Gosnell Movie reached its fundraising goal of $2.1 million today with four days to spare. Filmmakers Ann McElhinney, Phelim McAleer and journalist Magdalena Segieda are now assured to receive at least that sum in order to make the film a reality.
The movie is not a documentary, unlike other films produced by McElhinney and McAleer, but rather will be a scripted television film about convicted murderer and serial killer Kermit Gosnell. Gosnell was found guilty of three counts of first degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter, but slaughtered hundreds (if not thousands) of newborn babies in supposedly “botched” illegal late term abortions. Gosnell has been stripped of his medical license and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Gosnell’s trial was largely ignored by the mainstream media, and was described as just a “local crime story” by a journalist from the Washington Post. (She later admitted she was incorrect in that assessment.) The movie seeks to inform the public about Gosnell’s atrocities.
The project was funded on crowdfunding website IndieGoGo in order to bypass the internal Hollywood politics that the filmmakers claim would have prevented the movie from receiving funds.
The fundraising was truly a grassroots effort. The vast majority of the 23,471 donors contributed amounts of $100 or less. Only 72 people claimed the “perks” from donating over $1,000.
There has not yet been a timeline set for the movie’s production or release.