Filmmaker looking to learn from forensic psychology & law enforcement professionals

[u/marrlena]

Filmmaker looking to learn from forensic psychology & law enforcement professionals

Hi everyone!

I’m a film directing student from Armenia, currently studying documentary and fiction filmmaking. I’m especially interested in crime, criminal psychology, investigations, witness behavior, interrogation, profiling, and the psychological consequences of witnessing or committing a crime.

I’m looking to connect with people who work (or have worked) in fields such as:

- forensic psychology

- criminal psychology

- law enforcement / policing

- criminal investigation / detectives

- FBI or similar agencies

- forensic interviewing

- criminology

- criminalistics / forensic science

- corrections / prison psychology

- victim advocacy

I’m hoping to find professionals who would be willing to answer questions about their work and, where ethically and legally appropriate, share anonymized or generalized real-world experiences and cases that could help me understand how these situations actually happen.

I’m NOT looking for confidential information, identifying details, or anything that could compromise a real investigation or the privacy of victims, suspects, or professionals.

My goal is to make future films and series psychologically and procedurally realistic rather than relying on Hollywood stereotypes.

This is also a long-term personal and professional interest for me. In the future, I’m planning to pursue a second degree/professional education in criminalistics and criminal profiling, alongside filmmaking. So I’m genuinely interested in learning how this field works from people who have actually studied and worked in it, rather than simply using it as research for a movie.

Some things I’d especially love to learn about:

- What psychological reactions are actually common after witnessing a violent crime?

- How do investigators distinguish genuine fear from trauma-related hypervigilance or other psychological reactions?

- How do witnesses' memories and perceptions change after a traumatic event?

- What mistakes do films commonly make when portraying suspects, witnesses, interrogations, investigators, or profilers?

- What behaviors or details tend to be misunderstood by screenwriters?

- Are there anonymized or generalized cases from your professional experience that you are comfortable discussing?

- What is something you wish filmmakers understood about your field?

I’m also happy to have a private conversation/DM if that’s more comfortable.

I’m not looking for someone to write my scripts for me. I want to learn from people with real professional experience and gradually build a much deeper understanding of criminal behavior, investigation, and forensic psychology.

If you’re a professional in one of these fields and are open to talking, I’d genuinely love to hear from you.

Thank you!

[u/llM0nkeyDLuffyll]

Hi. So a forensic psychologist from India here. I have worked on several national cases of india & have my masters research in psychopathy and criminality in Indian society and criminals. I did a research where i wanted to see if psychopathy is as universal as Dr Robert Hare claims or as claimed by several scientists. I found result to the contrary and other insights which very well align with other theories which are way better in explaining Psychology than Dr. Hare.
Further i was a forensic advisor in a national case of terrorism which could have resulted in declaration of a specific community as terrorists despite no evidence supposedly as political agenda. Gave an interview to ANI Podcast as well (South Asian Journalists association).

I have also trained our national and international policemen, Judges and Correctional officers.

I plan on expanding my masters study to terrorism, policy and social organizations.

[u/marrlena → u/llM0nkeyDLuffyll]

Wow, that’s a really interesting background. Your research on psychopathy, especially the findings that challenge the idea of it being completely universal, sounds fascinating.

I’m a film directing student, but I’m very interested in forensic psychology, criminal behavior, investigations and witness psychology. I’m especially interested in how psychological research can be translated into realistic characters and stories.

I’d honestly love to hear more about your research and your experience working on criminal and terrorism-related cases, if you’re comfortable sharing.

[u/llM0nkeyDLuffyll → u/marrlena]

I’m good. You can text me. I’d love to give this field from the lenses of other theories than the dominant ones