Friends--- I forward this note----please contact Philip directly, offline, if you can be of any assistance ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 15:14:43 EDT From: [email protected] Subject: From: P. Reeder, Re: Network TV Documentary "The Women of Death Row" ************************** Rick, My name is Philip Reeder and I'm the senior producer for "Burrud Productions", a Southern California based television production company, with a (nearly) 50-year history of producing popular, successful and award winning TV Documentaries, Specials and Reality Series. We were recently commissioned by "WE: Women's Entertainment", a National Cable Television Network (with more than 50-million current subscribers), to produce a 90-minute, National Primetime Documentary Special about, "The Women of Death Row." Because the "WE" Network demographic is primarily female, they're especially interested in a special that is serious, important, socially relevant and, at the same time, appealing to their (female) audience. The Network is also committed to making a powerful, necessary statement about these women's lives. As the "lead" person on this documentary, I have a particularly strong history in producing these kinds of fair, honest and (powerfully) emotional programs. Many of them have been successful, well-received and even critically acclaimed, largely for the passion (and, yeah, the quality) with which they were produced. On a personal level, I've received more than 40 EMMY nominations, 5 EMMY wins and a basketful of other national awards and honors. In other (less immodest?) words, I am a producer, and we are a production company, who believe in the power, importance and responsibility of the "serious" documentary---and this is, without question, a serious documentary. While (vis-a-vis the Network's demographic concerns) we certainly want to produce a program that's interesting, and compelling, to everyone, there is a specific storytelling method in making a documentary that's especially compelling to women. We must, in an up-close-and-personal way, introduce our audience to WHO these women really are. Our audience must know them; and care about them. As storytellers, we must talk about these women's lives---and not just about their crimes... and/or the crimes they're alleged to have committed. This show is not an expose, nor is it a prison reform investigation---and it is not, in any way, a salacious peek into 'women-behind-bars'. We don't need blood 'n guts to make this show special. We don't need inmates swearing and spitting at the guards to make this show work. We do, however, need to look inside the secret-selves of these women. We do need to climb inside their hearts. We need these women to trust us enough to tell our audience their harrowing and dramatic tales, whether they're heartrending or gut-wrenching. We need them to be honest, truthful and real. We are not looking for misery. We are not looking to produce pity. We are, though, looking to produce a show about women (people!) who, no matter what, deserve the respect of having their stories told, especially those story-parts which were (too often) never seen during, or after, their trials---and, perhaps, those story elements that some folks may not want told even today. As national media, we have the privilege, the right---and the obligation to reveal all the facts, whether legal or emotional. Please understand, our program is, in no way, an apologia for these women's crimes (and/or alleged crimes). It is also not an anti-death penalty rant; nor is it a pro death penalty sermon. Our documentary is about these women as, well---as Human Beings, in the light and in the dark. Although we're currently speaking with the attorneys for three women now on the Row in Texas (Frances Newton, Darlie Routier and Cathy Henderson), we'd very much like to speak with ALL the women currently on death row. However, we're having some trouble locating any "principal" people (whether lawyers or support groups) for the other women. Please Rick, if there's anything you can do to help us get in touch with these women (and/or their supporters/lawyers), we'd be delighted if you would. Obviously, the women must want to be interviewed. We'll do the rest. As you know, we cannot promise that our stories (of their lives) will actually help them. But we can promise that as many as 50-million people will see their stories---and, I believe, will be genuinely affected by it. Thanks! Best Regards, Philip Reeder---714/842-8422 Senior Producer "The Women on Death Row" "Burrud Productions" "WE: Women's Entertainment Network"
