DANGEROUS TRUTH

Themes and Key Words:
Human Interest
Year:
2018
Country:
Canada
Running Time:
6 x 52′
Production:
White Pine Pictures
Director:
Peter Raymond & David New & Andrew Munger
Website
Trailer
Facebook

SYNOPSIS

Journalists have rarely faced such a sustained attack as they do today, even in western democracies. Everywhere governments, security services, criminal organizations and corporations regularly target journalists for the “crime” of “speaking truth”. In an era of “fake news”, with government and corporate power nearly unchecked, a free, unfettered, fearless press has never been more important. Journalists who expose secrets that the powerful try to hide are unsung heroes. They tell us the truth others are afraid to tell. Most remain little known, as they work in secret to avoid drawing unwanted attention. This series brings us the stories of those who dug up secrets, risked their lives, offended the powerful, and conquered their fear to break the stories that mattered. They pay a high price; their families are threatened; their careers destroyed; and in some cases, they were brutally murdered. Some stories you may have heard of. Others will be a revelation. The search for truth is never straightforward, and our storytelling will reflect that. Dangerous Truth reveals the danger, soul-searching, the courage and the occasional lucky break.

MORE ON FILM

The darkest secrets are the most dangerous and difficult to reveal. The journalists who expose the secrets that the powerful try to hide are unsung heroes. They break the silence, and tell us the truth others are afraid to tell.

Some have been immortalized in movies (Veronica Guerin, played by Cate Blanchett; Gary Webb portrayed by Jeremy Renner). Most remain little known, as they work in secret to avoid drawing unwanted attention. They tell the stories that could change the course of history – secret alliances between spies and drug dealers; drug cartels operating with the sanction of corrupt officials; war crimes committed against women and children. These untold stories are mysteries, and we’ll join these investigative reporters as they follow each trail of clues to solve them.

This powerful, dramatic documentary series brings us, with a dramatic “true crime” approach, the stories of men and women who dug up secrets, risked their lives, offended the powerful, and conquered their fear to break the stories that mattered. They paid a high price; their families were threatened; their careers destroyed; and in some cases, they were brutally murdered. The scope of our series is international. Our stories come from around the world, but the majority of our characters will be English speaking.

Our series will be produced in collaboration with a media advocacy organization, like the Committee to Protect Journalists or Freedom House. This partnership would provide a guaranteed source of compelling stories, ensure journalistic accuracy in our story telling, and allow for other potential synergies and opportunities for collaboration.

We’ll tell the compelling stories of these modern day heroes through our meticulous research, exceptional interviews, carefully crafted dramatic re-creations, cutting edge graphics, and the judicious use of rarely seen archival lm and photographs. Some stories you may have heard of. Others will be a revelation. The search for truth is never straightforward, and our storytelling will reflect that. Dangerous Truth reveals the danger, soul-searching, the courage and the occasional lucky break that goes into writing the “first draft of history.”

MORE ABOUT DIRECTORS – Peter Raymond & David New & Andrew Munger

Producer, director, journalist, writer, PETER RAYMONT has produced and directed over 100 lms and TV series during a 44 year career. He is responsible for more than 200 hours of programming.

Raymont’s lms have been honored with 52 international awards, including 13 Gemi- ni’s (45 nominations), Gold and Silver Hugos and The Sesterce d’Argent, among others. His documentary feature, Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire received the 2007 Emmy for Best Documentary and the 2006 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award.

DAVID NEW has directed documentaries on subjects ranging from weevils to electric cars, from iguanas to Muhammad Ali. “Museum Secrets: Inside the Louvre” tells stories of mystery and darkness that lie behind the artifacts in the great French museum. “The Polar Sea” takes a voyage through the Northwest Passage in a time of global warming, learning from scientists, activists, artists, and the people who live there.

David was nominated for a Gemini award and a Golden Sheaf for “Dinner at the Edge”. As an editor, he has won a CSA award, a Golden Sheaf Award, and three Gemini’s, and has been nominated for six other Gemini’s.

ANDREW MUNGER is the Head of Unscripted Development at White Pine Pictures in Toronto. Andrew has been producing and directing documentary lms and factual content for twenty- ve years. Andrew’s Films include Wal-Mart Nation, Campaign, and Xanadu, for CBC TV. Andrew managed Television Production for ve years at World Vision Can- ada, Canada’s largest non-pro t organization. Recent productions for White Pine include: Premier: The Unscripted Kathleen Wynne for CTV’s W5; Arctic Secrets, a ve part, 4K documentary series for Blue Ant/Love Nature; Girls’ Night Out, a one hour documentary for CBC Television; and All Governments Lie, a feature documentary premiering at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.