The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre will host a screening Tuesday evening of “A Murder of Innocence,” a true crime story based off the life of local woman Aimee Filan Anderson and her experience after discovering that her best friends were murdered.
About 20 years later following their 1971 deaths, Anderson wrote a book titled “Broken Yet Triumphant” in 1994, which was originally going to be made into a movie by director Russ Dalton.
However, it ended up not working out, and Anderson eventually bought the rights back to make the film.
Shortly after, Anderson was introduced to Shawn Justice with Justice Pictures. Justice soon became the director, producer and writer of the screenplay.
The movie began shooting in May 2017, wrapping in early 2018 and premiering June of that year.
Justice Pictures and the Anderson family have been showing the film in local theaters ever since through their ‘Theatrical Screening Program.’
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Shawn Justice — the writer, producer and director — shoots the discovery of the bodies scene.
The program is a way for organizations, churches, ministries, school or individuals to use Justice Picture’s Christian-faith movies to engage communities, as well as a fund raising opportunity for projects in that area.
Anderson was closely involved in the production process, with various family members even making appearances in the movie.
Justice said his family were used as extras in the film, but they were also “very instrumental along the way.” Justice even ended up naming Anderson as a co-producer.
Anderson had few requests regarding the movie, primarily its accuracy. She wanted the movie to be “as close to the real thing as possible.”
Anderson said she was very happy with the film, adding “Shawn did a fantastic job.”
She also requested a married couple play herself and her husband Albert.
“I wanted them to be tender and sweet to each other and I didn’t want any fighting,” Anderson said.
She is in the process of publishing an autobiography, “The Legacy of Love Letters,” which they hope to turn into another movie one day.
“It was about overcoming fear, a fear that gripped me,” Anderson said.
The Kenworthy will screen the two-hour movie 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, with tickets costing $12 each. Another showing is set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12.
Nicole Hindberg can be reached at [email protected]