www.catyouell.com/cordelia ~ 323.640.2524 ~ cordeliabotkin@gmail.com

THE MISCHIEVOUS CASE OF

CORDELIA BOTKIN

Tag Line: A tragic tale of love, chocolate and murder most foul.

Log Line: A true Victorian fairytale about a woman whose only option to attain true love is a box of arsenic

laced chocolates.

Short Synopsis: In the midst of a harshly disapproving Victorian San Francisco, Cordelia Botkin, a charmingly passionate woman, find the love of her life outside of her marriage in a Mr. John C. Dunning. However, after being given an ultimatum by his wife, John breaks

it off with an unsuspecting Cordelia, plunging them both into lonely and agonizing depression. Cordelia, cornered and desperate, sees only one way to win John back: by eliminating his controlling wife with a box of arsenic laced chocolates.

I read about Cordelia a long time ago, and she stuck with me for many reasons-the fact that she charmed her way to come and go from jail as she pleased, that she walked

around her hotel in her bathrobe when most women couldn’t breathe from their corsets, that she was the first person to murder across two states ---- but also because

she was a strong independent woman who would not settle for less than love and happiness. She did what she had to do, in the only way she knew how, to

maintain her happiness in a time that was determined to beat down her passion. Although her story has been forgotten for 100 years, I want to honor the fact that she

was an early feminist fighting for her voice.

Furthermore, the similarities I feel with Cordelia compel me to share her story, so she is neither

forgotten nor remember solely as a “fiendish devil.” As a quiet shy homeschooled girl, who grew up in a stifling

religious, conservative home (I was not allowed to listen to modern music, or watch movies past 1960), I understand what Cordelia must have felt like: desperate to express her own ideas, desperate not to be scorned for her passion, desperate to

be loved for herself. Who cannot identify with those desires? By telling her story, I am able to express my own feelings about a condemning society and about a

voice that needs to be heard. !

This is why Cordelia is as fascinating as she was over 100 years ago, when The Examiner featured her in every paper for months. Her story raises difficult questions about the freedom to be oneself, and how far an individual will go for their voice. In a way,

society contributed to Cordelia’s crime-a society that encouraged young girls to be sold into marriage, a society that drove her to be an outsider so desperate for love, a society that left no options for an unmarried woman. I want the audience to

feel sympathy for a murderess because I want them to examine the issues and reasoning behind that sympathy. Cordelia ultimately finds her freedom in jail, a paradox I want the audience to walk away with. I want this film to be seen so people don’t

forget how thankful they should for their current freedoms to do and be as they please. !

FILMMAKER!S STATEMENT

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Total Running Time: 18 minutes 7 seconds

Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Shot on 35mm

Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround / LTRT

Available Screening Formats:

HDCAM-SR

HDCAM

DIGIBETA

DVD Region 0 (all region)

Blu-Ray (all region)

(other formats available upon request)

**all formats NTSC** For PAL please contact filmmaker

CAST

Cordelia Botkin…….….Rajia Baroudi

John Dunning…….…..…Daniel Kash

Prosectuor Ames…….……Skip Pipo

Judge Cook……….….…Alan Charof

Elizabeth Dunning..…Jessica Aldridge

Ida Pennington…..…Wendy Foxworth

Jailer…………..…………Bill Suplee

Ms. Bateman 1….....…Teddy Vincent

Ms. Bateman 2………….Linda Smith

Welcome Botkin……..Brian Carpenter

Sarah Dunning…..Alyssa de Boisblanc

John Dunning Jr….…Matthew Haddad

Preacher…..……...…Darin Singleton

Defense Attorney……….Carl Johnson

Bailiff……………..…..Charlie Landa

Narrator……..………..…Jean Gilpin

CREW

Writer & Director….…………..Cat Youell

Producers……………………Brad Crowe

……………….……….Eric Bergemann

………………………Fawaz Al-Matrouk

Cinematographer…….Robert M. Edgecomb

Production Designer…..…Bonnie Bacevich

Editor…………..…Christine Louise Berry

Sound Designer…………….Patrick Knipe

Costume Designer…………..Chantal Filson

Assistant Director………..Michael Callahan

Visual FX…………………Paul Shepherd

Composer………………….Chris Thomas

CREDITS

BIOGRAPHIES

It’s been a whirlwind few months for Rajia who is thrilled to star in “Cordelia” as the sweetly murderous title character. She has just been cast as the furious Bible thumping Southern mother in “Make Believe,” slated to shoot in early February. She also played the Oracle in the “The Open Door,” an indie horror flick doing well on the awards circuit and was described as “The hypnotic motivational speaker from Hell.”

R AJ IA B AROUD I (C O R D E L I A B O T K I N)

Rajia is currently preparing to work as an undercover cop in “Manic.” Other than that, it’s life as usual: writing, voicing commercials, games and voice matching for Cate Blanchette, Angelina Jolie, and Christina Amanpour to name a few. Gratitude and love to the fantastic team of “Cordelia” who all were truly superb.

D ANIEL K ASH (J O H N D U N N I N G)

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Daniel began his career in film and television upon returning to LA after graduation from the Department of Dramatic Art at UC Berkeley. Since then he has been seen in numerous films, television series, and commercials. Most recently he played a lead role in the SciFi Channel Original Feature “The Immortal Voyage of Captain Drake” and gust starred in the hit TV shows “The Closer” and “iCarly”.

Daniel will soon be appearing on episodes of “Entourage,” “Heroes,” and “24.” He currently resides in Burbank with his wife and two dogs, enjoys playing piano, travelling, competing in any and all sports, and just became a father.

C AT Y OUELL ( WRITER & DIRECTOR)

Cat began her fascination with film at an early age as an only child watching classics on TCM while being homeschooled in Orlando, FL. Not only were movies her entertainment, but her window into the outside world, inspiring her to write and act ideas out on her own.

She left home to return to her native Carolinas where she achieved her B.A. Summa Cum Laude in English at Davidson College, a small but prestigious liberal arts school outside of Charlotte. Cat was heavily involved in several student organizations there.

Cat has studied film internationally at Cambridge University in England and Griffith University near Brisbane, Australia. She currently attends USC in the Graduate Production Program at the School of Cinematic Arts.

Cat loves animals and anything from the 1930s and 40s, especially if it has to do with Los Angeles.

F ILMOGRAPHY

Writing & Directing

The Misch ievous Case o f Corde l i a Bo tk in (2010)

18 minutes; 35mm

WINNER: Fuji Film Grant, UFVA’s Carole Fielding Award, Phi Delta Theta’s Francis D. Lyon Award, Irving Lerner Endowment Fund, The La Verne Noyes Foundation Award

The Other Cheek (2008) , Camp Counselor Films

14 min, Digital

Daddy ’ s L i t t l e G i r l (2007)

8 min, 16mm

WINNER: “Best Experimental Film,” Myrtle Beach International Film Festival

Con t inu i t y o f Parks (2004)

10 min, Digital

WINNER: “Best Film,” Davidson Film Festival

Producing

Po t t e r ’ s F i e ld (2010) , dir. Brad Crowe, 20 min, RED

WINNER: “Finalist” Slamdance Screenplay Competition, “Finalist,” Paige International Screenwriting Awards; “Finalist,” The Movie Deal! Screenplay Contest, Irving Lerner Endowment Fund

To Res t i n Peace (2010) , dir. Fawaz Al-Matrouk, 17 min, RED

WINNER: 2nd Place Paige International Screenwriting Awards

Brea the (2008) , dir. John Thompson, 3 min, Digital

WINNER: “Regional Finalist,” S tuden t Academy Awards ; Tribeca Underground Film Festival;

E l eva ted (2007) , dir. Jared Mark, 15 min, 16mm

WINNER: “Best Producers,” First Look Film Festival; Newport Beach Film Festival; Temecula Valley Film Festival; Feel Good Film Festival

The son of an airline pilot and flight attendant, Brad Crowe grew up overseas in Singapore and was exposed at an early age to the world of theater, music, and politics. An avid singer/saxophone player, actor/director, and student politician, Brad quickly learned the importance of a social conscience in the arts.

After fulfilling a BA with a double major in film production and film studies at the University of British Columbia, Canada on a full scholarship, Brad currently attends the University of Southern California’s prestigious School of Cinematic Arts, where he is completing an MFA in film production with an emphasis in writing, producing, and directing. !

He has just received the Thomas B. Bush memorial scholarship and Albert R. Broccoli Scholarship for excellence in film. Brad’s first short film, “Control” has garnered numerous awards from various international film festivals and is currently being distributed worldwide. !

B R A D C R O W E ( PRODUCER)

F ILMOGRAPHY

Producing: “Po t t e r ’ s F i e ld” ( see d i rec t ing) “The Misch ievous Case o f Corde l i a Bo tk in” (2010)

18 mins , 35mm Winner, Fujifilm Grant Winner, Phi Delta Theta’s Francis D. Lyon Award Winner, UFVA’s Carol Fielding Grant Winner, Irving Lerner Endowment Fund Award “To Res t In Peace” (2010) 17 mins , RED “F .U .B .A .R .” (2009) 5 m ins , RED “The Los t Journa l o f V i ce Marceaux” (2007)

12 m ins , 16mm Honorable Mention, Student Emmy Awards Winner, Best Drama (Student Films Across America) Winner, 2nd Place (LDS Film Festival)

Official Selection: Santa Fe, Sacramento, AFIA Denmark, Three Rivers, TucsconFilm.com International Film Festivals

“Independence Day” (2006) 6 m ins , 16mm !

Writing & Directing: “Po t t e r ’ s F i e ld” (2010) 22 mins , RED

Winner, Charles and Lucille King Finishing Fund Award Winner, Irving Lerner Endowment Fund Award Finalist, Slamdance Screenplay Competition 2010

Semi-Finalist, PAGE 2009 International Screenwriting Award

Finalist, The Movie Deal! Screenplay Contest “Con t ro l” (2006) 6 m ins , 16mm

Winner, Special Jury Prize & Best Short Film (West Hollywood Int. Film Festival) Winner, Best Student Short Film (Indie Fest USA International Film Festival) Nominated, Best Short Film (SoCal Independent Film Festival_ Official Selection: Hermosa Shorts, Temecula Valley International Film Festivals

!

POINTS OF INTEREST 1) The real Cordelia Botkin lived in San Francisco in the late 1800s. Her final re-trial was held in 1904, and she died after

the great earthquake of 1907 destroyed her lush city prison and she was moved to San Quentin. Her official cause of death was determined to be “softening of the brain due to melancholy.”

2) In order to obtain the arsenic, Cordelia told the pharmacist that she was using it to clean her hats. 3) The postmaster was able to identify Cordelia because he remembered her and the package very clearly. It was mailed

to Mr. John Dunning, and the post master’s name was John Dunnigan. 4) During the period of Cordelia’s extremely popular trial (the court room would get so hot, it’s rumored that steam would

rise off of the crowd’s wet clothing), Cordelia was featured frequently in William Randolph Hearst’s famous San Francisco Examiner. Hearst stuck one of his best female reporters, Lizzy Livernash, on Cordelia before she was even arrested.

5) One Sunday, three months after Judge Cook sentenced Cordelia, he stumbled upon her shopping in downtown San Francisco. Baffled at her appearance outside of her cell, the Judge investigated and found out that Cordelia had charmed her way with her guards to allow to her come and go from jail as she pleased. She’s also rumored to have had an entire cell devoted for her wardrobe.

6) Cat and Brad journeyed to San Fran when they began the film and visited the locations of the pharmacy, chocolate shop, and hotel where John and Cordelia stayed, as well as the courthouse and city jail.

7) Cat first read about Cordelia in the book “The Mammoth Book of Killer Women” leant to her by a friend. Months later she sat down and wrote the script in a single sitting, the details had stuck with her so vividly.

8) The courtroom used for shooting is an actual courtroom built in the 1920s. It was also used to film the TV series “Perry Mason.” The Dunning House is actually located in the middle of a botanical garden in Los Angeles, and has been used in countless productions from “Fantasy Island” to “Meet the Fockers.”

9) Most of the extras who appear in the film are actually re-enactors who volunteered. 10) The film was shot in 9 days, and was completed as part of the requirements for Cat to receive her MFA from USC.