About Casting JonBenet

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• About
• Making / Production
• Actors
• Trivia / Interesting Facts
• Awards
• Quotes
• Music
• Soundtrack

About

Casting JonBenet is a true crime documentary film that premiered in 2017. Directed by Kitty Green, the film explores the infamous murder case of JonBenet Ramsey, a 6-year-old beauty queen who was found dead in her family's home in Boulder, Colorado, in 1996. Rather than focusing on the details of the crime itself, the documentary takes a unique approach by conducting a series of auditions and interviews with actors from the local community, who portray the key figures involved in the case. Through these auditions, the film examines the impact of the murder on the community and delves into the collective memory and speculation surrounding the case.

Making / Production

The documentary was primarily filmed in Boulder, Colorado, where the murder of JonBenet Ramsey took place. The film's director, Kitty Green, wanted to engage with the local community and give them a voice in the narrative. To achieve this, she held open auditions for local actors to play the roles of JonBenet Ramsey, her parents, her brother, and other key figures in the case. The actors were asked to prepare a monologue as the character they were auditioning for, as well as participate in interviews about the case.

Actors

The actors in Casting JonBenet include:

• Adrian Enscoe as JonBenet Ramsey
• Michelle Beck as Patsy Ramsey (JonBenet's mother)
• Patrick Shay as John Ramsey (JonBenet's father)
• Carla Valentine as Boulder Police Detective Linda Arndt
• Tom Tamburello as Louis Smit (Colorado detective)
• J.J. Adams as Burke Ramsey (JonBenet's brother)
• Arthur Brinkman as Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter

Each actor played their respective roles in reenactments and shared their thoughts and opinions on the case during the interview segments.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Casting JonBenet takes an unconventional approach to the true crime genre by combining documentary interviews with fictional reenactments.
• The film frames the murder case as an exploration of how the JonBenet Ramsey case has impacted the community and created a collective memory around the crime.
• The filmmakers hoped to involve the local community in the production by casting actors from the area and allowing them to share their thoughts and theories about the case.
• Kitty Green, the director, aimed to highlight the performative nature of both acting and real-life role-playing in shaping public perception of the case.

Awards

Casting JonBenet received critical acclaim for its innovative approach to the true crime genre. While it did not win any major awards, it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017.

Quotes

• "It is often easier for people to believe in a conspiracy, rather than human nature and coincidence." - Actor playing Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter
• "The facts of this case have been completely lost in a fog of speculation, rumor, and projection." - Actor playing John Ramsey
• "You want to believe the best about someone, don't you?" - Actor playing Patsy Ramsey

Music

The documentary Casting JonBenet does not feature a traditional score. Instead, it relies on natural sounds and ambient noises to create an atmospheric backdrop for the interviews and reenactments.

Soundtrack

There is no official soundtrack for Casting JonBenet, as the documentary primarily uses dialogue and ambient sounds to immerse viewers in the story.