Anna Kendrick donates the ‘gross’ money she made from ‘Woman of the Hour’ to charity
As a storyteller and artist, I deeply resonate with Rashida Jones’ perspective on tackling true-crime narratives. It’s indeed a delicate balance between honoring those involved and delivering an engaging story. The line between right and wrong is often blurred, much like the ethical dilemmas we face in our creative pursuits.
As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but confess that I felt an uneasy sense of discomfort while earning my income from the Netflix true-crime drama, centered around the infamous “Dating Game” killer. To alleviate this feeling and make a positive impact, I decided to donate all my earnings from this project to charities that champion survivors of sexual abuse and violence.
The “Woman of the Hour” star and director said recently that she was “steeped in some really valid ethical questions around true crime” and planned to give her cut to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network and the National Center for Victims of Crime.
Representatives from RAINN and NCVC verified to The Times on Friday that, in fact, Kendrick did contribute funds to these organizations through her work on the movie, though the specific amounts remain undisclosed.
Scott Berkowitz, the founder and president of RAINN, extended heartfelt thanks to Kendrick on behalf of the organization and its survivors. In his statement, Berkowitz commended Kendrick for her empathetic approach in raising awareness about sexual violence. He emphasized that her generous donation will significantly aid RAINN in continuing to offer free, 24/7 support through their National Sexual Assault Hotline.
Renee Williams, head of NCVC, expressed her enthusiasm to The Times upon hearing about Kendrick’s generous donation to the organization and to RAINN. She stated that they were deeply moved by her backing, expressing their humility for her support.
In a world where the true-crime genre frequently focuses on sensationalizing tragedies, Anna’s work in ‘Woman of the Hour’ shines as a symbol of empathy and guidance, according to Williams. By championing a victim-focused strategy, she is significantly contributing towards redefining narratives that uphold the respect and dignity of those who have been impacted by criminal activities.
Williams noted that Kendrick’s dedication to sharing inspiring tales of survivors serves as a poignant reminder that behind each statistical data point and sensational crime narrative, there lies an individual with a compelling personal narrative to share.
By standing with Anna, we’re demonstrating that we can tackle difficult realities while respecting the ordeals of victims and witnesses,” she explained. “It’s about fostering an environment where empathy, validation, and strength are nurtured for those who have endured unthinkable suffering.
The actress who is known for her roles in “Pitch Perfect” and “Up in the Air” stated that the upcoming film wasn’t primarily intended as a profit-making endeavor for her. She expressed to Ashley Flowers on the “Crime Junkie AF” podcast that she felt uncomfortable about receiving a salary for this project.
The film received all its funding for production. However, it wasn’t until the Toronto International Film Festival where the movie was premiered and later bought by Netflix – this realization came only a week before the festival started, that I understood there would be financial gain.
From expressing excitement such as “Let me know when the movie happens!” to realizing my involvement with a sudden shift to “Oh, God, I’m in charge of this,” I found myself working on the film itself. We managed to complete it just in time for TIFF submission, and then came the realization that money was involved. This led to me questioning whether I felt uncomfortable about this situation. She continued with her thoughts.
“And I did. So I’m not making money off the movie,” she said.
Kendrick thought that donating to the charities was the least she could do.
She expressed her belief that these [true-crime] narratives need to be shared, and she’s convinced there might be a more effective approach than what’s been used in the past. She pondered, “How can we honor those who are involved? There are many complex issues at play. It’s not as simple as right or wrong. Ethics are seldom clear-cut,” she added.
In the streaming show “Woman of the Hour,” which debuted October 18, Kendrick portrays a bachelorette who selected serial killer Rodney Alcala (depicted by Daniel Zovatto) during a 1978 episode of “The Dating Game.” Almost instantly, she sensed something was amiss about him. The character is modeled after the actual game-show contestant Cheryl Bradshaw and attributes her survival to sheer chance or luck.
In 2021, Alcala passed away while incarcerated, following his 2010 conviction by an Orange County jury for the murder of five individuals – four women and a 12-year-old girl – in California between 1977 and 1979. Investigators have long suspected Alcala, who was sentenced to death in 2010, of other murders not only in California, but also in Washington state, New York, New Hampshire, and Arizona.
In a different part of the podcast, the actress who played Trolls shared that she shifted from comedy to true-crime narratives because of a “stunningly distressing” episode involving an abusive past relationship.
Kendrick explained that during a long-term relationship, he became deeply engrossed in true crime stories. He suggested that people sometimes cope with their own issues by thinking, “If I can understand why that person did what they did, perhaps I’ll discover some fundamental truth about humanity and ensure I never encounter such situations again.
Additionally, Kendrick shared insights on her exit from the past relationship, expressing feelings of constant caution around her former partner and adopting a strategy to collect information before their separation. In simpler terms, she felt she had to tread carefully and was gathering details before the breakup.
She expressed, “His explanation about his perspective felt almost alarming. It shed light on things in a way that no argument we’d had could, because it was like, ‘Wow, I’m providing a very safe environment for you to speak, yet the things you’re saying seem quite irrational, friend.’
During the following session, we started couples therapy. I suggested that we should temporarily disconnect from each other for several months, which turned out to be a complex situation. Eventually, it ended, I stored his belongings, and that was the end of our relationship.
Last week, during an interview on “Call Her Daddy” hosted by Alex Cooper, the multitalented individual (actor and director) discussed their seven-year relationship without revealing the identity of their former partner.
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2024-10-31 23:01