Answers by Director Susan Marks

How did you become interested in making a film about dollhouse crime scenes?

While I don’t think that anyone who knows us is actually that surprised, we still get this question a lot.

Here’s the scoop: Back in the late 1990s, I read an article about unusual collections and museums throughout the United States. I thought it would make a great documentary film to explore the people who started these collections. But since I was busy writing a book, making a different documentary, working, and attending grad school, I decided to “back burner” the idea.

In 2004 I read an interview with Corrine May Botz, author of The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her book! I waited months and it finally arrived. It is genius and I recommend that everyone buy a copy or two. (this book makes a great gift. I’ve personally given it to about 8 people.) However, the book was written a little too well. I couldn’t get it out of my head. It had so many unanswered questions and raised so many new ones.

So after thinking about all the fascinating topics connected with the Nutshells, it hit me that I need to make a film about the Nutshells, homicide, forensics justice and our uneasy relationship with death. I got the go-ahead from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Maryland. And then I brought in my producing partner, John Dehn and we dove in.

But what inspired you to make this particular film?

Oh, I get what you’re asking!

Dollhouses are supposed to represent an idealized version of domestic bliss, and yet these crime scene dioramas represent a domestic dystopia that is a creepy and horrific reality for many. I also love the idea that a woman created these dollhouses for men to use.

Another reason I’m so into making this film is because there’s a lot of myth about crime investigation, and I just love being a part of debunking and exposing—shaking up people’s reality.

So whenever I begin a project, I had to ask myself two questions:

Would I want to watch a documentary film about dollhouse death scenes?

Answer: Hell yeah.

Has it been done before?

Answer: Nope.

And that’s all I need to get hooked on a project. I love it when people say they can’t wait to see this film. I feel the same way.

What are the Nutshells of Unexplained Death?

A collection of dollhouse dioramas created in the 1930s and 1940s to help train detectives to interpret evidence from a medical perspective.

This was a cutting-edge concept back in the day when most of the Untied States used a coroner system as an opposed to a medical examiner system. (Coroners were elected officials that may or may not have had medical backgrounds.)

18 Nutshells exists today. Originally there were 20. The 19th was accidentally destroyed and the whereabouts of the 20th is a mystery! If anyone knows anything bout it, please let me know.

Who created the Nutshells?

A fascinating and mysterious woman, Frances Glessner Lee.

When will the film be done? Where can I see it?

It depends on funding. The quicker we get funding, the quicker we can get this film out.

Check back to this website for the latest on the progress of the documentary and screenings.

How are you raising money to make this film?

We are accepting donations, throwing fundraising parties, and writing grant proposals. I am happy to report that so far I’ve received the support of the Jerome Foundation!

Did you know that Season Seven of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation had a miniature murder serial killer as a plotline?

Yes! That plotline was inspired by the actual Nutshell Studies. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview CSI executive producer Naren Shankar about it for our film. His interview is phenomenal and we feel so lucky to have him in our film.

Where are the Nutshells? And where can I see them?

The Nutshells of Unexplained Death are in Baltimore and they are not open to the public. (I can hear you now, “What?!”) Yes, it’s true. However, if you are a FBI agent, homicide detective, crime scene investigator, etc. you can attend a weeklong seminar where, among other things, you will be assigned to a Nutshell case. But there might be a waiting list…so good luck.

Your past projects include a book and documentary film about Betty Crocker. Any reason for the abrupt change from cooking and baking to homicide and crime scene investigation?

The two stories are not as different as you might think. Both Betty Crocker and the Nutshell Studies have incredible “invisible women” behind the scenes. In the case of Betty Crocker it was Marjorie Child Husted (1892-1986) and in the Nutshells it was Frances Glessner Lee. (1878–1962) Both MCH and FGL were geniuses who co-opted accepted feminine past times to such an incredible level that they were revered in male dominated realms. Yet, society tends not recognize women who are no longer young, nor beautiful, especially in the highly visible realms of film, television and broadcasts news.

How did you come up with the name Our Wildest Dreams as a title?

You’ll have to see the film.

Who is your DP? Who is doing sound? What are you shooting on? Where are you posting?

Super Matt Ehling is our DP with additional camera work by Andrew Bethke and John Dehn. John is also doing sound (among many other roles on this production!) We are shooting on Panasonic SDX900, DVPro 50, 24p. And we are posting at HDMG in Minneapolis.

Is John Waters really the voice over narrator for this film?

Yes!