Crime After Crime (2011)

Crime After Crime is the award-winning documentary that tells the story of Debbie Peagler, a survivor of brutal domestic violence who was wrongfully convicted in the murder of her abuser and spent over 25 years in prison — until two rookie attorneys, working pro bono, took on her case and fought to win her freedom. Director Yoav Potash spent five and a half years filming, gaining rare access inside a maximum-security California prison to tell the story.

halflife* handled color, finish post, and mastering on the film. The work was in good company: Crime After Crime premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win more than 25 awards, including the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival and Best Documentary Feature at the Heartland Film Festival — both carrying $25,000 top prizes — along with a Freedom of Expression Award from the National Board of Review. The film later aired on OWN, with its DVD release featuring a special introduction from Oprah Winfrey.

For halflife*, it's a standout credit — proof that the same finishing craft applied to Hollywood features and Disney Channel movies also helped carry a quietly devastating true story to a national audience, and to the recognition it deserved.