What is Truth? The Difference Between Reality TV, Documentaries and Sentencing Mitigation Videos

Set For Sentencing

In a “POST TRUTH” society, it can be hard to determine if what you are watching is the actual truth. In reality TV, documentary filmaking, and even the so-called "news", truth is not always a sacred value.

But in my world, nobody would be surprised to hear me say, the truth is hard to discern.

But, many presume that those who advocate for the accused and convicted do not seek the truth. In my experience, particularly in the sentencing world, it's the government that has no concern for the deeper truth of the case and client.

I read sentencing memos from the government describing defendants I do not recognize. I listen to some callous judges pronounce sentences against defendants and I don’t know who they are talking about.

So how do we get to the real truth at SENTENCING? I can make a credible case that my passion, video sentencing advocacy, is the TRUEST form of legal advocacy there is. It gives the decision maker a front row seat to the client’s story, her demeanor, her credibily, and her sincerity. It’s objectively verifiable if the interviews and editing are done properly.

Perhaps most importantly, unlike any other form of media, the lawyers who engage in this process are bound by the rules of ethics. There are no ethical standards in journalism, reality TV, or regular documentary filmmaking.

Therefore, how cool is this? Helping us get Set For Sentencing is Debbie Levin, a long-time Hollywood creative professional who has spent most of her 18 years in the world of Reality Television, working on shows we’ve all lovingly binged, including the Real Housewives of OC/NJ, Top Chef, and many more. We had a GREAT conversation around the truth about truth!

In this episode:

• Is legal filmmaking true?
• What’s the difference between “literal truth” and “emotional truth”?
• The inside scoop on reality TV (including the “Bethany Frankel Clause”);
• How even nature documentaries, supposedly unvarnished views into the natural world sometimes lie for entertainment value;
• The wonderful world of “frankenbyting” which we reality shows can do, but legal documentaries cannot (and the greatest example of all time from the Simpsons);
• The very best advice for telling the truth of your clients’ stories.

LINKS:

Just what the hell are "sentencing mitigation videos" anyway? Wanna see one? Here's an example from a case I worked on involving the plot to kidnap the governer of michigan:

https://youtu.be/AOhOY3uuvRQ?si=ikj47EHiqsNy9d7P

I referred to a New York Times "Op Doc" that was made about the work that I do producing "sentencing mitigation videos". Here is the link to see that piece, called "No Jail Time, the Movie"

https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000005581635/no-jail-time-the-movie.html

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