Storytelling assignment - Erin Friedrich

http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john/

Context 

From Dirty John, Part 1: The Real Thing 
Six part series, about 40 mins each
It was delivered in a once a week episode style when it first came out and is now all available online on demand.

Synopsis

This is the introduction to the relationship of Debra Newell and John Maheen. By giving a little foreshadowing at the beginning of the episode, you know something bad will happen at some point in the story. This episode tells how they met and began their whirlwind relationship and while John slowly gained the suspicion from all of Debra's children. 

Form

Teaser: Reading of an autopsy report documenting a brutal stabbing that occurred in a homicide case.

Act 1: Basic description of their introduction and budding relationship. A background of the first couple dates and weeks of their relationship.

Act 2: starts at about 13:00. Questions begin to surface abut John and his relationship with Deb from Deb's youngest daughter.

Act 3: about at 18:00. He began to undermine Deb's relationship with her kids.

Act 4: about 32:00. Money begins to go missing. John continues to drive a wedge between Deb and her family. 

Storytelling elements:

- voice recordings of homicide investigator 

- he uses light music beneath a lot of his stories and narration and uses complete silence to separate acts

- recorded interviews of family members recounting interactions with John

- music with lyrics talking about very dark and ominous things to help change the tone  and influence your emotions 

- audio from their wedding ceremony