The Asylum Chronicles II: The Mysterious Rhoda Derry (5 min Demo)

A five minute demo version of what will be a full length documentary film. This film chronicles the true story of Rhoda Derry, a severely mentally ill woman who spent 43 years of her life trapped in a box at the Adams County Alms House. Finally, in 1904, she was discovered and freed by the iconic Dr. George Zeller of the Illinois Asylum for the Incurable Insane. Her case is one of the most important cases in U.S. history and helped change the face of mental health forever. Starring: D.Doc Derry, April Cowgur, John Johnson, Patrick Thornton, Dr. Joseph Mehr, and Gary Lisman. Music By Mike Englebrecht.

• Category

  Film & Animation

[SRNF]

I am doing my masters in Psych. I love the fact that you are doing the film on this patient but I always feel insulted when people put horror music in movies/docs about the mentally ill.

[ofdoomproductions]

I must express that this is in no shape or form a horror film. We have teamed up with the Derry family in order to create a half doc/ half feature that is both the Derry version of he story and the mental health professionals account of her story. This is just a demo of what will be a full length feature that tastefully gives you her entire journey. Both the Derry family and the mental health professionals have given us their thumbs up and approval on both the film and this demo.

[ofdoomproductions]

Also I appreciate your comment and will take it into consideration when editing the final film and score.

[ofdoomproductions]

Also: I want to add the this project is constantly changing and we are currently trying to find a way to blend both modern music with scoring more specific to her era. From an editors stand point this film is not only about the integrity of her story, but also a personal endeavor to brake the typical mold for the scoring of docudrama films. We edited an example using a popular artis'ts music to show investors a possible direction. Refer to The Mysterious Rhoda Derry:Tragic Love

[SRNF]

Yes, I know its not a horror film, that was my point with the music. It is about a real story and a real person. I was merely focusing on the music aspect of your upcoming documentary.

I've volunteered in a mental hospital and I have gotten to know many of the seriously ill patients. Whenever I watch documentaries it really always hurts me to hear this stereotypical scary music being played.

I mean what are they, sub-humans?

Really takes away from the message of your labor.

[ofdoomproductions]

Thank you for your kind words and yes we def take opinions into consideration. As far as the dark music is concerned...You must also realize this is not just a story about a mental patient, it is also a story rooted in witchcraft...as it plays a very large part in rhoda's family history. The movie is not just about rhoda..its about her relatives as well and their ties to an early German form of witchcraft.The doc will be anything but stereotypical, this is just a demo. Wait and see :)

[brandon buzzell]

Wow. If you were to remove the "creepy horror music" You could describe this as a typical saturday night at many of the group homes I worked at. Keep in mind im referring to the early 2000's when medication was widely used. Multiple-diagnosis individuals would frequently injure themselves to the point they would need staples in their heads and usually they would remove those staples on their own during the ride home. What im getting at is a SMALL population of the world is BAT SHIT CRAZY!

[TheMudflapp43]

Wow looks great I did an overnight there and got an EVP of my name being said in the basement. That can be heard on my page.

[Eloise Deschamps]

When will the full length be done?

[tb3002]

when will this film be released?

[ddocderry]

When the Executive Producer and I met in 2009, it was agreed that her story would be as accurate and true as our knowledge of the historical facts and events surrounding her life would reveal, and though witchcraft played a part in my g-g-aunt Rhoda’s young life, it would not be the main plot of her story as myth and legend may have suggested. However, witchcraft did play a germane role, and is portrayed in the film with my blessing. The film will not be stereotypical...I promise.

[audrey noland]

this is very very well done i want to watch the whole story...i can't believe how skinny and boney she got and omg she made herself blind that was crazy shit...

[Ladyboss518]

When is the full thing available?

[jtucker1010]

I found 1834 as well.