‘Truth was stranger than fiction’: The makers of the true-crime collection ‘Dancing On The Grave’

What made you pursue the Shakereh Khaleeli homicide case specifically?

Chandni: Once we begin a documentary mission, one of many first issues we ask ourselves is, “What archives do we have?” This story had essentially the most astonishing footage from the ‘90s. It was such a common story in some methods. Though it occurred so a few years in the past, we nonetheless discovered it riveting.

Patrick: Once I first learn the story, I bear in mind being shocked. It was visceral. Each flip of the web page had a brand new twist. It actually stayed with me. And that prompted me to inform this story.

Since it is a docuseries, you can not envision its output in addition to you may in a movie or fictional collection. So, how totally different was it for you, Patrick, to make a documentary?

Patrick: In the end, you’re nonetheless telling a narrative with totally different constructing blocks for it. As you identified, you may’t plan all the pieces. You employ interviews that you simply compile alongside the best way — they inform the story and the narrative stream. It’s been an enchanting course of for me as a first-time documentary filmmaker.

Did it’s a must to recreate Bangalore of the early nineties? If sure, how difficult was that?

Patrick: Yeah, it was nearly like capturing a interval movie. For example, we needed to recreate the interiors and the exteriors of Shakereh’s early ‘90s home (the place she was murdered), police stations, courtrooms, and so on. We even employed some classic vehicles for some parts. It was a full-fledged recreation of the ‘90s. We had an exquisite artwork workforce and manufacturing designer who did all these issues for us. 

Chandni: We have been fortunate to have a lot footage from that point. So we might reference and analysis to recreate a whole lot of this. For example, no person is allowed inside the home the place the homicide came about. So, with the assistance of the footage, we have been in a position to reconstruct your entire home in Bombay.

Patrick, what challenges did you face whereas working in a non-fiction format for the primary time?

Patrick: The principle problem was simply getting used to a different approach of constructing a narrative. In case you are writing fiction, you may just about put something you need on the web page. Right here, we have been writing from the tales that individuals instructed us. We will need to have finished no less than 50 interviews, out of which we filmed 20. Upon getting the interviews, then, it’s a must to determine how greatest to inform the story visually. It’s nearly like placing collectively a puzzle. I had an exquisite co-writer to assist me. And, after all, a whole lot of the story development occurs on the edit desk as nicely. We had good editors. General, it was a very invigorating mental train for me.

As a author for fictional exhibits, you’re used to creating drama. With a real crime documentary, nonetheless, you can not sensationalise it an excessive amount of. How did you sort out this dilemma?

Patrick: We ensured we had as many views as doable to inform the story as a result of we wished to do justice to the precise incident. In my earlier exhibits, I needed to create suspense and preserve it all through. However with Dancing On The Grave, the precise incident itself had all of the suspense. It was the case of the reality being stranger than fiction. You possibly can’t write these items. It’s unimaginable. This story doesn’t want many gildings. I simply hope we’ve finished the story justice. Additionally, we have been aware of the survivors of the story. People who find themselves nonetheless alive, are nonetheless affected by it. It was a horrific tragedy.

Lastly, what’s the function of a true-crime present?

Chandni: Among the most attention-grabbing tales are within the crime world. Due to this fact, we have interaction with them usually. However I believe it’s necessary to contextualise intelligently. In true crime, via one story, you’re ready to take a look at many aspects of the world round you. Second, we have to ship a message saying “Crime doesn’t pay.”

Patrick: Tales come from the human want to take a seat round and gossip. And tales all the time train us one thing. True crime tales function warnings: what we should keep away from and what we should always look out for.