are accepting donations, throwing fundraising parties, and writing grant proposals. I am happy to report that so far I’ve received the support of the Jerome Foundation!

Did you know that Season Seven of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation had a miniature murder serial killer as a plotline?

Yes! That plotline was inspired by the actual Nutshell Studies. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview CSI executive producer Naren Shankar about it for our film. His interview is phenomenal and we feel so lucky to have him in our film.

Where are the Nutshells? And where can I see them?

The Nutshells of Unexplained Death are in Baltimore and they are not open to the public. Yes, it’s true. However, if you are a FBI agent, homicide detective, crime scene investigator, etc. you can attend a weeklong seminar where, among other things, you will be assigned to a Nutshell case. But there might be a waiting list…so best of luck.

Your past projects include a book and documentary film about Betty Crocker. Any reason for the abrupt change from cooking and baking to homicide and crime scene investigation?

The two stories are not as different as you might think. Both Betty Crocker and the Nutshell Studies have incredible “invisible women” behind the scenes. In the case of Betty Crocker it was Marjorie Child Husted (1892-1986) and in the Nutshells it was Frances Glessner Lee. (1878–1962) Both MCH and FGL were geniuses who co-opted accepted feminine past times to such an incredible level that they were revered in male dominated realms. Yet, society tends not recognize women who are no longer young, nor beautiful, especially in the highly visible realms of film, television and broadcasts news.

Who is your DP? Who is doing sound? What are you shooting on? Where are you posting?

Super Matt Ehling is our DP with additional camera work by Andy Bethke and John Kurtis Dehn. John is also doing sound (among many other roles on this production!) We are shooting on Panasonic SDX900, DVPro 50, 24p.

We did the audio mixing at HDMG!

Is John Waters really the voice over narrator for this film?

Yes!

How did you get John Waters to be your narrator?

The short answer is that we asked him and he said yes. And it was a good thing he said yes because we never considered anyone else. We feel so fortunate to have John in our film. He was amazing to work with and undoubtedly the coolest guy we’ve ever met.

The Body Farm is famously closed to the public. How did you get permission to film there?

We were very fortunate that the University of Tennessee accepted our proposal to film at the Forensic Anthropology Site. However, we are permanently emotionally scarred from filming there.

So, what is Of Dolls and Murder about?

Of Dolls and Murder is about dollhouse crime scenes and how they related to real life murder investigation. The dominant theme is the pursuit of justice.

Of Dolls and Murder Doc Film Update

2010-10-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

Any guesses to where I took this photo? Hint: It's in Baltimore.

Hope you're having a good holiday season! And by holiday, I mean, Halloween - the officially holiday of Of Dolls and Murder.

Of Dolls and Murder Update

2010-10-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

Hey, a friend told me recently that we should have a facebook page for our film. I was flabbergasted! Of course, we have a fb page for our film. But maybe I've been remiss in promoting it? Check it out! Like us! We're also on Twitter. And on YouTube.

Yes, the rumors are true, we are tweaking the film - a little off here, a little off there, move this over there, and move that over here. I know you filmmakers know what I'm talking about.

We love you all and thank you for ongoing support!

Of Dolls and Murder

2010-10-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

Of Dolls and Murder

It's so exciting to see how much media attention Of Dolls and Murder is getting these days. And we really have Boing Boing to thank for that. They started the ball rolling. Now, each day it's something new.

So drop me a line if you have special request for the dvd extras. We will be editing those next month.

John Waters narrates the tiny world of big time murder

2010-10-12T06:25:00.000-07:00

Check it out! Our film trailer is on Boing Boing

We're working hard to get our film out into the world. If you want to be in the loop, you can find us on facebook and twitter. We'll have a new website soon, but our other website is still chocked full of good info. And, as always, feel free to be in touch via doll.documentary [at symbol] gmail.com

Of Dolls and Murder Documentary Film Alt. Trailer

2010-09-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hey look! Another trailer for Of Dolls and Murder!

Of Dolls and Murder Documentary Film Trailer

2010-09-06T20:54:00.000-07:00

Take a look at our new trailer for Of Dolls and Murder! John Waters narrates the tiny world of big time murder.

Of Dolls and Murder Documentary Film Trailer

2010-09-06T20:53:00.000-07:00

Take a look at our new trailer for Of Dolls and Murder! John Waters narrates the tiny world of big time murder.

Of Dolls and Murder Update

2010-08-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

Big announcement coming this week. But I have to wait until it's officially announced. Keep checking back. Meanwhile, you know where to find us:

facebook

Questions: doll.documentary [at symbol] gmail.com

Of Dolls and Murder Production Still

2010-08-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

A picture is worth a thousand words? And over 14,000 hits!

This production still photo I took has received 14,738 views. I hope that means everyone who has looked at this photo will also like to watch a film about dead dolls.

We're working hard on finding a home for our film. So far, the search is going pretty well. Tomorrow we will be interviewed for the PBS NewHour arts blog. How cool. We'll post the link, just as soon as it's up.

Meanwhile, if you have questions about Of Dolls and Murder, email us: doll.documentary at symbol gmail.com

Of DOLLS & MURDER Trailer Update

2010-07-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

We're almost done with the trailer for Of Dolls and Murder. But if you are feeling anxious, you can always watch a clip of the film, starring John Waters.

Of DOLLS & MURDER Update

2010-07-11T15:09:00.000-07:00

We worked on our trailer today. So far, so good. It should be completed by the end of the week. And then what? Who knows. But if you are jonesing to hear a little John Waters narration and gaze upon some dead dolls, you can always find a clip of Of Doll and Murder here.

Speaking of John Waters, have you read his new book, Role Models? It is phenomenal. Not only can the man tell a great story, but he can write like no one's business, and he's so funny. So don't read the book unless you are in a place where bursting out into ridiculous fits of laughter is okay.

So hey, I've talked to a lot of support of Of Dolls and Murder in the past few weeks and I really appreciate all the support. This film is starting to feel very real and it's about time it got out into the world! Thank you, again.

Of Dolls and Murder photo of audio session

2010-07-05T18:56:00.000-07:00

What fun! Here are some photos from an audio session at HDMG with the lovely Carly Zuckweiler at the helm. Are you getting excited to see Of Dolls and Murder? I'm excited for you to see it. Maybe I will have some news to share with you soon about when and where we will screen the film. I hope so.

Of Dolls and Murder clip

2010-06-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

We don't have a finished trailer to show you yet, but this clip may suffice. (for now) Over 4,000 views!

Of DOLLS & MURDER Update

2010-06-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

While photographing the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death I made a few mistakes and some of them turned out a little haunting. This is a window drape in one of the dollhouses.

We're about ready for the next step on our film - finding it a good home. And the good news is that we really still love this film. We hope you will to.

Stay in the loop by joining us on facebook or joining our mailing list.

Of DOLLS & MURDER Update

2010-06-19T05:18:00.000-07:00

Below is a photo used in our film, Of Dolls and Murder. I'm particularly fond of this one. Just a little update on the final, final post: we're doing tech-y things and making a trailer. It's a very, very good thing. Things are quickly wrapping up.

If you have questions about the film, feel free to e-mail us: doll.documentary [at symbol] gmail.com

Of DOLLS & MURDER Update

2010-06-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

I hope you're not getting tired of John Waters-related post. But you simply must add this to your required summer reading list.

And now for the update on Of Dolls and Murder: We are just putting the finishing touches on the film and we are working on our trailer.

So far, the feedback is better than we could have ever hoped for. Carly Zuckweiler of HDMG really knocked it out of the park wit her sound mixing. And Adam Tow, also of HDMG, designed some amazing credits and an amazing poster. Damn. How did I get so lucky to work with these folks? And of course, there is John Kurtis Dehn's incredible music and editing and Matt Ehling's super star filming. What a team.

Keep checking this blog and hopefully I will be able to answer the question that everyone is asking...

John Waters' new book - Role Models

2010-06-10T04:45:00.000-07:00

We're loving all the publicity John Waters is getting for his new book, Role Models. When we recorded his narration for Of Dolls and Murder, over a year ago, he was talking about writing this book. I told him I couldn't wait to read it. To which he replied with a smile, "You will have to. Writing books just takes time." Don't I know it. On top of making this film and working for public television by day, I'm writing my 4th book. Fingers crossed all those deadlines will get met!

OF DOLLS & MURDER Editing Update

2010-06-09T05:41:00.000-07:00

Finishing touches on the documentary film OF DOLLS AND MURDER this week!

Who doesn't love dead dolls?

2010-06-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

It's really happening...we're finishing our film. The light at the end of the tunnel is so blinding that our post production team is having a near death experience.

Sign me up for OF Dolls & Murder

2010-05-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

Hey there-

Want to be in the loop on Of Dolls & Murder? Want to support behind us indie filmmakers? Super! You're the best!

Here's how you can help us cross the finish line:

"Like" us on facebook

Watch our clip on youtube - and give us the thumbs up and/or make a positive comment if you like what you see.

Thank you for your continued support!

Susan

John Waters' new book - Role Models

2010-05-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

Yay! John Waters' new book launches on May 25, 2010! Check out his tour dates

Baltimore City Paper article on Of Dolls and Murder

2010-05-12T06:04:00.000-07:00

The Art of Murder
Death-scene diorama documentary also explores what forensic science can and can't reveal by Rachel Monroe 5/5/10 for the Baltimore City Paper.

Filmmaker Susan Marks' favorite place in Baltimore is on the third floor of the Maryland Medical Examiner's office--three floors above the morgue, and down a hallway lined with plastic models of corpses' heads. This is the unassuming home of the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, 18 dioramas so intricately crafted that the dolls within them wear hand-knit stockings. One model's kitchen features a teensy coffee maker equipped with even teensier coffee filters; another has hand-whittled clothespins. All of this miniaturization might be cute--too cute, even--if all the dolls weren't corpses: hanging from the attic rafters, crumpled and bloodied in a closet, deceptively calm in bed. Look a little closer at the models and you'll start to notice the tiny shell casing in the kitchen, the suspicious package on the dresser, the miniature bloodstain on the floor.

Marks, a Minneapolis-based documentary filmmaker, first heard of the Nutshells eight years ago, when they were mentioned in an article--she can't remember where--about strange collections. They kept knocking around in her head as she went on to finish graduate school, write a book (2005's Finding Betty Crocker: The Secret Life of America's First Lady of Food), and produce and direct a short documentary (2006's "The Betty Mystique"). Corinne May Botz's lushly photographed 2004 book The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death only deepened her interest. "I thought it would satisfy me," Marks says over the phone from Minneapolis. "And it didn't at all. It was written so well that I wanted to know more. . . . I just knew I had to see them in person."

Starting in 2007, that fascination led Marks to make several trips to Baltimore, where the Nutshells are on permanent loan to the Maryland Medical Examiner's Office. Those visits became part of Of Dolls and Murder, Marks' 70-minute documentary exploring the Nutshells, contemporary forensics, and the pursuit of justice. The documentary, narrated by Nutshell-enthusiast John Waters, is in post-production and scheduled to be completed by this summer.

Frances Glessner Lee, a crotchety Chicago heiress and self-trained forensics expert, painstakingly crafted the Nutshells in the 1930s and '40s. A pioneer in the then-emerging field of legal medicine, Lee created the Nutshells as training tools for police detectives and other death-scene investigators, who would hone their observational skills as they attempted to determine the dolls' likely cause of death: homicide, suicide, accident, or natural causes. Lee was nothing if not thorough; she based the dioramas on crime scenes she visited or read about and sat in on autopsies to make sure she got the details right. Each death scene is a composite of real cases, often tweaked to make the cause of death more puzzling, the clues more enigmatic. "[As] teaching tools, these [are] wonderful dolls that were made so well that they're still being used" in the biannual seminars of the Harvard Associates in Police Science, Marks points out.

For Marks and her filmmaking team (co-producer/editor/composer John Kurtis Dehn and cinematographer Matt Ehling), the Nutshells are not only valuable because they're frankly creepy, but also because of what they have to offer about the pursuit of justice both in the '30s and today. Crime television juggernauts such as CSI and its spin-offs have made fiber analysis and DNA-typing part of common parlance, but the Nutshells encourage a return to investigational fundamentals: hyper-acute observation in which nothing can be taken at face value. "If you don't read a crime scene correctly, then all the scientific tests you do afterward could be for naught," Marks says. "Truth and science are often looked at as the same thing. While it's true in many cases [that] the facts speak for themselves, they don't speak for everything."

In most cases, the Nutshells show a vision of lower-class life distant from Lee's own experience. Many of the dead dolls are found in shabby surroundings with artfully scuffed floors and precisely peeling wallpaper. Several of the crime scenes depict the deaths of prostitutes. "In those times, some people didn't take a prostitute's death all that seriously," Marks says. In making the Nutshells, Marks offers, Lee was forcing detectives to confront their own assumptions, showing them how prejudices could often lead to hasty, wrong conclusions.

But criminal investigation has come a long way since the '30s. Through their research for the film, the Dolls and Murder team visited various forensic hotspots, including the Body Farm in Tennessee and a St. Paul crime lab. They even got to accompany several Baltimore homicide detectives as they went on a death call. And though it was originally the dolls and their odd creator that drew Marks to the project, she soon found herself equally intrigued by the serious business of death-scene investigation. "Sometimes documentary filmmaking has a way of telling the filmmakers how to tell the story, not the other way around," she says.

For instance, the differences between television portrayals of crime scene investigators and the real deal emerged during shooting. Pop culture's take often ranges from the unrealistic to the patently absurd. Take, for instance, the 2006 CSI storyline that involved the Nutshell-inspired Miniature Killer, who crafted tiny scale models of crime scenes and planned murder methods--blunt-force trauma, liquid nicotine, electrocution, asphyxiation, crushing, and hanging--so their first letters spelled out "bleach," thus conveniently revealing the crucial traumatic childhood event that turned her into a serial murderer.

Marks expected to find some rivalry between the actual death-scene investigators and their Hollywood counterparts; instead, she encountered a deep feeling of mutual respect. In Dolls and Murder, Marks interviews Naren Shankar, a CSI executive producer. "He* had nothing but incredible things to say in a really honest way about the work of detectives and CSIs," Marks says. "The show uses them as consultants on staff, works with them closely. Everyone was so earnest and devoted their job, from Naren to the people who work at OCME [the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner] to the Baltimore homicide detectives."

The respect goes both ways. Jerry Dziecichowicz, administrator of the OCME and unofficial Nutshell curator, notes that CSI and its ilk have been "good for the business of death-scene investigation." Still, there's concern that contemporary juries are overly influenced by shows in which forensic evidence provides a neat and unequivocal solution at the end of each 40-minute episode. The worry is that CSI-viewing juries have unrealistic expectations of what forensic science can achieve--a phenomenon dubbed the CSI effect. "It's not like you can look at [the evidence] and say, 'He was a 7-foot tall albino with one eye,'" Dziecichowicz says. "When you want to hold police to that kind of level, it becomes distorted."

Marks was pleased to find professional respect extended to her filmmaking team as well, despite their status as outside observers. "I thought they might tolerate me, but I didn't think they'd be so interested in getting the truth out there," she says. "We in no way wanted to be sensational in our approach to telling the story, [and] people believed us. That inspired us to make the best film we could."

Not that the process was without struggles. Marks acknowledges the "really dismal realities" of making an independent documentary at a time when arts funding is drying up nationwide--"you can really see how people wouldn't want to go on"--but says that she and her filmmaking partners were bolstered by the support of the people they interviewed.

Another challenge in filming the Nutshells was that, as visually appealing as they may be, they're still static. Marks and her crew were fortunate enough to get further support from John Waters, who signed on as the documentary's narrator. Dolls and Murder uses Waters' narration to animate the dioramas: He doesn't function as a traditional narrator, but rather tells the stories of the Nutshell scenes in the documentary. "He was the absolute only person" for the job, Marks says. "We never even considered anyone else."

With Of Dolls and Murder--which Marks plans to submit for inclusion in the 2011 Maryland Film Festival--Marks hopes to introduce people to the dioramas, which aren't open to the public, and so deepen the public discussion of forensic science. The Nutshells, for all their precision, aren't puzzles to be solved; some don't even have a "right" answer. More than anything, they're occasions for observation, perceptual exercises. They're laboratories for looking and thinking--not surprisingly, Lee would prickle when people referred to them as dollhouses--so it's no wonder that they continue to intrigue people to this day.

Audio Update for OF DOLLS AND MURDER

2010-05-08T13:06:00.001-07:00

I'm in the HDMG audio suite with Carly, working on the final mix of OF DOLLS AND MURDER. It's lovely.

The other day we were in the suite, creating SFXs. The line from John Waters' narration is "Love letters were scattering on the floor." So we did some Foley with a bunch of non-love letters - dropping and sliding envelopes and paper across the wood flood and got a nice SFX.

Our designer, Adam, is working hard in the other room. Which reminds me, if you want to be on our email list go to http://www.ofdollsandmurder.com/ and sign up! (thanks to Adam) We would love to send you updates. And the good news is that we will never over update you - ever.

Look! New movie poster for OF DOLLS AND MURDER!

2010-05-04T05:57:00.000-07:00

Movie poster by Adam Tow of HDMG! Don't ya just love it? I know I do.

Happy Birthday, John Waters!

2010-04-23T05:18:00.000-07:00

In honor of John Waters' birthday week, I strongly suggest you watch one of his many wonderful films and raise a blue martini to the master storyteller! Check out this bloggers suggestion for John's birthday.

Of Dolls and Murder Documentary FIlm - Crime Lab

2010-03-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

A few photos from our final shoot. This is from the dark room at the crime lab. The less I say, the better. More photos to follow!

That's a wrap!

2010-03-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

We had our last shoot today. The wrap party consisted of eating vegan scones and drinking cold coffee in the parking lot of the police station.

Join us.

OF Dolls and Murder Doc Film Update - Crime Lab

2010-03-12T05:39:00.000-08:00

On the right is co-producer/editor/music composer, John Kurtis Dehn next to our host in the Fingerprinting Lab (a lab within the Crime Lab we visited on Monday). When I took this photo, I was amazed at how big our host gun was, but in this photo it doesn't look that big.

Interestingly, our host told us that witnesses of gun crimes always say that the gun was HUGE, when it reality, it likely wasn't. The Crime Lab also had a gun library which really helped illustrate his point. I couldn't get any great photos because of the highly reflective glass, but when we go back to film, we will open the glass cases and get some great imagery.

In the film production world, we say, "shoot" and "shot" a lot. I try to never use those words around law enforcement. Instead, I use "film," production," and "footage" quite a bit.

I am really looking forward to going back to the Crime Lab for what will likely be our last day of production.

Otherwise, we are almost finished with our end credits, talking a lot about color correction, audio, and graphics. I'm happy to say we are still on track for finishing our film next month, however, the deadline is a moving target.

Want to stay in the loop for Of Dolls and Murder? Fan us on facebook and follow us on twitter.

Thank you for your continued support! It means a lot to us, especially in the final throes!

Of Dolls and Murder Doc Film Update - Crime Lab

2010-03-08T12:16:00.000-08:00

We spent the morning checking out a crime lab and it unbelievably cool. Shockingly cool. And even shocking at times. We're headed back for a shoot. Seriously, impressive work going on there. I wish I could talk more about it, but I can't. Suffice to say, any footage we get will not be of actual evidence. That's not allowed. But they will be mocking up a few things for us. Good sports, considering how under funded and understaffed they are.

Of Dolls and Murder Doc Film Update

2010-03-06T11:56:00.000-08:00

We're very excited that we were granted access to an honest to goodness crime lab, to shoot a few pick up shots. I will post photos just as soon as we shoot. Also, everything is on track. We should be finished with Of Dolls and Murder next month.

Our Youtube clip is getting more and more hits each day. Please check it out!

Also, we appreciate all new facebook fans. If you haven't "fanned us" please do! We need all the fans we can get.

Great & Grateful Week for OF DOLLS AND MURDER

2010-02-26T07:54:00.001-08:00

What a very cool week to be working on Of Dolls and Murder. True, I didn't actually do anything other than meet and talk with folks who are helping us with the oh-so-crucial finishing touches.

Our graphic designer, Adam Tow of HDMG, showed us a few ideas for the film and they are so f-word promising that we thrilled beyond, beyond! It's so nice to have a new, fresh perspective. Adam will also be helping with our new website, among other things. Again, we are thrilled.

Our poster designer, Elizabeth Mullen, is working hard on our poster and we love it! We may even have a few versions to help us promote this film. Would it be redundant to say we're thrilled?

Carly Zuckweiler, also of HDMG, is slaving away on our audio. She has a lot of cool things planned for us. Producer John Dehn and I are such audio-minded people that we appreciate Carly's ear more than we can ever fulyl express.

And finally, the band Rope Trick will be recording soon with us for the final song in the end credits. Like I mentioned in previous posts, this song is like a dream come true because it's part of a haunting sound that's been, well, haunting me for a long time. And it's finally going to happen!

I met a lot of filmmakers this week - both in person and in email exchanges. It's just been that kind of week. I'm overwhelmed by the support and kindness. Indie film people never cease to amaze me.

And while I'm at it... I saw a documentary film this week that shook me to my very core. I will never forget it. The filmmaking is superb, the storytelling is nothing short of amazing and filmmakers are so courageous. Please make an effort to see Mine, especially if you love animals. I know that director Geralyn Rae Pezanoski really did an incredible job because I haven't shut up about this film since I saw in on Sunday night.

Have a great weekend! And please become our fan on facebook!

Minneapolis Institute of Arts' Foot in the Door 4

2010-02-19T07:41:00.000-08:00

A clip of Of Dolls and Murder is part of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts' Foot in the Door Exhibit. Check it out! While you're at it. Check out Grave Digger - that's my favorite! Just a coincidence that our film clips make such good companion pieces.

Hope you have a great weekend. I plan on cranking out credits for the film like never before!

That's going to leave a scar...

2010-02-13T09:20:00.000-08:00

Check out this cool little write-up in SCARS magazine. And while you're at it, check out the rest of the magazine's blog. It's fabulous.

Also, we really want you to become our fan on facebook. And please spread the word! We need every single fan we can get.

And finally, check out I See Dead Dolls on Vimeo. A clip of our film is in the Foot in the Door exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Hope you are having a good weekend

Hey John Waters Fans!

2010-02-06T05:56:00.000-08:00

Great interview with John Waters in Australia's Age newspaper. (However, the headline is seriously stupid; you've been warned) There are some gems in this article, including the origins of the famous "brown word" from Serial Mom. Also, Waters talks about the status of Fruitcake. If I had one wish, it would be that funders would step up and get Fruitcake made. The concept is great and it's bound to be one of his best films. Believe me, I know how hard film fundraising is, but this is JOHN WATERS we talking about here! Funders would be lucky to be a part of his latest film! Anyway, enjoy the article and enjoy your weekend!

FAQ about Of Dolls and Murder

2010-02-05T06:56:00.000-08:00

I originally wrote up this FAQ because we received so much publicity before we even started shooting the film (mostly because we threw a fundraising party), so the questions started flying in right and left, fast and furious! I noticed a trend in the questions, so I put together this for our website. Do you have questions that aren't answered? Let me know!

When will the film be done? Where can I see it?

Honestly, I have no idea. I wonder these things too. But I can tell you this much, we are editing as fast as we can. If you want updates on the films progress and screenings, send me an email doll.documentary@gmail.com to be added to the email update list or become a fan of Of Dolls and Murder on Facebook for updates.

How did you become interested in making a film about dollhouse crime scenes?

While I don’t think that anyone who knows us is actually that surprised, we still get this question a lot.

In 2004 I read an interview with Corrine May Botz, author of The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her book! I waited months and it finally arrived. It is genius and I recommend that everyone buy a copy or two. (this book makes a great gift. I’ve personally given it to about 8 people.) However, the book was written a little too well. I couldn’t get it out of my head. It had so many unanswered questions and raised so many new ones.

But what inspired you to make this particular film?

Oh, I get what you’re asking!

Another reason I’m so into making this film is because there’s a lot of myth about crime investigation, and I just love being a part of debunking and exposing—shaking up people’s reality.

So whenever I begin a project, I had to ask myself two questions:

Would I want to watch a documentary film about dollhouse death scenes?

Answer: Hell yeah.

Has it been done before?

Answer: Nope.

And that’s all I need to get hooked on a project. I love it when people say they can’t wait to see this film. I feel the same way.

What are the Nutshells of Unexplained Death?

A collection of dollhouse dioramas created in the 1930s and 1940s to help train detectives to interpret evidence from a medical perspective.

18 Nutshells exists today. Originally there were 20. The 19th was accidentally destroyed and the whereabouts of the 20th is a mystery! If anyone knows anything bout it, please let me know.

Who created the Nutshells?

A fascinating and mysterious woman, Frances Glessner Lee.

How are you raising money to make this film?

We are accepting donations, throwing fundraising parties, and writing grant proposals. I am happy to report that so far I’ve received the support of the Jerome Foundation!

Did you know that Season Seven of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation had a miniature murder serial killer as a plotline?

Where are the Nutshells? And where can I see them?

The Nutshells of Unexplained Death are in Baltimore and they are not open to the public. (I can hear you now, “What?!”) Yes, it’s true. However, if you are a FBI agent, homicide detective, crime scene investigator, etc. you can attend a weeklong seminar where, among other things, you will be assigned to a Nutshell case. But there might be a waiting list…so good luck.

Your past projects include a book and documentary film about Betty Crocker. Any reason for the abrupt change from cooking and baking to homicide and crime scene investigation?

Who is your DP? Who is doing sound? What are you shooting on? Where are you posting?

Super Matt Ehling is our DP with additional camera work by Andrew Bethke and John Dehn. John is also doing sound (among many other roles on this production!) We are shooting on Panasonic SDX900, DVPro 50, 24p. And we are hoping to post at HDMG in Minneapolis.

Is John Waters really the voice over narrator for this film?

Yes!

Production Still from Of Dolls and Murder

2010-02-03T17:25:00.000-08:00

Things are getting exciting! We are working hard on finishing this film up. I can't believe we are finally getting close to having something to show the world.

I know I've said it before, but it's like this film has been charmed from the beginning - nothing but great people involved on every front. I think it's rare to have a project like this, one that just attracts incredible talents. I feel so lucky to have been a part of it.

Also, thank you to all of you who became our fans on facebook. But we still need more. Please join us!

Documentary Film Update

2010-01-31T08:36:00.000-08:00

We really need you to become our fan on facebook!

We're almost ready to hand over our rough cut to the creative magic geniuses at HDMG.

Right now, we're thinking of getting just a few more images (b-roll) for one section of the film, but it's not really a big deal.

Will be working on the credits and producer stuff all week. Can't believe we are this close!

Of Dolls and Murder Music Update

2010-01-22T12:28:00.001-08:00

Exciting news! The band, Rope Trick will be recording a song for our soundtrack! This is beyond, beyond.

Back when our film was named, Our Wildest Dreams, John Kurtis Dehn wrote a song by the same name. It's haunting and a little David Lynch-esque (there's probably better way to describe it, but I'm just too excited to think!) John had the great idea of still including the song in the credits, but he wanted Joe Carl and his band, Rope Trick to play it. The band heard Our Wildest Dreams, liked it and agreed!

Now, the voice of Joe Carl will be bookending the film. Last year, we recorded Joe singing some haunting/angelic music for the opening.

Carl's back and he's bringing the whole band! I promise there will be photos when the recording begins.

Have a great weekend!

New Of Dolls and Murder poster (almost)

2010-01-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

I saw a sneak peak at our movie poster today. Wow! I love it. I can't wait until it's ready to be unveiled.

Hey, have you joined our fan page on facebook? We would love to have you. In fact, if you want to spread the word to all your dead doll-John Waters-CSI-loving friends, that would be great!

We got more feedback on our film this past week! We are so grateful.

Of Dolls and Murder Doc Film Update

2010-01-13T08:31:00.000-08:00

In the mood for a little film update? Oh good.

Over the past month, we've been collecting feedback on our rough cut and making some edits. The feedback thus far has been overwhelmingly positive and not at all consistent. For example, one person may love the ending while another thinks it's good, but about five minutes too long. And so it goes on and on and like that. If it sounds frustration, far from it! It's unbelievably exciting and we feel lucky to have this kind of dilemma.

Feedback is a gift and we deeply appreciate it. In some ways our film will never be what as good as it could have been with full funding. However, we feel like we did the best we could with our limited budget. I imagine that when our film is released, our critics will wish we had more this or more of that. But at least we'll keep them wanting more, right?

At any rate, I'm meeting with someone today to get more feedback, and I can hardly wait.

We had a creative meeting this week with designer Adam Tow to discuss graphic design and we were very impressed with his insights. We can't wait to work more with him.

John D and I started the concepting for our trailer. For years it has eluded me how our trailer should look and yesterday, it just kind of came to us.

Next, submitting our film to film festivals.

Links:

2010 and back at it!

2010-01-02T19:50:00.000-08:00

2010 is starting out great for Of Dolls and Murder. We are back in the edit suite finishing up our 2nd rough cut. I can hardly contain my excitement! I absolutely love how the film is shaping up.

A complex little movie - so says Final Cut Pro.

Editor John Kurtis Dehn working on our end credits.

Recording SFX in the sound booth. For years, I've wanted to play around with the sounds of Reidel wine glasses. I am very pleased with the results!

I can't wait for you to see (and hear) this film!

Happy New Year from Of Dolls and Murder!

2009-12-29T18:33:00.000-08:00

In the edit suite right now. Probably the last time in 2009. Our goal was to finish Of Dolls and Murder by the end of 2009. We didn't quite make it. But I think that's perfectly ok. The longer we spend on it, the better it gets. (To a point, of course.)

So far, the feedback on our rough cut has been pretty phenomenal. We didn't quite expect it!

What's next for us? Well, we are hoping that our friends at HDMG will have time to work with us on the final post. Then we will send our film off to film festivals with our fingers crossed. I hope this will come to fruition within the next few months.

I keep thinking about how a filmmaker is not the same person at the beginning of pre-production as she is in post-production. Making a film changes a person. With the exception of of the funding issues, working on this film has been a dream. It's also been a journey, a wonderful journey that unfolded in front of our eyes. I've seen things I never thought I would see. And because of this film, I've been places I never want to go back to! (I'm thinking specifically of the Body Farm and I know I speak for the entire crew when I say that one visit is plenty!) I've had the wonderful opportunity to work with and meet some incredible people. How lucky can a filmmaker get?

Much luck and success to you in the new year!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Creepsmas!

2009-12-16T06:24:00.000-08:00

We wish you great health and happiness in the new year! And we hope to have great Of Dolls and Murder news to share with you in 2010.

Peace,

Of Dolls and Murder filmmakers

Of Dolls and Murder editor on fire

2009-12-15T19:25:00.000-08:00

When John Kurtis Dehn isn't slaving away on Of Dolls and Murder or working on a client production, or playing in his band, he's on fire.

That's him behind the smoke machine haze at a solo performance at the Eagle Club in St. Paul last week. Never a dull moment with John Kurtis Dehn.

John Waters X-Mas

2009-12-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

Need help getting into the holiday spirit? Read this wonderful interview with

John Waters

OF DOLLS & MURDER Editing Update

2009-11-28T12:12:00.000-08:00

"The dead are talking, we just don't like what they have to say." - John Waters, Of Dolls and Murder

A shot from the edit suite. We are watching our film, making minute changes. Changes so small that only we would notice. Ya know what that means? By the end of the day, we should have a rough cut. For real, this time.

Ran into Carly at lunch today. That must be a good sign because we hope to be working with her on the final mix!!!

Of Dolls and Murder links:

Of DOLLS & MURDER - questions we get

2009-11-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

The other day, someone asked me if I had a dollhouse. When I replied that I didn't have one growing up, nor do I have one now, she was shocked and wondered aloud how I could be interested in dollhouse crime scenes. My initial response was, "Isn't everyone interested in dollhouse crime scenes?" Which, of course, isn't true. Not everyone wants to know more about dollhouse scenes of death, just the vast majority of people I meet. But I get what she was getting at, a person must really love something to devote three years of her life to make a film about it. And I do.

I would love to hear from someone who creates their own dollhouses of death.

Of Dolls and Murder links:

Happy Thanksgiving from Of Dolls and Murder

2009-11-25T16:14:00.000-08:00

I went through all my dead doll photos to find the most Thanksgiving-like image, and on an admittedly sick note, this photo won. While I was clicking through my photos, an old episode of My Name is Earl was on and guess who was guest staring? None other than John Waters. A perfect way to kick off a Thanksgiving weekend.

If you haven't seen this episode, it's definitely worth checking out.

Anyway, hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful and homicide free. And that goes double for our homicide detective friends!

Mardi Gras with John Waters!

2009-11-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Fan of John Waters? Live in Australia? Visiting Australia in March? You're in luck! Lucky, lucky you!

Quoting Of Dolls and Murder

2009-11-14T09:35:00.001-08:00

"Every Nutshells Study tells a story of human interaction. And that's really the basis of all crime - human interaction." - Naren Shankar, CSI

Of Dolls and Murder links:

Murder!

2009-11-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

"There's a darkness to it. You're looking into the soul of a crime scene."

-Detective Inspector Kevin Corcoran with the Ontario Provincial Police

You know what a group of crows is called, right? I took this photo in a park by my house. And these noisy crows weren't happy about me and my little dog crashing their party.

We're in edit again today. We cut down one interview byte and just move another from the end, to the middle. This of course sets off a whole ripple effect of changing images and music. But we're closer than ever to having a solid rough cut. And it gets better and better each time we're in edit.

It hit me the other day what an unbelievably complicated story we are telling in Of Dolls and Murder. Perhaps we've made it harder on ourselves than we really needed to. John agrees, "We've always been navigating from one part of the story to the next, wondering how it's all going to fit together, ignoring the simple, easy ways to tell this story."

I guess that's what makes it truly indie film. I think the direction of our next film will be much more straight forward and yes, easier.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend. Thanks for hanging in there with us!

Last Night's Screening of Welcome to Coalwood

2009-11-13T05:39:00.000-08:00

This is director Steven Date addressing the crowd at his screening of Welcome to Coalwood at the Parkway Theater last night. (Nov 12, 2009) What a night! What a film! We are so happy for Steve, our former student from Documentary Storytelling @ IFP. When I teach doc classes I always tell people that the number #1 rule is never be boring. And Steve must have listened because he film was anything but!

I'm kidding though about us teaching him anything, because Steve was already a budding filmmaker when he took our class and certainly didn't need us to tell him how to make a film!

Nonetheless, we can't help but be proud of Steve and so happy for him.

Some former Documentary Storytelling folks. Again, what a night!

From the edit suite - Of Dolls and Murder

2009-11-10T18:51:00.000-08:00

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho It's off to the edit suite we go!

2009-11-10T10:12:00.000-08:00

I just found out we will be editing our film later on today! I love it when we can fit in a few hours here and there - especially when it's unscheduled. All those hours and all those little edits add up.

Meanwhile, the web is lousy with info about Of Dolls and Murder. Join the party!

Twitter

Flickr

YouTube

Two places on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=76950642285&ref=mf

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Of-Dolls-and-Murder/130000023882?ref=ts

Dead Doll Music with Grant Dawson

2009-11-09T16:54:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce that Grant Dawson has joined John Dehn composing music for OF DOLLS AND MURDER. Damn! We are so happy to have him aboard! His songs are deliciously creepy. If you don't know Grant's music. Check him out on itunes.

Are those dolls dead yet?

2009-11-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

Someone asked me the other day if "those dolls are dead yet." All I can say is that we are happily getting there. No, seriously. No longer are we rearranging huge sections of the film. Finally! Now we're just tweaking - moving a few images around, adding beats, letting it breathe. (The film is alive even though the dolls are not.)

Currently, we're sitting in the edit suite. John is at the helm, and I'm sitting behind him at the "client" desk. When there is a break in the action, I am tweeting, facebooking, flickring, color correcting photos (or color removing)

and blogging. It's a nice set up actually. I just jump in when needed and otherwise watch John work his magic. In fact, he just came up with something cool for the end credits with something we shot a few weeks ago.

And as long as I'm kind of babbling, I've said, "Perfect!" "I love it!" "Oh. Wow" and "Creepy! In a good way" about 50 times each today.

So while the rest of our fellow Minnesotans are outside soaking in the astoundingly beautiful and unseasonably warm day - we are inside killing dolls.

Links! Links! Links!

2009-11-02T18:49:00.000-08:00

We're everywhere these days! Feel free to join us!

Twitter

Flickr

YouTube

Two places on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=76950642285&ref=mf

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Of-Dolls-and-Murder/130000023882?ref=ts

Happy Halloween Once Again!

2009-10-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

All Hail John Waters, King of Filth!

Great interview with John Waters. I wish I could see him tonight in Las Vegas. For those of you who are going to his show, consider yourself very, very lucky! What could be better than John Waters in Las Vegas on Halloween?

Happy Halloween!

Creepy Halloween Fun with the Great John Waters!

2009-10-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, we posted a similar link to youtube last Halloween. But last year, we didn't have John Waters fabulous narration. So, it's worth a re-post.

Happy Halloween

The odd thing about this death scene is that the homicides actually took place on October 31, 1937.

This Halloween, John Dehn and I will be in the edit suite, working on music and adding our new b-roll. We're so close, I can taste it. And it tastes like Halloween candy.

Happy Haunting!

Happy Halloween from Of DOLLS AND MURDER!

2009-10-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

We recently had another documentary film shoot for Of Dolls and Murder. Our Director of Photography, Matt Ehling got some great footage. I just had to snap a few photos.

This doll photo is from a shoot earlier in the week. Actress, Laura Bull, helped us dead up some dolls. She was a complete joy to work with on this shoot.
That's our dead guy, Randy Grubba. Look closely, you can see his eye! Creepy. Hey Minnesota Filmmakers, just let me know if you wan to borrow my body bag for a shoot. It would be cool if it wound up in dozens of indie films. I don't plan on using it again for a long, long time.

Anyway, Happy Halloween and thank you for your ongoing support of our film. We're working hard on it!

Documentary shoot

2009-10-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

We had a great shoot the other day. There was blood (fake), dolls (real), a mini noose, and lots of fun!

Our director of photography, Matt Ehling "killed" on the shoot. Gearing up for another one this week.

Links!

2009-09-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

We're everywhere these days! Feel free to join us!

Twitter

Flickr

YouTube

Two places on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=76950642285&ref=mf

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Of-Dolls-and-Murder/130000023882?ref=ts

The Tiny World of Big TIme Murder

2009-09-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

Here is our movie. I promise it will look a lot better when it's projected. We've made great progress on the film. By early next week we should have a rough cut. If only we had a more time to work on it! But life doesn't stand still for this film, although it should.

A rough cut is a major milestone. From here we will firm up details for additional b-roll. A select group of viewers will chime in about what they think about the film. And then it's on to final edits. I believe the film will be done this year. But it's not entirely in my control, so I probably shouldn't say such things. At any rate, I like the film. I particularly like the ending - which is a bit of a surprise.

It's about 65 minutes long right now. But that changes daily. I get this question a lot. It will be nice when we know for sure how long it is so people can plan their schedules around the film. Kidding of course. I'm sure people have very good reasons for asking how long our film is. I'm just not sure what they are. Similarly, when I was writing first book, everyone asked me how long it was. And I honestly didn't know until I held the book in my hand for the first time. Funny, no one asked me on my last two books.

Even with the unknown ahead of us, I'm very excited we've made it this far and I'm proud of the work we've done, and I'm deeply grateful for the support we've experienced every single day on this project.

The Betty Mystique (A film by Susan Marks) Screening

2009-08-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

Save the date! December 3, 2009 at 7pm at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Almost everyday someone asks me when they can see my Betty Crocker film. Your one and only chance is likely this December. Don't live anywhere near the Mill City Museum? Book your flight now and do your X-mas shopping at the Mall of America while you are in MN. Or better yet, shop at the museum's gift shop. Or head over to St. Paul and shop at Common Good Books. It's really your call.

So come see my film, get your Betty on and quit your crying! ;)

OF DOLLS & MURDER Editing Update

2009-08-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

We were so close to having a a rough cut - an actual beginning, middle and end of our documentary film. It was beautiful. About 70 minutes of dolls, death, and detectives. It was getting exciting. And then, John (editor/co-producer) had an idea to change this one section, move a few things around, try something else here and there, and figure out something different in this one section. And then, if you move all that, then you need to re-organize the section that comes after it. And ya know what? It's getting exciting all over again. I love our new direction.

We did have one minor set back. We lost a drive. Currently, we we're waiting to see if anything is salvageable. Thank God we have backup.

I feel really grateful because I still love OF DOLLS & MURDER. I cannot wait to see how this film turns out. We've been working on this film since 2007, and it's been such a incredible ride.

Parsonage.

2009-08-10T06:29:00.000-07:00

The above photo is a of Parsonage - one of The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. These dollhouse dioramas of death are used to train detectives in the art of reading a crime scene. We're in the final throes of editing the rough cut of our film. Surprisingly, it's going very well! We are loving the way this documentary film is coming together. If you want updates: go here and on facebook. Or if you are so inclined: twitter. You can also watch a clip.

Below is a partial transcript of a NJ detective presenting the evidence for our film. Read it and let me know what you think. Why did her mom wait so long to call the police? Why isn't Dorothy covered in flies like the meat? Do you think Dorothy was carrying a love child? What was she doing in the parsonage?

Detective: On August 19^th the victim, Dorothy, left her house around 11 o’clock to go to the market and purchase some steak for the dinner. Girl doesn’t show up. Mom gets concerned, calls a neighbor and the neighbor says I saw Dorothy walking towards the market. The individual that owns the steak place - the market place says Dorothy was here I sold her a pound of meat at approximately 12 o’clock in the afternoon. The police was called at approximately 5:40 on that day, by the mother. And once the police got the call they started the investigation and on August 21^st they searched all abandoned property in the vicinity and nothing. And on August 23^rd, she was discovered over here. Also, just to mention by the meat there are some flies and on the victim there’s nothing…no flies, no decomp, doesn’t look like there’s any lividly being set, there’s no marks on the wrists to show that maybe that she’s being held captive anywhere.

Production Still from Of Dolls and Murder

2009-06-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

Miniatures. Why do we love them so? Why are we so fascinated by them? In particular, why are we so fascinated with miniatures that depict mysterious crimes scenes?

Want to connect with other people who are also fascinated with dollhouse crime scenes? Join our group on facebook.

Also if you want to gaze at dead doll photos until our film comes out - be our guest.

Mayo says 'CSI,' other shows a public health risk

2009-05-27T17:15:00.001-07:00

Mayo says 'CSI,' other shows a public health risk

Posted using ShareThis

This is interesting. It's hard to believe people are so gullible and this is compromising their health - but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

It doesn't matter how many times we hear the message - we just want to believe what we see on TV. We even need to believe it on some level. Television is such a big part of our culture and every culture needs storytelling when it comes to death. It makes sense that part of our cultural storytelling about death involves CSI and other crime dramas - where from chaos, order is always restored, the bad guy is always caught, justice is served, and everyone feels safe and even clever.

This MPR article also touches on the a few points we are trying to make in our film, Of Dolls and Murder. In particular, most murder victims knew their killer. We live in a world (and always have) where the people closest to us are the same people who are most likely to kill us. No wonder we turn on the television to escape the reality of our lives.

A preview clip of OF DOLLS AND MURDER

2009-05-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Check out our preview clip from Of Dolls and Murder

Patron Saint of Forensic Science

2009-05-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

I wrote the following about Frances Glessner Lee - aka Fanny - the creator of the dollhouse scenes of death. Without her, we wouldn't have a story to tell, a film to make. On this Memorial weekend, I am honoring Fanny - a woman who didn't want anyone to die in vain.

Nothing and everything in Lee’s background prepared her for the role of a crime-fighting granny. Born in 1878, a wealthy Chicago heiress; her parents believed that education was wasted on women, so Lee never received the formal education she craved. For most of her life she was paralyzed in the role of wife, mother, and socialite. Lee’s passions were elsewhere: in academia, science, law and medicine. In other words, a man’s world.

In the 1930s, a family friend made Lee aware of the countless murders that went undetected and unsolved because evidence was either mishandled, misinterpreted or ignored. It was as if the dead were talking to Lee, urging her to speak for them. Lee took an active interest as a pioneer in the new emerging arena, “Legal Medicine”, which would later be re-named, “Forensics.”

Lee developed a vision for training every detective to take both scientific and medical evidence into account while solving crimes. To do so, she co-opted a feminine past time – creating miniatures – into a crime-fighting tool for (male) detectives to challenge their abilities to interpret evidence. Ironically, her creation of dollhouses is exactly what catapulted her into a revered role in the masculine realm.

Lee’s legacy lives on through the Nutshells and the Harvard Associates in Police Science (HAPS), an ongoing detective training seminar she developed in the 1940s. Almost 70 years later, Lee’s dollhouses are still relevant training tools because all the latest technological advances in forensics do not change the fact that crime scenes can be misread, and then someone will literally get away with murder.

(We just finished editing the Fanny section of our film! Yay! Happy Memorial Weekend!)