A True Crime Triumph: Rachel Mason’S Breakthrough Doc At Sxsw

A Hollywood Mystery Unraveled

In the heart of Hollywood’s shadowy past, documentary filmmaker Rachel Mason has cracked open a chilling 1990 cold-case murder with her latest project. This spine-tingling documentary centers on the gruesome death of gay porn actor Bill Newton, known on screen as "Billy London." Mason unearthed a forgotten gay newspaper, revealing a haunting sea of obituaries of young men lost to AIDS. Newton’s murder stood out ominously among them.

“I was so disgusted. Like, no, you can't have a murder in this sea of people already dying – that's not right, not fair. We can't let this go.”

Determined to find justice, Mason gathered a team of amateur sleuths to dig deeper into the case. Their relentless pursuit paid off when they led LAPD detectives to a suspect who confessed to Newton's brutal murder.

From Cold Case to Festival Fame

This breakthrough is now the core of Mason's documentary, "My Brother's Killer," which will make its world premiere at the SXSW Film and TV Festival. The film not only uncovers overlooked evidence but also highlights the overlap between victim and suspects captured on rare VHS footage.

Mason expressed her delight in the film's selection, noting its significance as LGBTQ+ rights face mounting challenges worldwide. "Now, it's being featured at a major, mainstream festival," she said, "which is a big deal."

Piecing Together a Tragic Tale

The documentary delves into Newton's life, revealing his struggles and the harsh realities of the gay porn scene in West Hollywood during the AIDS crisis. It features heartfelt interviews with Newton's friends and family, painting a portrait of a kind but troubled young man.

Central to the film is DarraLynn Madden, a former gay porn actor and now a transgender inmate. Her chilling confession adds a staggering layer of complexity to the narrative, with harrowing details of the crime laid bare in Mason’s interviews.

The Bigger Picture

Through "My Brother's Killer," Mason not only sheds light on a tragic case but also celebrates the resilience of a community. As Clark Williams, one of the amateur sleuths, reflects, "Billy Newton reflects a whole generation – my generation – of gay men who came of age in the 1980s and 90s."

With this gripping film, Mason brings a dark Hollywood tale to the forefront, turning a cold case into a beacon of hope and tenacity.