Heidi Fleiss to Star in Sheila Nevins-Produced Docuseries (Exclusive)

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As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours navigating the labyrinth of narrative-driven games, I can confidently say that Heidi Fleiss‘ life story is a real-life epic that rivals any fictional adventure I’ve experienced. From her time as the “Hollywood Madam” to her current endeavors rescuing and rehabilitating macaws, her journey is a testament to resilience, survival, and an unapologetic approach to life.

Following the unveiling of the newest Menendez brothers retelling, The Hollywood Reporter has discovered that Heidi Fleiss is the next captivating 1990s news figure to receive an extensive documentary examination. Sheila Nevins, a veteran in HBO’s documentary programming, will oversee the multi-part project, with Andrew Renzi, director of recent non-fiction narratives about influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul (for Netflix) and the brand Von Dutch (for Hulu), set to lead its production.

The former “Hollywood Madam,” who served time in federal prison for managing a high-end prostitution business that catered to the elite of Hollywood, now resides on the outskirts of a small Nevada town. Her days are spent saving and rehabilitating macaws. Fleiss asserts that her story, amidst an increasing number of sanitized celebrity narratives designed to boost their image, will offer a refreshingly raw portrayal. “I believe people are tired of the documentaries that are merely promotional,” she tells THR. “I’m not a promotional piece. I don’t care if someone likes me or dislikes me. I’m not trying to reinvent myself or present myself as something I’m not. People will see and hear the truth, some of which may be embarrassing.

Fleiss is a passionate film buff who has strong views on recent documentaries. Some she believes are insightful and underrated, like Tell Them You Love Me, which delves into the questionable science of facilitated communication. Others, however, she feels fall short, such as Mr. McMahon, about WWE founder Vince McMahon: “It’s filled with too many talking heads, but I couldn’t help but be drawn in by that peculiar plastic surgery.

In my perspective as an admirer, Heidi Fleiss’ narrative is nothing new; it has been shared through various mediums. She herself penned it in the book “Pandering.” It was also explored extensively in the 2022 podcast titled “HeidiWorld.” A cable TV movie, with Jamie-Lynn Sigler portraying her, exists although I haven’t had the chance to watch it. However, the most significant telling of her story is a seminal documentary by renowned English director Nick Broomfield, released in 1996. This film captures how her relationships with two influential figures, her boyfriend-director and another madam, contributed to her fall from grace.

In 2008, the television network HBO broadcast a show titled “The Would-Be Madam of Crystal“, which chronicled Fleiss’ unsuccessful attempt to establish a legal brothel catering to women in Nevada. This was when she first crossed paths with Nevins. Lately, it has been reported that Maggie Cohn (known for “The Staircase“) had begun working on a drama series based on her life for HBO Max. However, Fleiss claims there is no agreement in place and the project seems to have been terminated.

Fleiss acknowledges that the general interest in revisiting the time when her name became notorious for allegedly operating a business involving consensual sex might be nearing its peak. She argues that while her tale is centered around sexual matters, it’s relatively devoid of violence compared to other high-profile cases: “My narrative isn’t like O.J.’s, where his wife’s head was severed. There’s no genital mutilation, as with Lorena [Bobbitt]. Even Tonya Harding’s actions were extremely violent.

The new docuseries will be wide-ranging, covering her criminal case — her prosecutor was Alejandro Mayorkas, now the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security (“he had hair back then,” she jokes) — as well as her struggles with drug addiction and efforts to save exotic birds. She expects the payday for her participation in the project will allow her to make hoped-for improvements on a tree-filled Las Vegas property she says she’s purchased for herself and the more than 30 macaws under her care. According to Fleiss, she needs to leave unincorporated Pahrump, Nevada, in part because the birds, which she allows to freely fly over the town, have been under threat from neighbors: “I’ve had people shooting them. I’ve had people holding onto them — a hostage situation, like the [Charles] Lindbergh baby. I’ve had to wear a wire; the cops were involved. It’s enough.”

Previously, Fleiss’ dedication towards her macaws and her desire to fund her work led her into a questionable deal with an affluent longtime male friend. She admitted that she used her own funds to settle his debts related to prostitution, expecting him to compensate by providing substantial financial support for her bird sanctuary. Soon after Fleiss first revealed this situation to THR in 2019 and provided evidence to back up her claim that he failed to honor his commitment, she changed her story, opting not to explain the sudden change of heart.

Currently, she admits that the friend in question was Steve Bing, a prominent Hollywood financier who took his own life the year after this revelation. In the time following, Fleiss shared with THR, “I enjoy boasting that Steve Bing was my best friend. Steve Bing is my ace of spades. I challenge anyone to top it.” As time has passed, she now describes him as gradually transforming into something terrifying and difficult to manage.

Fleiss, known for her discretion regarding her clients, affirmatively states that the documentary will feature her open reflections on the influential men she frequently encountered, both prior to and following her arrest. This includes Bing, whom she claims is largely misunderstood (“no one truly knew him, and I hold the complete story”), Dennis Hof, the brothel magnate of Nevada, and Bernie Cornfield, an international financier with a criminal record, who was at one time both her boyfriend and mentor.

Fleiss’s accomplishments span over three decades, yet she finds her narrative relevant both for current times and eternal appeal. As she points out, “we’re living in an era of the self-made female entrepreneur.

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2024-10-10 18:25