Synopsis
Imagine having a reputation as a fearless case-busting detective. You project an image as Superwoman, but for three decades you hide the trauma that builds up inside you with each horrific case. You don’t want to burden colleagues or your family and friends with your pain, and you are driven to save every woman under threat in the world… but for how long can you hold out before you explode and lose everything? Over her long career, former Police Detective Narelle Fraser led investigations for the Homicide, Rape and Missing Persons Squads in Victoria. Her unorthodox methods raised eyebrows but got miraculous results. Sometimes though, she crossed the line by getting too close with victims and their families, which would prove to be her Achilles heel.
CATCHING CROOKS is a feature documentary that explores an extraordinary policewoman’s life, warts and all. We follow Narelle Fraser as she battles diabolical criminals on a daily basis, while pressure cripples her on the inside. Even when the signs are clear that she should quit, she pushes and pushes herself into taking on darker and darker cases.
Who would climb into the boot of a car to comfort a maggot-ridden decomposing woman that still had a pulse? Who would sift through an asbestos windswept tip for seventeen days looking for human remains just so they could have a dignified burial? Narelle would. Who gets violent rapists to confess by discussing grandma’s recipes? Narelle does.
Narelle is known as the “Queen of True Crime” by her legions of national and global fans, generated by her wildly popular podcast and live shows. Her candour, humour and vulnerability strike a chord… never have they heard a criminal investigation portrayed so personally and dynamically… it’s no wonder she has appeared on SBS Insight and Channel 9’s Crime Investigation with Liz Hayes, amongst other shows.
Story
CATCHING CROOKS (Treatment) Written by Claire Pasvolsky “Being a detective is the best job in the world but if you’re not careful it will destroy you”. NARELLE FRASER GENRE: TRUE CRIME PRIMARY AUDIENCE: 25 – 55 female skewed FORMAT: 85 Minute feature documentary BACKGROUND For nearly three decades, Former Police Detective Narelle Fraser led investigations into some of the most horrific cases for the Homicide, Rape and Missing Persons Squads in Victoria. Her unorthodox methods raised eyebrows amongst her colleagues, but they often had miraculous results. We have exclusive access to Narelle and have built a professional and personal relationship with her over the past 36 months while developing CATCHING CROOKS in collaboration with her. Screen Australia previously provided development funding and has expressed interest in supporting the project further, as has Create NSW. MARKET READY AND WAITING Narelle is known as the “Queen of True Crime” by her legions of fans, generated by her wildly popular podcast and live shows. Narelle’s candour, humour and vulnerability strike a chord with audiences globally… never have they heard a criminal investigation described in such a personal and insightful way. She is a storyteller like no other, injecting light into the darkest of worlds with bundles of charisma… and she has the frontline experience to be an authority on crime. Hence, she has appeared on SBS Insight and Channel 9’s Crime Investigation with Liz Hayes, amongst other shows. Having attended a number of her live events we have personally met many of her fans. This audience has a female skewed range from 25-55… and they are desperate to watch this film about Narelle. IMPACT CATCHING CROOKS will leave an audience imagining how different our justice system could be with a police force filled with women like Narelle, both on the frontline and leading investigations. This feature documentary feature delivers insights into policing, women in law enforcement, prevention of crime against women and the need for better mental health amongst first responders. STYLE AND TECHNIQUE Narelle addresses the camera directly in order to invoke intimacy and connection with the audience. This technique helps us to get inside her mind as she confides in us like a dear friend. The supporting characters that will contextualise and extend Narelle’s experience, 2 include other detectives, legal personnel, criminologist, clinical psychologist, PTSD councillor, surviving victims and families. These people will be interviewed traditionally, purposely kept that way to provide balance amongst the inventive techniques we to represent Narelle’s PTSD and associated re-enactments. The use of miniature figurines and sets will be utilized to establish crime scenes and represent the symbols of trauma that plague Narelle along her policing journey. Re-enactments of crimes and investigations will be conventional in essence, with actors playing the lead roles.
Production Stage
- Development
- Production
- Post-production
- Completed
- Outreach
DURATION: 85 MINUTES
Issue area
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