'Paradise Lost' Team Plans Two More West Memphis Three Documentaries

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[Sherry]

Many filmmakers dream of turning one movie into a sequel-spawning franchise. But the news that there will be not only a third but likely a fourth "Paradise Lost" documentary is bittersweet to all involved.

"We thought the story was going to come to an end a lot longer ago," co-director Joe Berlinger told MTV News by phone.

Berlinger, together with Bruce Sinofsky, co-directed "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills" (1996) and "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations" (2000), which documented the trial and controversial convictions of three teenagers for the grisly murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas.

"Originally, we had envisioned 'Paradise Lost 3' not being over until the story comes to its conclusion, which hopefully meant exoneration, but obviously could mean execution, which would be tragic," he continued. "We don't want to make 'Paradise Lost 4,' but it seems like that's in the cards now, because we feel like 'Paradise Lost 3' needs to get out and people need to be reminded that this case is still [ongoing]."

Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley — commonly referred to as the West Memphis Three — have been in prison for over 16 years, with Echols due to die by lethal injection. Many activists and several celebrities — including Johnny Depp, Metallica and Eddie Vedder — believe the trio were wrongly convicted based more on their interest in heavy metal and Stephen King books than the actual facts surrounding the case.

Depp has been making headlines for his pre-taped CBS "48 Hours Mysteries" interview, which will air Sunday during an episode that will discuss new DNA evidence and alleged juror misconduct that could theoretically overturn the convictions. Berlinger told MTV News that Depp actually first reached out to him about the West Memphis Three in 1996, just six months after the first "Paradise Lost" documentary premiered at Sundance.

"He e-mailed me, and we had several lengthy phone conversations. He's been a supporter and he's spoken with Damien. I've gotten an e-mail from Johnny probably once or twice a year since '96 wanting updates on the case. He was one of the first people to say, 'These guys aren't still in prison, are they?' He was blown away by the movie when it first came out, and he couldn't believe that nothing had changed."

Metallica was so moved by the story that they allowed their music to be used in the first film, back in the days before "Mission Impossible 2" and "Old School," when they regularly blocked Hollywood access to their catalog. The relationship they developed with the filmmakers resulted in the acclaimed "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" film. "Metallica is part and parcel to this story," Berlinger said. "The band is very proud of their association with the 'Paradise Lost' movie, and I would certainly expect that to continue."

Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks will likely make an appearance in the third documentary. "We filmed Natalie organically, because she came down and gave a speech on the steps of the Arkansas Supreme Court. She made reference [to another suspect], which brought about a civil suit, which has led to new evidence.

"It's gotten to the point of absurdity, where all this new evidence has come out. The same judge who presided over the original case is presiding over the appeals. Just the fact that the same judge — even though he's retired and running for the state Senate, he's requested to stay active on this one case — that cries out for examination. I can't tell you how many people come up to me, say they loved the film{s}, and are shocked and appalled to hear the guys are still rotting in prison."

Berlinger's most recent movie, "Crude" (2009), dealt with a gigantic environmental lawsuit against Texaco. He's worked on several "Iconoclast" episodes for Sundance and is putting together a documentary on horror author Clive Barker called "Raising Hell: The Visions of Clive Barker." Many people he encounters in his work, from Sting to producer Norman Lear, have become interested in the West Memphis Three case.

Berlinger and Sinofsky announced plans for "Paradise Lost 3" in 2004 and figured they'd have it in theaters within three years. "I guess there'll be a 'Paradise Lost 4,' given the glacial pace," he said.

"We shot Damien in December, on his 35th birthday. It was very emotional for everybody," he said. "The last time we interviewed him for a film was 10 years ago. As he said to us in the interview, if he spends another birthday in prison, he will have spent half of his life in prison for a crime he didn't commit."

Berlinger and Sinofsky aim to finish "Paradise Lost 3" by the end of 2010.


http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1632489/story.jhtml

[Sherry]

..that's weird ...I didn't put that line thru the writing at the end...it did that on it's own 

[sheer]

Hi Sherry,

Thanks for posting this. (I fixed the line thing)

I've gotten an e-mail from Johnny probably once or twice a year since '96 wanting updates on the case.

Why is Deep emailing a filmmaker about the case ffs. Why don't these celebrities take the time to read for themselves?


sheer

[Sherry]

Thanks for fixing it Sheer!

what about this.......

She made reference [to another suspect], which brought about a civil suit, which has led to new evidence.

What new evidence has come out of the civil suit? 

[BlackAngel]

Nothing new the DNA, the 48 hours thing is going to be a hang Terry party.

And that fucking sucks.

[cewatson]

I see more civil suits resulting from this.

[mikespadre]

c.e.w. I dont at all.  What gives you that idea?  They can sue every SOB over three inches tall and it wont change a damn thing.

[Farm]

I could have SWORN we were going to see a massive police investigation into Terry.

Almost three years ago, according to Mark.

Any word on that yet?

[cewatson]

c.e.w. I dont at all.  What gives you that idea?  They can sue every SOB over three inches tall and it wont change a damn thing.

I meant Terry would be the one filing ... if this documentary points to Terry as the culprit, he's going to want to "humiliate" everyone like they "humiliate" him. According to him, that's his ideal form of justice. This and the 48 hours thing will have a much bigger impact than a Dixie Chick at a rally and a letter on the internet ... especially with Johnny Depp joining the cause.

But I also hear Natalie will be in the third documentary. Terry's efforts with that case were worthless, and she's going to say whatever she wants all over again.  Hopefully he's learned his lesson and won't waste his time trying to sue all the celebs.

[GODDESS6]

c.e.w. I dont at all.  What gives you that idea?  They can sue every SOB over three inches tall and it wont change a damn thing.

I meant Terry would be the one filing ... if this documentary points to Terry as the culprit, he's going to want to "humiliate" everyone like they "humiliate" him. According to him, that's his ideal form of justice. This and the 48 hours thing will have a much bigger impact than a Dixie Chick at a rally and a letter on the internet ... especially with Johnny Depp joining the cause.

But I also hear Natalie will be in the third documentary. Terry's efforts with that case were worthless, and she's going to say whatever she wants all over again.  Hopefully he's learned his lesson and won't waste his time trying to sue all the celebs.

what the fuck are you talking about?~ is it because they are celebs it's alright for them to talk out their asses on a subject the obviously haven't done their homewrk on?~

i'm sorry terry didn't win his case against the dixie pig, but by her statements she proved she was clueless & surely needs to do more research before trying to use her words to ruin a mans life~

[Alie]

Okay seriously..... I don't know near as much about this case as most of you do, but I have read all I could find and done my own research.  So maybe I am missing something with this whole Mr. Hobbs did it thing because I have not read or seen anything about any kind of evidence pointing to Mr Hobbs or Mr. Byers for that matter.  I know the supporters make a huge deal out of the fact that a hair that belong to Mr. Hobbs was found there.  Maybe I am just dim because to me, that says nothing because Mr. Hobbs lived in the same house as one of the boys.  I'm sure at this very moment my husband is shedding one of my hairs off of his shirt or pants or socks or whatever!!!  I know I am not the only one that finds that waaaaaaaaaay far fetched! 

I guess my reason for explaining how I feel about this "bombshell evidence" is because as I have said before, it makes me sick to my stomach that someone would get on a public forum and talk about how guilty they think Mr. Hobbs is!  My God, next thing you know there will be a whole "The Easter bunny did it" movement....

If I missed this stack of evidence against Mr. Hobbs, someone please, fill me in so I don't seem so ignorant!

[cewatson]

c.e.w. I dont at all.  What gives you that idea?  They can sue every SOB over three inches tall and it wont change a damn thing.

I meant Terry would be the one filing ... if this documentary points to Terry as the culprit, he's going to want to "humiliate" everyone like they "humiliate" him. According to him, that's his ideal form of justice. This and the 48 hours thing will have a much bigger impact than a Dixie Chick at a rally and a letter on the internet ... especially with Johnny Depp joining the cause.

But I also hear Natalie will be in the third documentary. Terry's efforts with that case were worthless, and she's going to say whatever she wants all over again.  Hopefully he's learned his lesson and won't waste his time trying to sue all the celebs.

what the fuck are you talking about?~ is it because they are celebs it's alright for them to talk out their asses on a subject the obviously haven't done their homewrk on?~

i'm sorry terry didn't win his case against the dixie pig, but by her statements she proved she was clueless & surely needs to do more research before trying to use her words to ruin a mans life~

<sarcasm>Oh, I wasn't aware that you knew Natalie and how much research she has done on the case. Or any of the other celebrities for that matter. My bad. </sarcasm>

Why do you assume they haven't done their research just because they're celebrities? I know they're busy, but they also find themselves with a lot of free time, such as when they're travelling.
I mean, regular people are supporters and they've certainly done THEIR research. What's the difference? Celeb status makes you an uninformed idiot? Yeah right. 
Hobbs' image was tainted long before she said a word, anyway. And he admits that.

[GODDESS6]

Okay seriously..... I don't know near as much about this case as most of you do, but I have read all I could find and done my own research.  So maybe I am missing something with this whole Mr. Hobbs did it thing because I have not read or seen anything about any kind of evidence pointing to Mr Hobbs or Mr. Byers for that matter.  I know the supporters make a huge deal out of the fact that a hair that belong to Mr. Hobbs was found there.  Maybe I am just dim because to me, that says nothing because Mr. Hobbs lived in the same house as one of the boys.  I'm sure at this very moment my husband is shedding one of my hairs off of his shirt or pants or socks or whatever!!!  I know I am not the only one that finds that waaaaaaaaaay far fetched! 

I guess my reason for explaining how I feel about this "bombshell evidence" is because as I have said before, it makes me sick to my stomach that someone would get on a public forum and talk about how guilty they think Mr. Hobbs is!  My God, next thing you know there will be a whole "The Easter bunny did it" movement....

If I missed this stack of evidence against Mr. Hobbs, someone please, fill me in so I don't seem so ignorant!

that's just it, there is no evidence~ & if the hair were terry's, how is it a sure thing pointing to his guilt?~ as you said his son was friends w/ the other 2 children, so the fact that there could have been fibers from either one of their homes on the children isn't unfathomable to me at all~ & seeing as there were 2 bikes & 3 boys, yes there was going to be transfer~not to mention the fact of just playing & horsing around & touching ea other~

i find the fact that there were similar fibers from the homes of the WM3 on/near the boys to be something of interest moreso than terry~ why would the 3 children have anything on them at all from the homes on the 3 convicted?~ they had no reason to cross paths w/ damien, jason or jessie, unless it were the WM3 commiting the crime~

anywhow, that is how i see it~

[GODDESS6]

c.e.w. I dont at all.  What gives you that idea?  They can sue every SOB over three inches tall and it wont change a damn thing.

I meant Terry would be the one filing ... if this documentary points to Terry as the culprit, he's going to want to "humiliate" everyone like they "humiliate" him. According to him, that's his ideal form of justice. This and the 48 hours thing will have a much bigger impact than a Dixie Chick at a rally and a letter on the internet ... especially with Johnny Depp joining the cause.

But I also hear Natalie will be in the third documentary. Terry's efforts with that case were worthless, and she's going to say whatever she wants all over again.  Hopefully he's learned his lesson and won't waste his time trying to sue all the celebs.

what the fuck are you talking about?~ is it because they are celebs it's alright for them to talk out their asses on a subject the obviously haven't done their homewrk on?~

i'm sorry terry didn't win his case against the dixie pig, but by her statements she proved she was clueless & surely needs to do more research before trying to use her words to ruin a mans life~

<sarcasm>Oh, I wasn't aware that you knew Natalie and how much research she has done on the case. Or any of the other celebrities for that matter. My bad. </sarcasm>

Why do you assume they haven't done their research just because they're celebrities? I know they're busy, but they also find themselves with a lot of free time, such as when they're travelling.
I mean, regular people are supporters and they've certainly done THEIR research. What's the difference? Celeb status makes you an uninformed idiot? Yeah right. 
Hobbs' image was tainted long before she said a word, anyway. And he admits that.

twist it sister ~

[cewatson]

I didn't twist shit.
Do you deny that you do not know the celebs that support this case?
Do you deny that TH knows his name was in the toilet already? I mean, he says it himself.

So really, what are you trying to say?