CALIFORNIA'S FORGOTTEN CHILDREN DOCUMENTARY
  • ABOUT
    • LEADERS IN THE FILM
    • CREATIVES
    • THANK YOU ❤
  • Watch the Film
  • IMPACT
    • CASE STUDIES
  • HOST A SCREENING
    • AMBASSADORS
    • WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR
  • RESOURCES
    • GET HELP
    • EMPOWER ORGANIZATIONS
    • Videos & Interviews
    • EDUCATION TOOLKITS
    • PRESS
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BEHIND THE SCENES

This film has brought together hundreds of people who dedicated their talents to create this movie. We thank each person for using their skills to make a difference.
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Melody C. Miller - Executive Producer/Director
Melody is a filmmaker who works to make a positive impact in the world by making narrative films and documentaries. She graduated from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television and has won various film awards nationwide including The Motion Picture Association Award and Women in Film Award. 

​An advocate for women and children rights, Melody has dedicated from the start of her career making films that amplify the voices and stories of causes she cares about. She has gone above and beyond to not only create empowering films but creating a movement of change.

While volunteering for a local non-profit Melody Miller found out that students in her high school were being trafficked.  Using her skills in filmmaking she embarked on a mission to raise awareness and give communities the tools and the knowledge to combat this scourge. Before graduating from university, she brought together 100 influential artists and 20 organizations to join her in the fight to end trafficking by making California's Forgotten Children. After years of hard work, she completed the film and Melody continues to work on spreading its message every day.


​Key Crew

Jerry Heverly, Producer 

Jerry is a public high school English teacher who is always generating new ideas on how to educate youth. He believes that this documentary will succeed in educating students about child trafficking and save lives. ​

Jason Knutzen, Cinematographer & Colorist

Jason Knutzen’s work as Cinematographer on feature films, shorts, documentaries, music videos and experimental films appearing in festivals around the world.

Betsy Tsai, B-Roll Line-Producer​

​Betsy is a freelance narrative and documentary filmmaker making films about conflict societies around the world. She works at the Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program. 
​

Stephen Spies, Original Music Composer

Stephen Spies loves scoring films, performing with multiple groups around the world, and teaching music classes to children.

Genice Jacobs, Associate Producer

Genice is an activist collaborating with local agencies, public officials, and corporations to raise awareness of child sex trafficking. She is part of a team to create a California-wide billboard campaign.

 Eric F. Martin & Melody Miller, Film Editors

Eric dited the feature documentary SHE’S THE BEST THING IN IT for Academy Award nominee Ron Nyswaner, and YouTube Red’s first virtual reality series and Hulu’s first comedic virtual reality series.
Chloe Booher, Motion Graphics/Animation of the documentary speaks about the process making the art components in the film.

Chloe Booher, Motion Graphic Designer
Chloe has a Masters Degree from UCLA in Animation and has made art for companies such as NFL, FOX Sports, and Disney.
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Myriam Obin, is a Animator & Illustrator
​Myriam has a Masters Degree from Gobelins, l’école de l’image in Paris, in Animation" and loves storytelling and visual concept.


 B-Roll Production Crew

B-roll is film captured to enrich the story you're telling.
Betsy Tsai, Line Producer of the B-Roll production speaks about the making of the recreations.
Jason Knutzen, Cinematographer of the documentary tells us about the processes designing the visuals for the film.
2nd AD 
        Julia Vazquez
        Nate'Eya Kahsai
1st Assistant Camera
        Michael Pyrz
        Giorgio Daveed
2nd Assistant Camera
        Belinda Chen
        Justin Richards

Gaffer
        Minmin Tsai
        David Kirkeby
Key Grip
        Shawn Tharayil
        James Orlando
        Brian Carr
Set Photography
        Kiyomi Katamayan
Production Designers
        Robert Mcavine
        Valentina Vee
Set Designers
        Dominique Curry
        Maria Tuadi
Key Production Assistant
        Alejandro Torress
Make Up
        Armee Jacob
Production Assistants
        Medy Jean
        Krystie Lee
        Alex Camarella
Grip/Electric
        Alex Aguila 
        Neil M. Paik
        Seth Ronquillo
        Taryn Roraback
        Chris Rowell

Main B-Roll Cast

The film uses traditional documentary vérité style filmmaking inter-connected with poetic visuals and animation. This helps guide us through the survivor-leaders childhood stories, and gives us visual perception.
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Cami Kuruma
​as Young Minh
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Courtney Ramirez
​as Young T
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Julianne Collins
​as Young Carissa
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Valdi Belizaire
​as Young Leah
Julia May Wong
Chelsea Shaddix
Kari Cowell
Lorena Melgar
CJon
Quintin Mims
Martin Mendez
Vladimir Georgiev
Ashleigh Montana Gree
Aaron Lichtanski
Ayanna S. Flemings
Vincent E. Cash
​

Additional B-Roll Cast

Aria Tomar
Georgia Kate
Danielle Dennis
Emily Miller


Britney Ortiz
Isabella Gamez
Geremy Holm

​Charisma Joy Ursua
Lexi Jusino
Koko Crawford
Thaies Quezada
Dr. Zarif

Collette Shaw
Xander Paul
Kendall Neal
Kevin L. Preval

Noland Stewart
Jessica Hanasab
Mads Purcell


Music Performers

Stephen Spies, Music Composer of the documentary talks about the recording process and the importance of empathy in music.
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Violin: Mari DiNapoli
Viola: Rebecca Bacich 

Viola: Larry Robinson
Cello: Killian Kelley
Session Consultant: Kate Bacich
Violin: Helen Rowe
Violin: Viola You
Violin: Joyce Kwak
Cello: Matt Tong
Harp: Amy Ahn
5.1 Sound Mixer: Bill Jackson

Very Special Thank You:

William McDonald, Pamela Beere Briggs, Stephanie Austin, Patsy Northcutt, Anna Bastian, Elisabeth Montgomery, Nola Brantley, Medy Jean, Andrew Becker, Javier Mendoza, Russ Kuruma 

​Office Interns: Alex Camarella, Briana Eckels, Anh Mai, Natalie Yip, and Kitty Hu

Thank You to LA Stop The Traffik Team

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Christal Chung
Krystie Lee
Anh Mai
Briana Eckels
Kunsorya Chhea
Chris Gonnerman
Elena Guevara
Jennifer Grijalva
Hayley Adams Berkowitz
Jessica Hayley Bobis
Brittney Tabel

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ON OCTOBER 16TH, 2014 WE LAUNCHED OUR KICKSTARTER. 
Thanks to the amazing support of our backers we made our goal.  ♥
SEE WHO BACKED THE FILM »


Organizations That Participated In the Documentary

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Partnered with Runaway Girl, iEmpathize, and Learn4Life 
Training, the trailer was pre-shown in trainings across California in front of educators, law enforcement, and community members for feedback.
Meeting at UNICEF headquarters, New York - with The U.S. Fund for UNICEF's End Trafficking Team
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for info ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS CLICK HERE
All Rights Reserved and COPYRIGHT 2021 © California's Forgotten Children, LLC
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  • ABOUT
    • LEADERS IN THE FILM
    • CREATIVES
    • THANK YOU ❤
  • Watch the Film
  • IMPACT
    • CASE STUDIES
  • HOST A SCREENING
    • AMBASSADORS
    • WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR
  • RESOURCES
    • GET HELP
    • EMPOWER ORGANIZATIONS
    • Videos & Interviews
    • EDUCATION TOOLKITS
    • PRESS
  • CONNECT