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Crownsville Hospital: From Lunacy to Legacy

Crownsville Hospital: From Lunacy to Legacy is a feature-length documentary film highlighting the history of the Crownsville State Mental Hospital in Crownsville, MD. Drawing on many documentary works such as “The Thin Blue Line” and “Night and Fog” for inspiration, the film utilizes archival footage, animation and original music to unfold the story and evoke a mood. Both exterior and interior present-day footage and photos have been combined with exterior/interior archival footage and photos to capture the changes to the hospital through its 96-year lifespan. In addition, interviews with historians and former hospital workers as well as patients help to round out the experience.

  • R. Todd Stevens
    Director
  • Patrick O'Connoll
    Writer
    Knight Hawk
  • R. Todd Stevens
    Producer
  • R. Todd Stevens
    Cinematographer
    Earthwork, POV
  • Adrian Bond
    Original Music
    Redneck Zombies, Loop
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 48 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    60,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Borderlands Film Festival
    Las Cruces, New Mexico
    United States
    October 6, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Queen City Film Festival
    Cumberland, Maryland
    United States
    October 7, 2018
    Official Selection/Closing Night Film
  • Royal Starr Film Festival
    Royal Oak, Michigan
    United States
    October 13, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Eyecatcher Film Festival
    McAlester, Oklahoma
    United States
    November 9, 2018
    Best Documentary Feature
  • Golden Gate International Film Festival
    San Jose, California
    United States
    October 27, 2018
    Jury Award
  • Reel East Texas Film Festival
    Kilgore, Texas
    United States
    November 16, 2018
    Official Selection
Director Biography - R. Todd Stevens

R. Todd Stevens

Born in Germany, 1963
1985 B.A. Cinema, Denison University
Certified Technology Specialist, InfoComm Academy (AVIXA)

Todd Stevens brings his inquisitive nature, love of people and life, and ability to see beauty, truth, and essence in all things to a new level in his photography and films.

Raised by an artistic mother, Todd feels her guidance and his love for the cinema have been a great influence on his work. “There are certain filmic masterpieces which have, and always will, profoundly affect me. Todd feels that knowing how to properly light, frame and focus a scene is the first step. The “magic” happens after that. Todd is also an accomplished photographer having exhibited his works in Baltimore, Annapolis and Granville, Ohio.

Todd currently resides in Arnold, Maryland where he enjoys his classic car and motorcycle collections.

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Director Statement

Hello,

Five years of my life went into this project and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Fifty interviews later, I am ready to share the end result with the world. This is truly the first film of its kind on the subject and I am very proud.

Thank you,

R. Todd Stevens