PHOEBE GALLAGHER
Julia Davis isn’t just a film producer – she’s one that’s [legally] armed. Not surprisingly, considering Davis’s plight as a a former federal officer with the Department of Homeland Security turned whistle-blower, her new doco-feature “Top Priority : The Terror Within” goes off like a crate of dry explosives.
“Top Priority : The Terror Within” tells of a national security whistleblower who was falsely declared a “Domestic Terrorist” and subjected to retaliation of unprecedented proportions by the Department of Homeland Security. Davis discovered and reported a breach of national security at the largest and busiest land border crossing in the U.S. on 4th of July, 2004. Davis said documents found in Osama Bin Laden’s lair confirmed that 4th of July was in fact the date of planned terrorist attacks against the United States by members of Al Qaeda. Instead of implementing the changes suggested by Davis’s report, the officer herself ended up being investigated. As Davis explains in this exclusive interview, the government did anything and everything to refute and cover-up her claims, including falsely claiming she served in the Russian Army and was a convicted murderer.
“Top Priority” also features the story of late actress Brittany Murphy, a dear friend of Davis’s who served as a witness in Julia Davis’ case, which caused the star and her significant other to be targeted by the DHS/ICE.
On the eve of the film’s premiere in Los Angeles, PHOEBE GALLAGHER talks to Davis about the picture.
Julia, how did this amazing film come together?
After prevailing in the court of law, I was determined to bring these matters to the court of public opinion. I believe that exposing corruption is a crucial step that leads to eliminating fraud, waste and abuse. Dirty deeds thrive under the cover of darkness and sunshine is the best disinfectant.
Did the Brittany Murphy situation become a bigger focus as production went on ?
Brittany will always have a special place within our heart. She was a sweet, good-natured, loving person. Britt and her husband Simon didn’t deserve to be terrorized by the Department of Homeland Security for standing up to defend me. We intend to set the record straight, because Britt was neither paranoid nor a drug abuser. She was branded as such simply because her friends and industry contacts couldn’t believe the magnitude of retaliation the couple were facing, including wiretaps, sneak-and-peek intrusions and surveillance by Blackhawk helicopters. We made sure that Brittany’s side of the story is accurately represented in “Top Priority: The Terror Within”. Britt defended me from false allegations and I intend to keep doing the same for her, even in death. Brittany was always a big part of the documentary, all of our deceased witnesses deserve to have their voices heard.
So what does the film expose? Will audiences be shocked?
This documentary is quite unlike anything else out there. It exposes unprecedented retaliation unleashed by the Department of Homeland Security against a law-abiding federal officer, just to cover up the agency’s corruption and incompetence. This is the only whistleblower story where a law enforcement officer was declared a “Domestic Terrorist”, twice maliciously prosecuted/falsely imprisoned, subjected to aerial surveillance with an airplane and Blackhawk helicopters and had their residence raided with a Special Response Team. The audiences will be shocked to discover that more armed agents were dispatched to raid our home than the number of Navy Seals sent to take down Bin Laden. That is pretty telling as to the government’s misplaced priorities.
Back to Ms Murphy, have her family seen the film?
Brittany’s father saw the film and will also be attending the premiere on May 16th at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills. He is extremely supportive of our efforts to clear the name of his wonderful daughter.
I imagine there were challenges in putting such a movie together?
The film includes over 517 inserts of court rulings, videotaped depositions, audio and video footage and other extensive evidence. In dealing with such an unbelievable story, it was important to our entire team of determined filmmakers to let the evidence speak for itself. This film is not a conspiracy theory, not an allegation or contention – we are presenting pure facts, accompanied by irrefutable evidence.
Has the department of homeland security come down harder on you now that the film is coming out? Do they seem scared?
The government is still trying to suppress the coverage of this story by the mainstream media. They are scared of the truth, terrified of being exposed for exactly what they are. Our response to that is that if the government doesn’t like to see these facts on film, they shouldn’t have committed them in real life. The more they resist, the harder we press on. The truth will come out.
As the world is blown away by some of the revelations in the film, what will you be doing?
I am in process of completing two books: “Until It Happens To You” (based on my true story) and “The Whistleblower’s Manual” that will serve as a guide for every truth-teller facing malicious prosecutions, surveillance and other retaliatory tactics in every legal venue. I am developing a feature film, “Operation Dark Heart”, based on a New York Times bestseller, with prominent whistleblower Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer. We are also in pre-production of a horror drama with elements of thriller and black comedy, entitled “Room and Board” and a TV Series “The Pharmacy”. Our plate is pretty full, but that’s just the way we at the Fleur De Lis Film Studios like it.
“Top Priority : The Terror Within” premieres May 16 in Los Angeles
