Johnny Depp goes West of Memphis

Photos: Karon Liu/The Grid

Sat Sep 8, 2012

The Pirates of the Caribbean star turned up at the festival today to show his support for West of Memphis, the new documentary chronicling the aftermath of the infamous West Memphis Three case, which saw three Arkansas youths sent to prison in 1994 for a triple-murder they maintain they didn't commit.

BY: Rob Duffy

In attendance (from left to right): Amy Berg (director), Lorri Davis (producer),Damien Echols (producer; Davis husband), and Johnny Depp (a vocal advocate of the West Memphis Three). Producer Peter Jackson also participated via Skype.

Colour of Johnny Depps sunglasses: Purple

Level of distress on Johnny Depps leather jacket: Extreme

Tone of Johnny Depps accent: Vaguely British

Johnny Depp on what drew him to the West Memphis Three cause:First and foremost, the obvious grave injustice. After such a heinous and brutal attack on three little boys, I think more than likely the investigation was: Lets get whatever we can define as the predator off the streets. It became a witch hunt, I think. It was clear from the first second I saw the Paradise Lost film [the 1996 documentary about the case], which was when I called Lori. It was clear that this was a horrific lie and these boys were innocent. So I wanted to help in any way I could.

Johnny Depps first insistence that hes just a norm! al guy:Im essentially a gas-station attendant with a very strange job. I dont think of myself as a celebrity; Im here as a friend. If there are people who will take a minute to listen to what I have to say, I think theyll learn a lot more about this case. Im here to support my friend and attain the proper definition of justice for all.

Damien Echols, on his 18 years in prison:The way you survive in there is not thinking about it to a degree. You have to create some sort of structure in your life. By the time I got out, Id worked up to doing about five to seven hours of meditation a day. What I had to do was not think about the case.

Damien Echols, on life after prison:Were out of prison physically but having to takethis [plea-bargain] dealhas a lot of ramifications and reaches into a lot of areas of our lives. It makes sure that were still not completely free. We had to go through hell just to come here for the film festival today, because the U.S. still shows that I have three counts of murder on my record. So even though Im out, this case still has a huge impact on my life I was scared, because I had reached a point where I couldnt even remember what it was like to be out anymore. I went in when I was 18 years old, and I spent 18 years in. I had spent half my life in this concrete box, and I couldnt remember the simplest things. I remembered that at one time, pizza had been my favorite food, but I couldnt remember what it tasted like.

Johnny Depp, on the power of the film festival:Well, its certainly grown. Its always had a very high level of prestige, its a wonderful place, and I can think of no better forum to release this particular film.

Peter Jackson, on the politics of the case:The [politician] in Arkansas who ultimately does the right thing, its going to be somebody whos doing it because its good for their! career. If this film and the groundswell around the case can do anything, its to persuade someone in position of power that they might get a few more votes if they actually do the right thing here.

Johnny Depps second insistence that hes just a normal guy:Playing characters, doing what I do for a job, its the same as being a plumber.

Johnny Depp, on Damien Echols first visit to his house:To finally see Damien arrive on my doorstep, it was a celebration. We had tater tots and tacos, and, you know, the natural course of events took place: we went straight to the tattoo parlour.