Lance Oppenheim kinda-sorta responds to one Chris Hansen Primetime complaint
The director avoids specifics, but it's clear what he thinks of the original To Catch A Predator .
In the latest edition of The Hollywood Reporter, director Lance Oppenheim discusses his involvement in the upcoming film about his time on Chris Hansen's primetime show To Catch A Predator. While Hansen has been aggressively promoting the movie, Oppenheim is hesitant to directly address the allegations made by the host, particularly the claim that he was pressured to surrender legal rights to view the film.
Oppenheim states that he cannot comment on the specifics as he was not present during the negotiations, but he hopes that Hansen understands the film's focus on the impact of such work on the individuals involved. He emphasizes that the movie aims to explore the complexities and confusion that arise when attempting to turn serious journalistic experiences into entertaining television content.
Oppenheim reveals that the concept for To Catch A Predator originated when his wife gifted him a Cameo video from Hansen for his birthday. After Hansen's characteristic "take a seat" line, Oppenheim realized that the host was not only a crusading journalist but also an entertainer who was fully aware of his media persona. In a peculiar way, he sees the film as an adaptation of the Cameo video, highlighting Hansen's absorption into the performative version of himself.
Furthermore, Oppenheim likens To Catch A Predator to a form of performative justice, drawing parallels to historical forms of punishment like the pillory or whipping post. He states that our society has an inherent desire for this spectacle of justice, which is deeply ingrained in our collective psyche.
Written by urgent.news from The A.V. Club's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
