THE MAN WHO KILLED POL POT (DOCUMENTARY - CHAPTER 1)
INTRO TO “THE MAN WHO KILLED POL POT”
This is a work-in-progress demo telling the story of Nate Thayer, the Peabody-Award-refusing journalist who spent fifteen years in the jungles of Cambodian tracking down the genocidal dictator Pol Pot.
The narration is taken from Nate’s essays as well as his 800-page manuscript. For the final piece, I intend to use audio of Nate reading his writing himself, (which he has agreed to), as well as the actual audio of Nate confronting Pot regarding the Cambodian genocide.
The title “The Man That Killed Pol Pot” is taken from one of Nate’s essays. Nate didn’t literally pull the trigger, but in one of Nate’s essays, Nate writes that it was the free press, and his reporting which caused Pol Pot to commit suicide.
“So, I am up there in the jungle–we went to print on Wednesday–and I wrote the story saying that the Khmer Rouge are prepared to turn over Pol Pot. It came out Wednesday night. The Voice of America Picked it up. It ran at 8:00 o’clock at night, which Pol Pot listened to every night. Two hours and 15 minutes later he was dead. He committed suicide. It was not the world community or the major powerful governments who brought Pol Pot to justice. It was the Free Press that brought Pol Pot to justice--or as close to justice that he ever faced. We tried him, we interrogated him, and then we killed him. The Far Eastern Economic Review was a full-service news organization.”
In its current form, I am the (unworthy) voice which is heard reading the narration. I never intended for anyone to hear my voice, but Nate liked my demo so much when he saw it, he asked my permission to share it as-is. Reluctantly, I’ve agreed— but Nate agrees that his voice should be the voice on the final film.
There will be much more in the days to come. I only hope I am able to do the story the justice it deserves.
Rod
The full essay doesn't fit here-- but can be found on Nate's Facebook.