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October 01, 2009
Zenovich Responds To Marcia Clark's Story
Oct. 1, 2009
Dear Editors:
The following is a statement from filmmaker Marina Zenovich, director and producer of the Emmy® Award-winning HBO Documentary Film ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED.
“I am perplexed by the timing of David Wells’ statement to the press that he lied in his interview with me for the documentary ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED. Since June of 2008, the film has been quite visible on U.S. television via HBO, in theaters and on DVD, so it is odd that David Wells has not brought this issue to my attention before.
“For the record, on the day I filmed Mr. Wells at the Malibu Courthouse, February 11, 2005, he gave me a one-hour interview. He signed a release like all my other interviewees, giving me permission to use his interview in the documentary worldwide. At no time did I tell him that the film would not air in the United States.
“Mr. Wells was always friendly and open with me. At no point in the four years since our interview has he ever raised any issues about its content. In fact, in a July 2008 story in The New York Times, Mr. Wells corroborated the account of events that he gave in my film.
“I am astonished that he has now changed his story. It is a sad day for documentary filmmakers when something like this happens.”
=======================
This is in response to yesterday's Daily Beast story by Marcia Cross.
I think it is perfectly reasonable for Ms. Z to respond with her perspective on Mr W. saying he lied to her. I think that it may well be the case that he is lying now... which Ms C comments on smartly in her piece. The lie he is now alleging makes no sense. Why would he have told it, not matter what he thought of the distribution of the film?
That said, the response hit that place that pisses people off - or at least me - when she shifted gears in the last sentence to, "It is a sad day for documentary filmmakers when something like this happens.”
Oh.... BULLSHIT.
Why has it become so standard rhetorically to spin a "me" situation into an "us" event? Nothing bad happened to "documentary filmmakers" with this. And really, nothing particularly bad happened to the case. Right now, it is 100% an extradition. When Polanski gets here, the disposition of the rape case will be determined.
You know what a sad day for documentary filmmakers is? When good films get no attention.
You know what's not a sad day for documentary filmmakers? When a good film that is extremely one-sided in its approach gets even more attention that will draw even more eyeballs to it, even if it chooses sides.
Once again, there is this very odd need to turn the story of a man and a girl into something other than what it was... a rape and run... with extenuating circumstances for which the man seems to have some legit complaints, but for which he also has some responsibility, as he clearly never thought he deserved punishment or that he does now and made this clear to the court with his behavior.
Posted by dpoland at October 1, 2009 10:19 AM
Comments
Marcia Clark, no?
Posted by: Blackcloud ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 1, 2009 10:51 AM
Wasn't she on Desperate Prosecutors?
Posted by: lazarus at October 1, 2009 11:05 AM
A sad day for documentary filmmakers is when a documentary filmmaker defend child rape.
Posted by: Kelby at October 1, 2009 03:50 PM
I find the whole discussion untenable.
The law only works if both sides abide by it.
The judge was playing by his own rules.
Now the DA is an admitted LIAR.
I don't care if Polanski murdered a family of 12- he SHOULD have run because the law was not being just.
Posted by: Don Murphy at October 1, 2009 05:30 PM
Of course Don Murphy decides to weigh in without knowing all the facts.
As in: Wells has NEVER been the District Attorney of Los Angeles (that was John K.Van de Kamp at the time) nor was he connected to the case as a prosecutor.
But I will agree, the law wasn't being just - an ADMITTED child rapist should never get 42 days in jail. I just conviction would have seen Polanski just coming up for parole this year...
Posted by: Deathtongue_Groupie at October 1, 2009 10:12 PM
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