Did the state of Wisconsin try to kill the Making A Murderer documentary before it could be released? That’s what filmmakers Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos said during a Twitter Q&A earlier this week.
There were many challenges (1 of 4) https://t.co/ptkgwrymrw
— Making A Murderer (@MakingAMurderer) January 20, 2016
One was when the State of Wisconsin tried to subpoena our footage. (2 of 4) https://t.co/ptkgwrymrw
— Making A Murderer (@MakingAMurderer) January 20, 2016
We had to hire a lawyer and file a motion to quash the subpoena which we won. (3 of 4) https://t.co/ptkgwrymrw
— Making A Murderer (@MakingAMurderer) January 20, 2016
If State had won they would have effectively shut down the production. (4 of 4) https://t.co/ptkgwrymrw
— Making A Murderer (@MakingAMurderer) January 20, 2016
This isn’t the first time the duo behind Netflix’s hit crime documentary have brought this incident up. Last month, they told Buzzfeed about the “fishing expedition” the state attempted to go on with their footage, and how it was a procedural attempt to hinder their work.
“The state wanted any statement Steven made … and statements by others who might have knowledge or claim to have knowledge about who was responsible for the death of Teresa Halbach,” Ricciardi said. “Our argument in trying to get the court to throw out the subpoena is that the state has access to all of this material. Steven is currently incarcerated. All of his calls, all of his visits are being recorded, so they don’t need to get that from us.”
As for why this would have effectively shut them down, there’s the massive burden of handing over all the footage to the state, regardless of if it was in digital format or not. And then there’s the huge issue of access: If Steven Avery’s family and supporters know all the footage you shoot is being handed directly to the prosecutor in charge of putting him away forever, how likely are they to keep talking? It would have made the filmmakers’ jobs much more difficult if not impossible. So it’s a very good thing the state’s motion to subpoena everything was denied.
Ricciardi went on to say that while Wisconsin laws were media-friendly in many ways, with cameras being allowed in the courtroom and laws allowing extensive access to public records. But there were often challenges when those laws butted heads with the self-interest of authorities.
“The people in power,” Rucciardi said, “weren’t always happy we were there.”
(Via Business Insider and Buzzfeed)