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 - Chief Executive Producer/Director/Writer
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 of America 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. |
California's Forgotten Children has been honored at the United State of Women Summit; premiered at fifteen film festivals; won Best Documentary at the Soho International Film Festival; Best Director at the Chico Independent Film Festival; ‘Rising Filmmaker’ at the Riverside International Film Festival; and the Orson Welles Award at the California Film Awards. California's Forgotten Children has been nominated for eleven Best Documentary Awards.
This singular documentary is now making the rounds of law enforcement organizations, non-profits, and educational institutions around the world.
This singular documentary is now making the rounds of law enforcement organizations, non-profits, and educational institutions around the world.
Key Crew
Jason Knutzen, Cinematographer & ColoristJason Knutzen’s work as Cinematographer on feature films, shorts, documentaries, music videos and experimental films appearing in festivals around the world.
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Stephen Spies, Original Music ComposerStephen Spies loves scoring films, performing with multiple groups around the world, and teaching music classes to children.
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Betsy Tsai, B-Roll Line-ProducerBetsy 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.
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* 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.
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Eric F. Martin & Melody Miller, Film EditorsEdited 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.
Melody has edited over 150 documentaries. The first feature documentary she edited called WHAT HAPPENED HERE premiered at the Moscow Film Festival & the Mill Valley Film Festival. |
Genice Jacobs, Associate ProducerGenice 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.
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Chloe Booher, Motion Graphic Designer |
Myriam Obin, Animator & IllustratorMyriam is a French-Canadian Animator who just graduated from “Character Animation & Filmmaking” at “Gobelins, l’école de l’image” with a master degree.
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Office Interns
Video of a day from 2015 behind the scenes working in the office.
Interns: Alex Camarella, Briana Eckels, Anh Mai, Natalie Yip, and Kitty Hu |
B-Roll Production Crew
B-roll is film captured to enrich the story you're telling.
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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 |
Very Special Thank you:
William McDonald
Pamela Beere Briggs Patsy Northcutt Sponsors:Anna Bastian
Elisabeth Montgomery Assistants to Production:Nola Brantley
Medy Jean Andrew Becker Javier Mendoza Russ Kuruma 5.1 Sound Mixer:
Bill Jackson
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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.
Additional B-Roll Cast
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Music Performers
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Spacial Thank You to LA Stop The Traffik Team
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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 »
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 |
Meeting at UNICEF headquarters, New York - with The U.S. Fund for UNICEF's End Trafficking Team |
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