One of the women behind the wildly popular Framing Britney Spears documentary has revealed what didn't make the cut - including conversations with the troubled pop star's much-maligned father, who remains in control of her finances.
Liz Day, a Senior Story Editor at the New York Times and one of the film's directors, spoke to The Edge radio station about the details she wasn't able to include in the investigation into Britney's public breakdown and the ultra-restrictive conservatorship that followed.
"We spoke with Jamie Spears, we learned a little bit from them, and we repeatedly made the case to them that we felt it was important for him to appear on camera, or someone that could provide his perspective," Day explained.
"Ultimately, they still declined, which is very unfortunate."
Day reiterated that court documents from Britney's legal team made it "very clear" that she did not want her father in charge of her fortune, and the fact that he refused to step down raised "a lot of questions".
The journalist added that there were many "others" involved in Britney's controversial conservatorship that she wished she had more time to talk to, including lawyers, a business partner and even an unnamed love interest.
"At one point she had a boyfriend/fiancee who became her conservator," Day revealed.
"That's a really interesting dynamic to have your romantic partner be also in charge of your personal life."
The filmmaker said she was also disappointed to leave out an incident that took place two months after Britney gave birth to her second child.
"The paparazzi shot a very graphic up-skirt of her and I would have loved to include that because everyone's reaction at the time was to laugh, but now that would be a crime in many states," she said.
Day also shared her reaction to the public apology made by Britney's ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake, which was in prompted by the documentary's release.
Timberlake declared "I know I failed" when it came to his treatment of Britney after their break-up, during which time he spoke crudely about their sex life in interviews and perpetuated a narrative that she cheated on him with his music video for 'Cry Me A River'.
"I think the whole team that worked on this was really surprised to see anyone reckoning with their own complicity, let alone the principals involved, like Justin," Day said.
"I just really hope that viewers - in seeing people like Justin Timberlake say sorry - can be thoughtful about who we as a culture might be doing this today to, and potentially, hopefully change our behaviour moving forward."
Framing Britney Spears is available to stream now exclusively on ThreeNow in New Zealand.
