Possibly having him sat in the room where he will be executed would be a very good effect, but this would be unfair on Johnson going to the place where soon he may be killed. He may become even more defensive about the murder, stating even more that he is not guilty because seeing where he may die could frighten him. If you were however allowed to do this and Johnson did not decline this then it would have a very good effect, it would make people understand the seriousness, that he will die here if justice is not done correct.
I also would not let the interviewer be seen. You could also have a view of Edward Earl Johnson through the bars of the cell. This would let people see him in prison behind bars as he is, and I also think that it would give a mysterious effect, did he do it or didn’t he? If it was necessary to see the interviewer then you could see him while he asks a question but then go back to focusing on Edward Earl Johnson while he answers. This is an effect used often on television shows, and in my opinion looks good for interviewing a person.
Another thing that I think could have been added would be to ask questions to the following people –
- Edward Earl Johnson, “Did you commit the murder and why?”
- Marshall J.P. Crest’s family, “What is life like without him?”
- Prison Governor, “Does he seem like a murderer?”
- Johnson’s family, “Do you think he did it?”
- Local people, “Do you think he has done it?”
I have decided that I would choose the above people because they are the people who are most close to Edward Earl Johnson and the Marshall. This means that I will get the best and most reliable information. I chose Edward Earl Johnson first to ask did he commit the murder. Even though one would think that straight away he would deny it, I think it is important for the viewers to see him personally say he didn’t murder the Marshall.
The fact I then asked the Marshall’s family is important because then I can let the viewers see the other side of the story. How his family are coping with the loss of a husband, father, son etc. And also what they feel towards the man who has been charged with the murder of their loved one. I would have asked the prison governor because he will of seen many prisoners come and go on death row, therefore with his experience I could let the viewers see what he thinks.
Next I would of asked Edward Earl Johnson’s family whether they think their son committed the murder. This would let viewers see how they are coping as we would of let them see the Marshall’s family. This means the viewers would of seen both sets of family and see how each one is affected in one way or another.
The fact also that I chose to ask the local people on their opinion means that I will get an idea of how Edward Earl Johnson was seen in the community. Was he the sort of person that neighbours would think is a possible suspect or the sort of person whom they all liked and could never commit such a crime. By using the five questions above I believe the viewers would get a more in depth view of what has gone on and also the background of the victim and murderer. (Their families)
I think that having the prison governor giving an interview was very useful as he was able to make people understand how easy it is for people to get onto death row. He explains that somebody who has had too much to drink or taken drugs can do something totally out of character, even your son or daughter. This makes many people loose the image that they possibly had that all people there are all totally evil. Yes there is a possibility that some people there are evil but it is very easy to get put on death row.
This is most likely because there is a stereotypical view that many people have which I have described above and it is that all people on death row are evil. By hearing him say this we can understand that the people on death row are more like us than totally different. He also tells us how he doesn’t like any racial discrimination against black inmates. This means that we loose the southern Ku Klux Klan image that we are given at the beginning of the documentary seeing the black inmates being ordered by a white police officer on horseback.
This now means that we can loose the idea that possibly he was set up because of racism existing in the area. This means that there is a greater chance that the conviction was actually fair and even that Edward Earl Johnson did commit the murder. Now, viewers would not be so suspicious of the guards, that they were all racists wanting to get a black person killed because he is black. And while he is being killed the real murderer is running free.
I also found the change in relationship between the interviewer and Edward Earl Johnson very interesting. The first time we find out about the relationship that they have developed is when they shake hands through the cell bars and the interviewer tells him “Our hearts are with you”, from this we can see that already the two are getting on well and that obviously the interviewer does not want him to be executed. This shows to us that the interviewer feels that he should no be executed and is supporting him and makes us feel as the audience that we believe Edward Earl Johnson more. We find out the full extent of their relationship when towards the end of the documentary when Edward Earl Johnson is going to be executed the interviewer says he is going to cut filming now and that “our hearts are with you” again to Edward Earl Johnson and then they hug each other. At this point you really do understand how much the interviewer is with Edward Earl Johnson and in support of him. This makes you support Edward Earl Johnson even more.
At the end of the documentary there is an interview with the lawyer of Edward Earl Johnson and in it when asked about the death of Edward Earl Johnson he says it is a “sick world”. Based on what I know and my opinion of Edward Earl Johnson throughout the film I can only agree more with him. The effect, which this has it that an innocent man has been killed, and the lawyer thinks it should not of happened and this makes the audience feel sad and also angry for Edward Earl Johnson’s family.
My thoughts about death row have totally changed from the ones that I expressed at the beginning of the letter. Now I feel after seeing interviews with other cellmates and of course Edward Earl Johnson that it was not true. They all seem very normal and friendly and not murderers, and in Edward Earl Johnson’s case many may be innocent but have been convicted wrongly, and killed.
I do hope that you find the ideas I have added for your documentary very useful and possibly in the future use them for yourself.
Yours Sincerely,
Daniel Burke