The executive producers of Prime Video’sShiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secretsunearthed a lot of surprising information when looking into the infamous family and their controversial church.
RELATED VIDEO:Duggar Family — and Their Religion — Exposed in Explosive Prime Video Docuseries Featuring Jill and Amy (Exclusive)
Executive producer Olivia Crist exclusively tells PEOPLE that through their research, they were able to discover “how far and wide the IBLP ideology went.”
“It went into our police system. It went into the military. And I think also, just how far and wide, like I said, the ideology spread,” she explains. “You can speak to a family who is part of IBLP Australia or part of IBLP and live in Tennessee and you’re going to see the same exact thing happen in terms of really just this pandemic of abuse that Gothard’s teachings inhabit.”
“That’s shocking to me. And what’s shocking to me, too, is listening to the survivor stories,” she continues. “I feel like being a woman in this culture, whether I’m coming from a place of a high control system as IBLP or coming from not that place, just inherently being a woman, I could identify with the themes of abuse and trauma that we’re going through these people’s lifelines.”
But with everything they discovered, Crist says there are still some interesting revelations that didn’t make the cut.
“I think with a four-part series like this, IBLP’s been around since the ’60s, and just because we wrap production doesn’t mean that the stories just stop there,” she says. “Things continue. And the IBLP culture is incredibly pervasive and there are a lot of other survivors who also need their story to be told.”
Crist adds, “So yes, there’s certainly a lot more we could say. And I think, too, where we land, the last episode is a jumping-off point for this larger political conversation, is also something that is of interest of further exploring.”
Prime Video
Additionally, Crist says they “would love” to dive deeper into this matter through a second docuseries. But with this one, in particular, Nason says the Duggar family “is a fascinating, cultural touchpoint” worth further exploring.
“It definitely led into the work I do, which is exposing the underbelly of systems of control,” Nason adds. “So it was a very fruitful project in that world to work on.”
The producers were able to recruitJill (Duggar) Dillardand her husbandDerick Dillard, as well asAmy (Duggar) Kingand her husbandDillon Kingto appear in the limited series. And while they chose to participate, it doesn’t mean their agreement came without reservation.
“I think with all of our subjects, some people are really ready and gung ho to tell their stories and other folks, it takes a little bit more time and care and conversation to get them on board,” Crist explains. “And that translates over to the interview room as well. It’s really all about comfort level for people.”
Crist also notes, “Understandably, I think, Jill was hesitant.”
“I won’t speak for her fully on that,” she adds. “But yes, I think at the end of the day we’re just really honored and humbled that they trusted us with their stories.”
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Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secretspremieres June 2 on Prime Video.
source: people.com
