Done! Documentary Film on Frances Glessner Lee & The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death

We finished it. It's done. It's complete. After almost a decade of trying to get funding for this documentary film, but coming up short, we wrapped the edit on our own. 

After our screening of the fine cut at the Smithsonian in 2018, I thought we might be done. Most indie filmmakers don't even dream of having one of their films screen to a standing-room-only crowd at such a prestigious institution. It was such a wonderful experience and at the time I thought, this is enough for me. 

But it's hard to leave things unfinished. So we continued. COVID got in the way. We continued some more. And then we interviewed two more people for the film and then it felt as complete as we could get it (without funding), so we reworked the edit and now it's ready for the world! 

2025 Emmy win for director/producer Susan Marks

Susan Marks aka Marks won a regional Emmy for her documentary storytelling with Pioneer PBS for Held in Minnesota: Untold WWII POW Stories.

Screenwriter and filmmaker, Marks recently received another region Emmy for a historical documentary film about a very under-told WWII story that even some WWII experts were shocked to learn. This project was definitely a labor of love with a pretty happy ending. 

Murder in a Nutshell: The Frances Glessner Lee Story documentary film update

We had a great fine cut of the documentary film and then I pulled it apart in edit so I could add some great new interviews. We still have a lot of work to do but it's coming together beautifully! The film will be done very soon. (As God and all of you as my witness!)

Murder in a Nutshell: The Frances Glessner Lee Story

Editing Corinne May Botz in Murder in a Nutshell

We are working hard on the re-edit of Murder in a Nutshell: The Frances Glessner Lee Story. Why the re-edit? We recently filmed two incredible interviews that will add so much new dimension to the documentary. We could not be more thrilled to "cram in as many clips as possible" from our interviews with the legendary Corinne May Botz and Frances Glessner Lee's Great granddaughter, Avery Lee. The film should be done in just a few short months and again, we could not be more thrilled. 

Oct 2024: Murder in a Nutshell: The Frances Glessner Lee Story documentary screening

We are still hammering out the details but we've set a date, Oct 19, 2024. for a screening of Murder in a Nutshell: The Frances Glessner Lee Story documentary film. We are so excited to finally share this documentary with you! 

Frances Glessner Lee and the Nutshell Studies New Documentary

Exciting news! My filmmaking partners on Of Dolls & Murder and I are back at it - created a brand new cut of Murder in a Nutshell. I keep saying, "We're not the same people we were when we started this film project. We're not the same filmmakers we were. We're better." 

But I wouldn't be me if I wasn't lamenting something. Over the years, I've never been able to track down any footage or audio recordings of Frances Glessner Lee. I know it's out there somewhere. 

Someone who knew her told me that she had a soft spoken voice. Interesting. 

Frances wasn't always associated with miniature crime scenes...

Horrifying and Questionable Vintage Valentines

People who appreciate Of Dolls & Murder also appreciate horrifying and questionable vintage Valentines. Enjoy! 

Also, your filmmaking pals, Susan Marks, John Dehn and Matt Ehling are in the throes re-editing the Of Dolls & Murder follow up film, Murder in a Nutshells: The Frances Glessner Lee Story. It's really happening.

Happy Valentines! Hope it's creepy.