We’ve seen television series and movies impact public perception of a criminal case; the entire true crime genre takes established narratives and finds a way to either create something new or dramatize what is already heightened. With that comes the caveat that what is being presented is a dramatic re-interpretation, changed to engage a narrative audience. Or is it? As documentarian and author Errol Morris lays out in “A Wilderness of Error,” humans are incredibly stubborn and willing to make the facts fit their beliefs, even if they’re wrong.
In February 1970 Green Beret doctor Jeffrey MacDonald’s pregnant wife and two daughters were found brutally murdered in their home. MacDonald claimed that a gang of hippies, led by a blonde woman in a floppy hat, entered his house and killed everyone. It made sense right away, particularly as the Manson family killings took place just six months before.
In February 1970 Green Beret doctor Jeffrey MacDonald’s pregnant wife and two daughters were found brutally murdered in their home. MacDonald claimed that a gang of hippies, led by a blonde woman in a floppy hat, entered his house and killed everyone. It made sense right away, particularly as the Manson family killings took place just six months before.
- 9/25/2020
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
Marc Smerling’s true crime docuseries for FX, A Wilderness of Error, debuting September 25, is a deep-dive reinvestigation of the case of convicted murderer Jeffrey MacDonald, who has spent the past nearly four decades serving time for the 1970 killing of his wife and two young daughters – a gruesome triple homicide that the onetime Army surgeon and Green Beret blamed (and still blames) on Manson Family copycats. The five-part series is based on Errol Morris’s non-fiction book A Wilderness of Error: The Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald, a deep-dive reinvestigation of the case – specifically the case laid out by […]...
- 9/24/2020
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Marc Smerling’s true crime docuseries for FX, A Wilderness of Error, debuting September 25, is a deep-dive reinvestigation of the case of convicted murderer Jeffrey MacDonald, who has spent the past nearly four decades serving time for the 1970 killing of his wife and two young daughters – a gruesome triple homicide that the onetime Army surgeon and Green Beret blamed (and still blames) on Manson Family copycats. The five-part series is based on Errol Morris’s non-fiction book A Wilderness of Error: The Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald, a deep-dive reinvestigation of the case – specifically the case laid out by […]...
- 9/24/2020
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
There comes a moment in Marc Smerling’s FX/Blumhouse-produced documentary “A Wilderness of Error” where the suspect, as described by the lone survivor of a brutal triple murder, is found. This means the remaining story will be focused on how the survivor was eventually exonerated, right? Not so — and, in fact, it is only from this revelation that the true intent of Smerling’s story comes to light.
Smerling has been down this road before when it comes to true crime. He was the producer of the 2015 HBO documentary “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” which eventually saw Durst arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Smerling also served as screenwriter on the Durst biopic that stared Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst, “All Good Things,” released in 2010.
Looking to dissociate himself from the Durst-ian world, he started the podcast “Crimetown” in 2016. And yet the story of how...
Smerling has been down this road before when it comes to true crime. He was the producer of the 2015 HBO documentary “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” which eventually saw Durst arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Smerling also served as screenwriter on the Durst biopic that stared Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst, “All Good Things,” released in 2010.
Looking to dissociate himself from the Durst-ian world, he started the podcast “Crimetown” in 2016. And yet the story of how...
- 9/23/2020
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
The case of Jeffrey MacDonald has inspired a greater volume of writing than anyone might have predicted decades ago — or, perhaps, than the facts of the case would seem to warrant. MacDonald, a U.S. military officer and physician accused and convicted of murdering his wife (pregnant at the time) and two children in 1970, was first the subject of Joe McGinniss’s book “Fatal Vision.” That book, which turned on McGinniss’s extreme access to MacDonald’s legal team and built to the author’s conclusion that the man was indeed guilty, inspired not merely lawsuits (settled out of court) but also Janet Malcolm’s 1990 book “The Journalist and the Murderer,” which uses McGinniss as evidence of the idea that the betrayal of sources in service of a narrative is central to the practice of journalism.
And now, once again, Errol Morris enters the fray. The FX documentary series “A Wilderness of Error,...
And now, once again, Errol Morris enters the fray. The FX documentary series “A Wilderness of Error,...
- 9/16/2020
- by Daniel D'Addario
- Variety Film + TV
The FX docuseries A Wilderness of Error takes a deep dive into the case of Army surgeon and Green Beret Jeffrey MacDonald, who was convicted in 1979 of killing his wife and two daughters nearly a decade earlier. The series premieres September 25, with episodes available the next day on Hulu.
Based on Errol Morris’ book A Wilderness of Error: The Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald, the series follows the chain of events leading to one of the most noteworthy true crimes of the 20th century. The five-part nonfiction series explores the rumored narratives of the murders as well its media aftermath.
Director and EP Marc Smerling joined author and famed documentarian Morris for today’s virtual FX panel to talk about the crime series. The Oscar-nominated helmer said the series is more about the presentation of evidence than a definitive take on MacDonald’s guilt or innocence.
“One of the confounding things...
Based on Errol Morris’ book A Wilderness of Error: The Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald, the series follows the chain of events leading to one of the most noteworthy true crimes of the 20th century. The five-part nonfiction series explores the rumored narratives of the murders as well its media aftermath.
Director and EP Marc Smerling joined author and famed documentarian Morris for today’s virtual FX panel to talk about the crime series. The Oscar-nominated helmer said the series is more about the presentation of evidence than a definitive take on MacDonald’s guilt or innocence.
“One of the confounding things...
- 9/9/2020
- by Brandon Choe
- Deadline Film + TV
On today’s TV news roundup, Netflix released a trailer for “Teenage Bounty Hunters,” and HBO announced the premiere date for Nxivm docuseries “The Vow.”
Dates
HBO announced that docuseries “The Vow” will be available on HBO and HBO Max starting Aug. 23. “The Vow” documents events within Nxivm, an organization rife with charges against it, including sex trafficking. Founder Keith Raniere is currently awaiting his sentence after being convicted on the aforementioned sex trafficking charges. The series will touch on members’ stories of abuse and perceived transformations during their time in the group, giving a voice to those behind the news coverage. The series is executive produced by Lisa Heller and Nancy Abraham, and the directors are Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim. Watch the trailer below.
FX announced docuseries “A Wilderness of Error” will premiere with the first three episodes on Sept. 25. The final two episodes will be released the following week,...
Dates
HBO announced that docuseries “The Vow” will be available on HBO and HBO Max starting Aug. 23. “The Vow” documents events within Nxivm, an organization rife with charges against it, including sex trafficking. Founder Keith Raniere is currently awaiting his sentence after being convicted on the aforementioned sex trafficking charges. The series will touch on members’ stories of abuse and perceived transformations during their time in the group, giving a voice to those behind the news coverage. The series is executive produced by Lisa Heller and Nancy Abraham, and the directors are Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim. Watch the trailer below.
FX announced docuseries “A Wilderness of Error” will premiere with the first three episodes on Sept. 25. The final two episodes will be released the following week,...
- 7/30/2020
- by Eli Countryman
- Variety Film + TV
FX has set a premiere date for the docuseries “A Wilderness of Error,” based on the book of the same name by Errol Morris.
The series from producers Marc Smerling and Jason Blum, producers of HBO’s “The Jinx” dives into the story of Army surgeon Jeffrey MacDonald, who was sent to prison for killing his family amid a storm of swirling narratives. Per FX, the series “challenges our very ability to find the truth all the while overshadowing a chilling possibility: MacDonald may be an innocent man.”
The first three episodes will premiere back-to-back on Friday, Sept. 25, with the final two episodes to follow a week later.
Also Read: 'What We Do in the Shadows' Showrunner Teases Gargoyles, Hellhounds and a Search for Love in Season 3 (Video)
Prior to the series premiere, Smerling will also launch a companion podcast, “Morally (In)Defensible,” with Sony Music Entertainment. The podcast follows...
The series from producers Marc Smerling and Jason Blum, producers of HBO’s “The Jinx” dives into the story of Army surgeon Jeffrey MacDonald, who was sent to prison for killing his family amid a storm of swirling narratives. Per FX, the series “challenges our very ability to find the truth all the while overshadowing a chilling possibility: MacDonald may be an innocent man.”
The first three episodes will premiere back-to-back on Friday, Sept. 25, with the final two episodes to follow a week later.
Also Read: 'What We Do in the Shadows' Showrunner Teases Gargoyles, Hellhounds and a Search for Love in Season 3 (Video)
Prior to the series premiere, Smerling will also launch a companion podcast, “Morally (In)Defensible,” with Sony Music Entertainment. The podcast follows...
- 7/30/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
FX is pushing the 10th season of Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story” to next year, the cable channel revealed Tuesday, while announcing its slate of programming through 2021. In other “Ahs” news, FX has placed a series order for Murphy-created spinoff “American Horror Stories,” a “weekly anthology series that will feature a different horror story each episode.”
Along with “Ahs” and its offshoot (which Murphy first teased earlier this month), FX’s roster through the coming year includes freshman series “A Teacher,” “The Old Man,” “Y: The Last Man,” an untitled anthology from B.J. Novak, “A Wilderness of Error,” “Hip Hop Untold,” “Hysterical” and “Pride,” which will join renewed series “Atlanta,” “American Crime Story,” “Archer,” “Better Things,” “Breeders,” “Cake,” “Dave,” “Fargo,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Mayans M.C.,” “Mr Inbetween,” “Pose,” “Snowfall,” “The Weekly” and “What We Do in the Shadows.”
FX has not set premiere dates for those series,...
Along with “Ahs” and its offshoot (which Murphy first teased earlier this month), FX’s roster through the coming year includes freshman series “A Teacher,” “The Old Man,” “Y: The Last Man,” an untitled anthology from B.J. Novak, “A Wilderness of Error,” “Hip Hop Untold,” “Hysterical” and “Pride,” which will join renewed series “Atlanta,” “American Crime Story,” “Archer,” “Better Things,” “Breeders,” “Cake,” “Dave,” “Fargo,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Mayans M.C.,” “Mr Inbetween,” “Pose,” “Snowfall,” “The Weekly” and “What We Do in the Shadows.”
FX has not set premiere dates for those series,...
- 5/26/2020
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
FX has given formal green light to American Horror Stories, a spinoff of Ryan Murphy’s venerable anthology series American Horror Story. It is part of FX’s original programming slate through 2021, unveiled by the network Tuesday, which also includes renewals for Pamela Adlon’s comedy Better Things and New York Times’ documentary series The Weekly as well as a record-breaking Season 15 pickup for It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
As teased by Murphy on Instagram this month, American Horror Stories is a weekly hourlong anthology series that will feature a different horror story in each contained episode. The mothership American Horror Story, which launched the current anthology series boom, has been renewed through Season 13.
Like all Hollywood productions during the coronavirus pandemic, filming of the upcoming 10th season of Ahs remains in limbo, with no start date set yet. As a result, it is officially being pushed to 2021.
Also in...
As teased by Murphy on Instagram this month, American Horror Stories is a weekly hourlong anthology series that will feature a different horror story in each contained episode. The mothership American Horror Story, which launched the current anthology series boom, has been renewed through Season 13.
Like all Hollywood productions during the coronavirus pandemic, filming of the upcoming 10th season of Ahs remains in limbo, with no start date set yet. As a result, it is officially being pushed to 2021.
Also in...
- 5/26/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
An “American Horror Story” spinoff series is officially a go at FX.
Just over two weeks after creator Ryan Murphy announced the project, FX has given the greenlight to “American Horror Stories,” a weekly anthology series that will feature a different horror story each episode.
Murphy discussed the new show on a zoom call with some core “Ahs” cast members, and while more details on the series are still sparse, it’s clear that it will likely feature familiar players from the main show.
The original “American Horror Story” is the longest running hour-long series in FX history and was renewed through season 13 earlier this year, however, due to coronavirus production complications, season 10 of “Ahs” has been pushed to 2021. Like “Ahs,” “American Horror Stories” will be produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television.
FX recently renewed three comedies (“Dave” and “Breeders” for second seasons and “What We Do in the Shadows...
Just over two weeks after creator Ryan Murphy announced the project, FX has given the greenlight to “American Horror Stories,” a weekly anthology series that will feature a different horror story each episode.
Murphy discussed the new show on a zoom call with some core “Ahs” cast members, and while more details on the series are still sparse, it’s clear that it will likely feature familiar players from the main show.
The original “American Horror Story” is the longest running hour-long series in FX history and was renewed through season 13 earlier this year, however, due to coronavirus production complications, season 10 of “Ahs” has been pushed to 2021. Like “Ahs,” “American Horror Stories” will be produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television.
FX recently renewed three comedies (“Dave” and “Breeders” for second seasons and “What We Do in the Shadows...
- 5/26/2020
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Marc Smerling, who co-wrote and produced the Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst-starring drama, All Good Things, has launched Truth Media, a Brooklyn based television and podcast production company. The newly formed company aims is to continue to expand how people think of true crime. It aims to partner with writers, journalists and audio storytellers to create true crime podcasts to develop into TV series.
Smerling is the producer behind the Catfish as well as an Emmy-winner for the popular HBO crime documentary The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.
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Smerling is the producer behind the Catfish as well as an Emmy-winner for the popular HBO crime documentary The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.
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- 4/24/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
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