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Exclusive letter from executive producer of Reframed: Marilyn Monroe premiering this Sunday

This Sunday, January 16, at 9 p.m. ET is the premiere of the new documentary Reframed: Marilyn Monroe. A star-studded cast of female voices show Marilyn Monroe was a complex and powerful woman ahead of her time. 

We asked showrunner/executive producer Sam Starbuck, who led an all-female editorial team, to share insights into the series exclusively with the Keep Watching audience. Here's what she said: 

"From the start, we wanted this to be a female perspective on Marilyn. An all-female editorial team of producers and directors, we also wanted a female cast of voices on-screen. We brought together women who had known Marilyn, actors who’ve been inspired by her, academics, activists, feminist film critics, writers, biographers. A brilliant list of thoughtful, provocative and entertaining interviewees.
 
Digging into her story, the Marilyn we uncovered was far from dumb. She was whip smart, witty, ambitious, strategic and above all, incredibly courageous. She understood the power of publicity and was better at marketing herself than the studio publicists. She was not a passive passenger in her career, but an active agent in creating her own unique brand, before branding was ‘a thing.’

She was described by Fox’s Head of Casting Ben Lyons as the hardest working studio player in the business. Determined to improve her artistry, she trained with the best acting coaches of her generation, ignoring the snobbery she encountered. She was resilient, despite her traumatic childhood of abandonment and battles with mental ill-health, she came back fighting every time she was dropped, fired, humiliated, or abused. Marilyn Monroe was a persona she actively created, a larger than life performance – a joke we are invited to share. A ditzy, sexy, funny, knowing caricature that sends up the double standards women still encounter today."

Starbuck on the set filming a recreation in Fox Studio Head Darryl Zanuck's office.

▶️ Watch the trailer 

Did you miss Just Call Out My Name?

Don't worry, the film featuring Carole King and James Taylor is on-demand and CNNgo until Sunday, January 16.

Here are some fun facts about the two musical legends:

• James Taylor is just like us, he listens to Britney Spears. His favorite song is "Piece of Me." Even Grammy-award winners needs a good fight song.
• Carole King was terrified when she launched her solo career. She said James Taylor forced her out of the nest and onto the stage. And thank goodness he did! Her solo album Tapestry was certified 13 times multiplatinum.
• The pair helped kick off the singer-songwriter movement. They have been credited with inspiring a wide range of artists including Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Garth Brooks and Jack Johnson.