Nick Broomfield has made a career documenting the lives of serial killers. And his latest, “Tales of the Grim Sleeper,” continues in a similar vein. The film looks at the mass murderer known as the “Grim Sleeper,” a man who terrorized South Central Los Angeles for over two decades. The documentary has been making its way through a series of festivals and will now show at this year’s AFI Fest.
Biggest challenge in completing this project?
“The biggest challenge was getting accepted into the community, initially being introduced by someone locally who was respected and and a part of the community–that person was Tiffany Haddish, who had grown up in the street next to Lonnie Franklin and is now a well-loved comedian in the area.”
Did you crowdfund?
“No.”
What camera did you shoot on?
“ARRi Alexa.”
Advice for first-time filmmakers?
“My advice for first-time filmmakers: don’t sit around waiting for the money to come your way; it’s much easier to go out and start. Nowadays, you can go out and shoot very inexpensively and discover whether or not filmmaking is your thing.”
Did you go to film school?
“I did, at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the UK.”
What films have inspired you?
“The Pink Panther,” “Citizen Kane,” “Titicut Follies,” “Don’t Look Back,” “Day for Night.”
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