Miranda’s Victim will be aired in an advance screening this Saturday, Sept. 30, here at Pollak Theatre, with a panel discussion of the director, cast members, and special guests afterwards.
The film is close to the campus’ heart being that much of the University’s Great Hall was utilized to represent an Arizona Trial Courthouse and the United States Supreme Court. Other parts of the movie were captured in Middletown and Red Bank, NJ. Additionally, the producer and co-writer of the film, George Kolber, grew up in Newark and is on Monmouth University’s Board of Trustees.
“I am so glad that I could film this story throughout Monmouth County, as we’re starting to see New Jersey become the mecca of filmmaking,” said Kolber. “This was a passion project for the stars of the film, as they all wanted to be a part of setting this important historical record straight.”
Directed by Michelle Danner, Miranda’s Victim tells the true story of Patricia Wier who was kidnapped and raped at eighteen years old by Ernesto Miranda. Her battle for justice led to the creation of the Miranda rights through the 1966 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Miranda v. Arizona.
“Popular film has a long history of dramatizing historical events, particularly events that involve the courts and legal issues,” said John Morano, Professor of Journalism and the former Managing Editor of Modern Screen Magazine. “As far as I can recall, no one has ever focused so deeply on the events leading up to the Miranda ruling. For that reason alone, and there are certainly several others to consider, Miranda’s Victim is an important film that sets cinematic precedence on this vital legal right.”
The significance of this film is also acknowledged by Vaune Peck, the Director of Monmouth University’s Center for the Arts.
“The Center for the Arts is honored to be part of this special advance screening of Miranda’s Victim. The film is a testament to one woman’s determination to prevent her tragic sexual assault from happening to others,” said Peck. “The subject of the film still resonates today, witnessed through the ongoing ‘Me Too Movement’ and the right for a victim to speak up without fear. We all are aware of Miranda rights but not many of us know the story behind how it came into existence. This is an important topic and the screening of this film presents an opportunity for us to empower our students, raising awareness about their rights as individuals and about what they can do to ensure them.”
This awareness that the film brings to the Monmouth community is recognized by students themselves.
Valentina Lazoja, a pre-law student, said, “Historical context, professional development, ethical discussions, along with public awareness that is displayed in this film can highlight the importance of one’s Miranda rights. Miranda’s Victim can be an educational tool for pre-law students as it highlights the legal principles of the Fifth Amendment, the historical context, and the long-lasting impact cases such as Miranda v. Arizona has on the criminal justice system.”
Lazoja continued, “This is important to those who plan to pursue a career in the legal industry as the relevance of this issue will always be prominent in all areas of the law. It can challenge students to explore the legal issue in-depth and spark debates…This can result in ethical considerations that lawyers and law enforcement officers face when dealing with Miranda rights and the implications on justice and civil liberties. The film, Miranda’s Victim, is significant as it can potentially protect an individual as it makes one aware of their rights.”
Sonya Alfano, a University senior, said, “While the film is set in Arizona, the filming of this in the local community near and in Monmouth University will hopefully bring some light to students that sexual assault happens every day all over the country, and even the world. I hope that this film will make a impact of the reality of things such as sexual assault and the way that the Supreme Court is still ruling over our country today.”
Along with awareness, the film opens up an expanse of opportunities for Monmouth University.
With tickets for the Opening Reception at $135, general screening tickets ranging from $100 to $150, and a limited number of screening tickets at $5 for students, all proceeds will be dedicated to covering the costs of the more than a hundred events on campus hosted by the Center for the Arts. “It’s through opportunities like this that we are able to discount tickets so deeply for Monmouth University students,” said Peck.
Patrick Leahy, Ed.D., President of Monmouth University, features a cameo in the film. He said, “I am very proud that Monmouth will have such a prominent role in the depiction of the events behind this significant legal milestone in American history. I am also grateful for the opportunity that our students had to work on the production, gaining invaluable hands-on experience behind the scenes of a major motion picture.”
The exposure Monmouth University will receive as a result of the film is another added benefit.
“There’s really no end to the value that a project like this could potentially have for the University. One need only consider the decades of publicity that Annie has garnered to see that,” said Morano. “Also, for other production companies to see how well the University shows up on screen might lead to future involvements, especially with Netflix moving into the neighborhood.”
With the general release date of Miranda’s Victim being Oct. 6 and Netflix’s soon-to-be establishment in Monmouth County just around the corner, Monmouth University may become the next staple within NJ’s entertainment future.
