Unmasking a Killer is our new documentary series, made for CNN and HLN. It’s the most in-depth look at the reign of the Golden State Killer ever produced for television. It begins airing on Sunday, March 18, at 9pm on HLN. (This is the show we first teased here.)
Unmasking a Killer Trailer
Here’s a trailer CNN and HLN put together (streaming from CNN, please allow it to load.)
Background
This haunting crime spree began with a series of rapes in Sacramento. There, the offender was known as the East Area Rapist. Later, in southern California, a string of assaults and murders were attributed to The Original Night Stalker. However, DNA advances eventually proved that these two crime sprees came from the same person – now called the Golden State Killer.
Unmasking a Killer – A Decade in the Making
Todd Lindsey is a true crime producer we’ve worked with on several shows, including Three Days to Live for Oxygen.
Over ten years ago, Todd first discovered the case that would become this series. During a late-night internet search, he stumbled on a terrifying audio recording believed to be the killer. (It’s the heavy breathing you hear in the beginning of the trailer above.)
Todd first brought the case to public attention with a one-hour special he made for E! True Hollywood Story.
Later, Todd introduced the case to crime writer Michelle McNamara. She coined the offender’s new moniker: The Golden State Killer. (Michelle worked the case until her untimely death in 2016.)
After a decade tracking the case, Todd pitched it to us. We were immediately hooked. For the last two years, we’ve been working on this project with Todd. We’re extremely proud of how it turned out, and hope it can play a small part in catching the Golden State Killer.
You can learn about our process to develop, pitch, and sell Unmasking a Killer in this Producing Unscripted podcast ep.
You can also play Todd’s episode right here:
Style and Structure
We wanted to make an elevated documentary series. As such, we avoided reenactments and instead went for stylized b-roll. Our cinematographer, Eve Cohen rented vintage lenses for many of the shots. These include the stylized b-roll of the 1970s police car in the above trailer.
Eve also shot most of our interviews. She worked to give them a dramatic, yet realistic grit. We didn’t want to use a backdrop, so we tried to do sit-downs with people in their natural surroundings whenever possible..
From a story perspective, CNN and HLN wanted to avoid a linear retelling of the story. So we came up with a unique structure that covers the full case in every episode, but deep-dives on specific details each week. We believe it gives the most in-depth look at the Golden State Killer ever produced.
Unmasking a Killer Podcast
We’re also proud to announce that CNN and HLN have asked the two of us to host a companion podcast. New podcast episodes will appear after the TV series airs each week. Here’s what CNN has to say about it:
Unmasking A Killer the podcast is hosted by Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina of Joke Productions and features never-before-heard analysis…The HLN television series Unmasking A Killer premieres Sunday, March 18 at 9pm ET/PT and is executive produced by Joke Productions. The five-part docuseries profiles the terrifying real-life story of the Golden State Killer – a man responsible for a staggering 51 attacks and 12 murders in California. Investigators have searched for the sadistic criminal for forty years and with recent evidence suggesting he may still be alive, in 2016 the FBI Sacramento announced a national campaign and $50,000 reward to identify the perpetrator.
Weekly episodes of the podcast will become available at midnight the day of HLN’s linear premieres on CNN.com/podcast, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and iHeartRadio. The first episode debuts Sunday, March 18.
You can already check out the trailer for the podcast and subscribe on iTunes here. While a companion to the TV series, each podcast episode will stand on its own. One of our very first guests is Todd Lindsey.
Unmasking a Killer Press Release
From the official CNN Press Release:
Through five one-hour episodes, Unmasking A Killer takes an in-depth look at the manhunt, patterns, escape methods and mind games of the Golden State Killer, raising a key to catching the criminal – potentially linking him to another series of unsolved crimes. Interviews with investigators, law enforcement and victims, who have never spoken out publicly, offer information to help solve the mystery of a man who has managed to fly successfully under the radar for decades.
From executive producers Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina of Joke Productions, Unmasking A Killer is their first HLN production. “This series is unique in that it presents a call to action. The goal has always been for this series to shake loose new tips that will bring the Golden State Killer to justice. HLN offers us the best platform to do so,” said Joke Fincioen.