STOP TRAFFICK: A short film about Human Trafficking (but mostly about Redemption).
written & directed by Wes Halula
starring Stephen Baldwin (Usual Suspects) & Lauren Sweetser (Winter's Bone)
![Starring... Stephen Baldwin & Lauren Sweetser]()
***FINAL UPDATE***
THANK YOU ALL so very much for your kind, generous and thoughtful gifts. We are truly blown away by the response. While we didn't reach our ambitious goal, you should know 2 things:
1.) We're going to make this film happen. We'll recalculate and adjust what we're able to do with the budget we've received from YOU!
2.)It's not too late to give! You can give directly to Community Life Works here:
http://www.communitylifeworks.org/stoptraffick
Thank you, again! And please pass along the new link to your friends and neighbors!
************************
From Wes:
I'd like to think I'm aware of what's going on in the world. I'm a college-educated guy. I read a lot. I watch the PBS NewsHour. Heck, I've written and directed hundreds of educational films. And last year, all of my blood sweat and tears was spent working to keep kids in Asia, Africa and South America out of poverty and away from traffickers. It's easy to get a sense of "the big picture" when you're writing and directing a massive project for a nonprofit with enormous impact worldwide. So I'm keenly aware of the fact that human trafficking is a huge issue globally.
But, until recently, I didn't realize that trafficking is a massive problem right here in the United States.
According to Shared Hope International, over 100,000 American children are trafficked for sex. The average age? 13.
I'm embarrassed that I didn't know this was happening on this grand of scale. After talking to church leaders, nonprofits and experts in the war against human trafficking, I feel compelled to do something. And if there is one thing God has wired me to do, it's to tell a good story.
So we're going to tell a good story. An American story. Not a story of depravity. Not a story of oppression. But a story of Life. Hope. Restoration. Healing. Atonement.
We'll be filming with the absolute best equipment in Hollywood. More importantly, I'm blown away by the talent and experience that has stepped up to help me with this short film. People that are the best at what they do. People that are passionate about both making great films and stopping human trafficking.
Combined, the team has produced 7 feature films, 16 music videos, 110 commercials, and 115 short films.
So we're committed to making this movie. If you believe great film can change minds and open hearts, if the thought of just one child being trafficked in your home country is too much for you, if you are excited to take action that could REALLY impact the fight against child trafficking, please donate below. Every donation you make is tax-deductible.
Keep fighting the good fight...
-Wes Halula, Writer/Director, Stop Traffick
PS: Once you have donated, PLEASE share our campaign with your family, friends and followers and encourage them to join us!
Talk to me about THE PLAN:
- We will produce a striking, high-production short film about child trafficking in our home country. Shot on location in Las Vegas, NV and Bakersfield, CA.
- We will tell an authentic, compelling narrative story. This is NOT a documentary. This is the kind of remarkable storytelling that has been opening hearts and minds for thousands of years.
- If we show darkness, then we will also show light. The film will center on unexpected hope in the midst of tragedy.
- We have nonprofit advisors who are experts in the area of trafficking, to ensure the story is accurate.
- It is a short film so it can be used for years by churches, ministries, and anyone to obliterate ignorance, spark conversation, and ignite action in this area in their own way.
- We will shoot this film as a part of the faith-based speed filmmaking competition "The 168 Project."
- Once completed, we will do everything we can to show it to everyone we can. We will enter film competitions, partner with churches, promote it in social networks. We are entering this fight to win!
Talk to me about IMPACT:
Thanks to Community Life Works, our nonprofit 501(c)(3) partner,
every donation is tax-deductible. For more information on Community Life Works, email
info@communitylifeworks.org!
If fully funded, we are entering the film in the 168 Hour Film Project - an international speed filmmaking competition! The challenge is to create a short film based on a theme and a verse, in seven days. The 168 Project has clear rules about waiting to write our script until the contest begins on May 13th, 2013. Donors can expect more details about that the official start date! For now, know that we are super excited to have the message of human trafficking in America in front of new eyes within 7 days of production!
Dan Emr, Executive Director, Worthwhile Wear. Dan is providing technical assistance, and Worthwhile Wear is providing incentives for donors. In order to make a real impact on ignorance, the film must be accurate. We are grateful to Dan for his expertise!
The Crossing Church, Las Vegas, NV, and many other church and ministry partners: The great thing about this film is that it will live a long, useful life far beyond the initial premier and the 168 Hour Film Project contest. These partners will be using the short film to combat trafficking for years to come. Thousands of people could be impacted. Maybe more.
A huge thanks to our artist friends - recording artists Scott Dente and Ken Lewis from Global Genius Productions for providing an original score, and acclaimed artist Rosemarie Adcock for providing her own paintings for some very lucky donors (see the incentives!).
Talk to me about Nitty Gritty DETAILS:
- If the project is fully funded, both on Indiegogo and through other organizations and friends who are giving directly through Community Life Works, every dollar will be used for the film production and distribution expenses.
- If the project is not fully funded, all funds given through Indiegogo will stays with the nonprofit Community Life Works. This is the way Indiegogo works, and it is why donors are charged (and receipted) quickly after donating. In this case, your donations will be used by Community Life Works in the creation of media to educate Americans on issues that negatively affect individuals, families and communites. For more information, email Community Life Works directly at:
info@communitylifeworks.org.
- Our seasoned film crew is passionate about helping us tell this story, and they are fitting this project into their busy production schedules because they all believe a chance to change the world through film is worth real sacrifice to make it happen. Everyone involved in this project is working at a highly reduced fee. We are grateful for that, but also have a strong conviction that we will not ask our people to neglect their own families while saving other families.
- We are committed to running this project on a foundation of prayer. We hope that whether you are a person of faith or not, you agree that the horrors of human trafficking should not exist in these modern times. We welcome all to join us in making this important film happen.
- Some people have already contacted us about making gifts of equipment, travel, expertise, donor introductions and the like. Thank you! If you are interested in a "gift-in-kind," send us an email and we will discuss it with you.
- Finally, you should know that donating to this project does not grant the donee any ownership rights in the film, the soundtrack, or any derivatives of either. It also doesn't grant any ownership rights in any awards, prizes, or subsequent funding or gifts provided as a result of the project, its inclusion in the 168 Hour Project competition, or its viewing elsewhere. If the film happens to win any sort of competition anywhere, the awards resulting from that win will be solely owned by HappyFunTime®. Make no mistake - the more attention the film gets, the more attention is drawn to human trafficking. That is a great deal, in our book.
Talk to me about BUDGET:
If we reach our full funding goal both within Indiegogo and with several donor friends who have made a commitment to funding the project, we expect the budget to be allocated as indicated below. This is mostly and FYI, for those that have questions. If you still have questions, email us!
• 10% Startup, Insurance, Legal
• 33% Cast & Crew Payments
• 15% Location & Travel Expenses
• 23% Design & Equipment
• 10% Editorial & Post Production
• 9% Estimated Indiegogo Costs
