Big Apple Film Festival - No One Is Safe From Son of Sam
Experience the fear and paranoia of New York City during the Summer of 1977. This short documentary explores the legacy of the Son of Sam case using original footage not seen since it aired and interviews with PIX11 journalists.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Heath Benfield
Watch No One Is Safe From Son of Sam here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
WPIX is one of the oldest television stations in the country, so we have 70 years worth of newsreels and vintage footage in our archive. After rediscovering some long forgotten reels from 1977, it became clear that we had months of reports featuring the Son of Sam case as it was happening. When the 40th anniversary of the killer’s capture came around this August, we figured it was the right time to put this archival footage to use in a way that would appeal to a modern, Internet-based audience.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Most people recognize Son of Sam as an infamous serial killer case, but after 40 years many have forgotten the visceral impact it had on the citizens of New York at the time. This film was designed to capture that feeling of paranoia, fear and hysteria during the summer of ’77. We want modern audiences to experience a sense of what New Yorkers went through.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I took the title from a headline on the cover of the New York Post the morning after Son of Sam’s final murder. “No One Is Safe” – that’s a bold declaration coming from a major news source. It’s also borderline sensational. In many ways, this type of yellow journalism can be traced all the way up to the click-bait articles in our newsfeeds today and we can’t resist it.
We’re addicted to bad news because it’s exciting. I remember being transfixed by cable news for weeks after 9/11. It was hypnotic – like seeing a horror movie play out in real life. That’s what it was like during Son of Sam and it’s certainly what we’re going through now in the Trump era. As sick as it sounds, it’s entertainment. That’s why at the end of the film I included the clip of the news anchor teasing the Queen Elizabeth story after David Berkowitz had been captured. It’s the search for what’s next. We’re always looking to feed our endless appetite for entertainment.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
This was a whirlwind production – 3 weeks in total. Week one was research. Week two was collecting archive footage, music, conducting interviews and transcribing them. Week three was editing, which often went deep into the night. We released the 8-minute film on our website Friday, August 10th – 40 years to the day after David Berkowitz was taken into police custody.
What type of feedback have you received so far? Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The thing people tend to mention most is the editing style and those reactions have been positive and negative. It’s a breathless film and the gonzo pace doesn’t suit everyone. But it was intended to simulate the hysterical experience of a city terrorized by a madman. To me, that kind of whiplash is what makes the story interesting. I don’t find David Berkowitz or the procedural aspects of the police hunt all that interesting. Capturing the collective madness of New Yorkers was my north star in the editing room.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To me, the ultimate goal is to excite and entertain people and that can’t happen without amplifiers like We Are Moving Stories, especially for short films. The whole point of making videos is for the enjoyment of others, so I’m hoping this will lead a few more viewers to go along for the ride.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The film was created specifically for the WPIX audience, so that need has already been met. However, it would be great to screen this film outside of New York so that others can learn more about this crazy time in the city’s history.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I simply want people who see it to have a reaction, whether that’s positive or negative. The worst thing a movie can be is forgettable.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
A question often asked about the Son of Sam case is “Did David Berkowitz act alone?” There are a few theories that he was part of a cult that helped him carry out some of the murders. My film doesn’t really get into that, but the subject could make for an interesting companion piece.
Would you like to add anything else?
Unfortunately, this story comes at the cost of Son of Sam’s victims and their families. I hope the film isn’t callous about their suffering. I made an effort to show the human toll with the footage of Robert Violante’s father’s press conference. This man could have been seething hate but instead he makes this humble plea for Son of Sam to turn himself in. It’s a surprising thing to see. I can’t imagine being haunted for the rest of your life by such a high-profile case.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We’re always trying to tell New York stories in original ways at PIX11. I’m in the beginning stages now of exploring another high profile true crime tale that happened in the city, but I think I’ll keep that one under my hat until it’s a little further along.
Interview: November 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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No One Is Safe From Son of Sam
Experience the fear and paranoia of New York City during the Summer of 1977. This short documentary explores the legacy of the Son of Sam case using original footage not seen since it aired and interviews with PIX11 journalists.
Length: 8 min
Director: Heath Benfield
Producer: Heath Benfield
Writer: Heath Benfield
About the writer, director and producer: Heath Benfield is a Creative Producer at WPIX in New York City with a Film & TV degree from Ball State University in his home state of Indiana.
Key cast: Interview Subjects: Rolando Pujol, Mary Murphy, Arnold Diaz
Looking for: Film festival directors and journalists
Social media handles: @heathbenfield
Other: heathbenfield.com
Made in association with: WPIX-TV
Where will the film screen in the next month? New York Film Tuesdays in Brooklyn, NY