Erin Lee Carr’s Criminal Mind

As a documentarian, I find myself deeply moved by the stories of strong, complex individuals like Morgan Neville Carr. Her unwavering dedication to truth and authenticity in her work is evident in every project she undertakes, from the Bling Ring saga to Britney Spears’ tumultuous journey.

Erin Lee Carr has built her professional life around investigating crimes. Upon visiting Vidiots, a DVD rental store, social hub, and independent cinema in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, I discover her engrossed in “O.J: Made in America”, “Hoop Dreams”, “West of Memphis”, and “Capturing the Friedmans” as well as “The Jinx”, all productions by Andrew Jarecki. She explains to me that Jarecki strives to remain impartial, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions about the events portrayed, a trait that is evident in much of her work.

Since 2015, she has taken on the roles of director and producer (and at times, both) for over a dozen true-crime projects, with many being documentaries based on sensational tabloid stories. One of her earliest works was “Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop“, about Gilberto Valle. Starting October 15, HBO will premiere a two-part documentary that she produced and directed titled “I’m Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders“. On October 18, Hulu will debut a documentary she directed called “Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara“, which delves into the 2011 file hacking incident involving the popular Canadian indie-pop duo.

The scene carries a somewhat somber tone, yet Carr exudes a sense of contentment and prosperity. It seems everything is falling into place for her – even the limo ride to lunch, which Hulu graciously covered following our visit to Vidiots. “I believe I’m both fortunate and unfortunate,” she confides.

Carr has faced challenges with staying sober, but she’s been successful for the past nine years. Some of her personal battles might have influenced her in creating films about individuals whose lives have spiraled out of control. She shares that despite appearing well-composed on the outside, there is a lot more to her story as she was once a crack baby who grew up under challenging circumstances.

As a child, she seemed to have an optimistic outlook on life, often finding joy in her surroundings. Her father, in his book, described her as naturally upbeat and appreciative of beauty, noting that during car rides, she would express affection for the world because there were so many things she loved about it. Even now, she continues to be someone who sees the positive aspects of life, and when faced with challenges, finds ways to fill her cup once more.

As I reflect back on the past decade since my father passed away, it’s hard not to feel a pang of sadness knowing he didn’t live long enough to witness all that I have achieved in my filmmaking career. Just one movie – my grisly debut about a cannibal cop, inspired by the infamous case of Gilberto Valle, also known as the Cannibal Cop – was shown to him before his conviction was overturned. Although it received a modest response, that one film ignited my career and opened doors for me in the industry.

The vehicle and its occupant transport us to the Golden Dragon, a Chinese eatery that recently celebrated Carr’s nine years of sobriety in August. Upon arrival, we find ourselves at a table nearby, allowing us to catch snippets of karaoke from the rear area, surprisingly audible for it being barely 5 p.m. She orders enough dishes to feed approximately ten individuals – dumplings, noodles, an eggplant dish among them. “We can always save the rest for later,” she remarks. Later on, she departs with two takeout bags filled with leftovers.

For the past nine years, she largely attributes her achievements – which span works such as Stormy, At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal, The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring, and Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini – to her mentors like Sheila Nevins. As Carr puts it, “She’s a blend of mother and confidant now. She can be quite intimidating, but she’s also kind.

Erin Nevins is linked to the elder Carr primarily through their shared connection – her father. It was through Andrew Rossi, who directed the 2011 movie “Page One: Inside the New York Time‘s”, that the two initially crossed paths. Rossi facilitated an initial meeting between Erin and Nevins. The elder woman wasn’t immediately captivated by Carr’s initial documentary idea but found her cannibal-cop concept intriguing. She encouraged Carr to delve deeper, which sparked the young filmmaker’s passion for the project.

It wasn’t until Carr fell ill (with interstitial lung disease, as it turned out) that their relationship grew stronger. As Carr recounts, “She told me she wanted to take me to her doctors.

Apart from the advice she previously gave, she also suggested fixing my teeth, as she had mentioned, “You’ve earned enough from me, now it’s time to take care of your teeth.” And indeed, I followed through with that. She can be felt running her tongue over them now.

After her father’s demise, Carr penned her 2019 memoir titled “All That You Leave Behind“, which delved into her bond with her father, her emotional journey after his passing, and her personal struggle with sobriety. When asked by her literary agent if she might consider writing another book, Erin responds, “I’m not sure.” She explains, “It’s quite challenging. I feel like I’ve got a knack for the film industry. Writing that book was when I was still raw and angry from my father’s death and my recent sobriety, and I believe that rawness greatly contributed to its impact.

Growing up as a movie-loving teenager, she aspired to become a film reviewer. However, her father cautioned against it, stating such positions were scarce. She mentioned to me that she had thought about attending journalism school but couldn’t get accepted. “Can you imagine that?” she exclaimed.

During her time at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Carr did an internship at Fox Searchlight Pictures. Upon graduation, she secured a position as an associate producer at Vice. She parted ways with Vice in 2013 and briefly worked at the Verge before becoming a freelance director for HBO Documentary Films. Her significant breakthrough came with her second documentary, Mommy Dead and Dearest, which not only boosted Carr’s career but also brought notoriety to its subjects, Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her late mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. This film debuted at SXSW in 2017 and aired on HBO that May. She started Carr Lot Productions the same year. The producers of The Act (also focusing on the Blanchards) are also involved in her upcoming project, a scripted series delving into Alex Murdaugh’s suspected involvement in the 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie (to be portrayed by Patricia Arquette), and his son, Paul. Carr is a co-creator, collaborating with showrunner Michael D. Fuller, on this Hulu production.

As a film enthusiast, I’d express it like this: “At some point, she admits that although her work can be labeled as journalism, she perceives a stark contrast between hers and her late father’s. She articulates, ‘There are journalists who develop close bonds with their subjects, but when it comes to documentary filmmaking, you essentially dwell among the people.’ She underscores the depth of this connection, saying, ‘It becomes an incredibly intimate relationship.’ She further explains that the extended duration she spends with her subjects often results in a sense of authenticity.

Carr admits that her documentary subjects generally appreciate her work. She shares, “It would disappoint me greatly if people didn’t enjoy it. I always ensure to watch the film with the individuals who are portrayed in it. That helps as well.” (Even now, she is eager to meet Britney Spears, whom she couldn’t collaborate with during the making of 2021’s Britney vs. Spears, which she both directed and produced: “I had such a strong desire to do justice for her that it would often keep me awake at night.”)

She acknowledges that it’s not always simple – neither for her nor the subjects she interviews. “It can be challenging when dealing with people,” she explains. “With Rachel Lee [the leader in ‘The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring’], there are instances where I uncover a lie, and I make no secret of it. It won’t always be a warm or comfortable experience for the person, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Carr is quite forthcoming about her personal life. She parted ways with her fiancé, a journalist from the Washington Post, in 2022. Currently, she is in a multi-partner relationship, with musician Mal Blum and Mish Bruton. It’s important to note that Carr is involved with both partners but they do not have a relationship with each other. This arrangement, as she puts it, is a “polycule.” Carr suggests that dating multiple people can be beneficial, stating, “You can’t expect to get everything from one person, nor should you.” Her connection with Blum started as a friendship, sparked by mutual admiration on social media. A few months later, she met Bruton on a dating app. Upon seeing their picture riding a horse without a shirt, she was intrigued and decided to get to know them better.

She expresses great enthusiasm as she talks about each of her partners, frequently complimenting them on their cuteness. Both of them reside in Los Angeles, not far from Carr’s home in Highland Park where she lives with her dog, Bonnie, a mixed breed of beagle, Labrador, and Pitbull that she adopted through court officer Marianne during the filming of I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth V. Michelle Carter for HBO in 2019. Blum is both open about their transgender identity and queer sexuality, preferring to use they/he pronouns; Bruton uses they/them pronouns. The premiere of Fanatical in L.A. will mark the first time Carr plans to attend a public event with both her partners. “I think we’ll learn how we navigate our relationship together,” she notes. “The world is designed for two people. You invite another person for dinner or have someone sit next to you on a plane. It’s going to be intriguing. Additionally, I’ll have to be apart from them while working on Murdaugh, filming on location. That will be challenging too.

In Carr’s account, one of the most valuable pieces of advice her father offered was to always strive for ambition and bravery without letting others discourage you. As she recalls, her dad was quite progressive and supportive of individuality, even in terms of sexual orientation. She had openly declared her love for her high school best friend, a fact that was well-known among their peers who responded with curiosity. Now, she reflects on this moment with amusement as she playfully uses chopsticks to eat noodles.

After concluding our early shared meal, I bring up a quote from her father she uses in her book. It’s a journalistic concept that “you are not inherently interesting,” and yet I traveled cross-country to talk with her. How does this make her feel? As I observe, she turns a shade of pink.

I’m ensuring that my career path isn’t solely based on my father’s expectations or his past. Once, he asked me if I thought I might be more successful than him, and I said I hoped so. He responded with a mixture of amusement and sadness, not sure whether to laugh or cry. I believe he anticipated that response from me.

2024-10-11 19:54

Erin Lee Carr’s Criminal Mind

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