Behind Bars
Bayport, New York | Film Short
Drama, Sport
While sexual abuse in gymnastics has finally come to light, other forms of abuse remain unearthed and many voices unheard. This film is important as it brings the debilitating effects of emotional abuse to the forefront. This project is for all those who have suffered quietly.
Behind Bars
Bayport, New York | Film Short
Drama, Sport
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $2,398 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
28 supporters | followers
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While sexual abuse in gymnastics has finally come to light, other forms of abuse remain unearthed and many voices unheard. This film is important as it brings the debilitating effects of emotional abuse to the forefront. This project is for all those who have suffered quietly.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Behind Bars Storyline:
Behind Bars is based on a true story. It follows a young gymnast training to compete at an elite level. In addition to the physical and mental strain common in gymnastics, she endures emotional, verbal, and narcissistic abuse from her coach. Cayley, our lead character, is going through a series of changes in her life. She has severe anxiety, which her coach (Ethan) disregards when it comes to her training and well-being. The support from her teammates begins to diminish, as Ethan makes Cayley out to be the cause of all of their struggles. Alexa is one of the only teammates who sticks by her, seeing past Ethan's malicious attempt to make Cayley the villain. Cayley, however, is too blinded by her dream to recognize that the relationship between her and her coach is detrimental to her well-being, until someone opens her eyes.
"Emotional abuse can be more difficult to recognize than physical violence - though it can be just as damaging" - Olympic Gymnast Laurie Hernandez
After years of being silenced and/or ignored by USAG, many gymnasts have recently come forward with reports of sexual abuse that they endured during their gymnastics careers. The courage of these gymnasts has inspired me to take back my story. With so much upheaval in the sport of gymnastics, now is the perfect time to share my experience and open doors for others who have endured a similar experience.
Meet The Characters:
Cayley is a 13 year old competitive gymnast. She dreams of being an elite level athlete. Cayley is empathetic and has a big heart that is clear in everything she does. She is dedicated, harworking, and talented in her sport. Cayley is a leader, but she doesn't know this. She struggles with severe anxiety and is often unable to recognize her strengths. Cayley looks up to her coach, Ethan, and constantly longs for his approval but continues to be disappointed. Blindsided by her dreams, loyalty, and heart, Cayley is unable to see the danger that is Ethan.
Cayley's Mom and Dad both want the best for their daughter. They have been supportive of all her dreams since she was a little girl. Her dad is very black and white, while her mom is an empath. Cayley's mom is suspicious of Ethan, questioning his ways, but she keeps supporting him, for her daughter.
Ethan is the head gymnastics coach. He is narcissistic, manipulative, and abusive. Ethan is an egotist with a sense of entitlement. He initially entraps Cayley by inflating his own importance, while seemingly caring about her well-being. However, as Cayley's trust grows, Ethan's behavior begins fluctuating from nice and caring, to cold and mean. He is passive-aggressive and often projects his own shortcomings onto Cayley, blaming her and making her the scapegoat when anything goes wrong. Ethan induces self-doubt in Cayley by gaslighting and denying her experiences, leading her to question her own thoughts and emotions.
Alexa is Cayley's teammate. She struggles with anxiety, and is one of the only people that understands Cayley. She has a kind heart and no matter how hard Ethan tries to isolate Cayley from her teammates, Alexa is always there for her. She works hard and is serious about her training.
Jill is the assistant gymnastics coach. She is loud and outgoing when it comes to cheering for her gymnasts or giving out corrections, but silent when it comes to standing up to Ethan. She cares about the girls and sometimes disagrees with Ethan, but never does anything about it. When things get difficult, she turns away.
Sophia is Cayley's teammate. Unlike Alexa, she easily turns on her friends. She has a sweet side, but she doesn't always let that show. She is entitled and likes (and usually gets) things her way.
Annie is another one of Cayley's teammates. She trains in the same group as Cayley, but is younger. Because of this, she looks up to Cayley as her "gym big sister." Annie has a wonderful sense of humor and is always making jokes to lighten up the mood.
Shannon is a younger teammate of Cayley. Shannon has a happy-go-lucky attitude and is almost always smiling. For the most part, skills come pretty easy for her. Therefore, she doesn't always understand the struggle of others.
Aaliyah is another younger teammate of Cayley. She is close with Shannon and also has an upbeat attitude. Aaliyah has a short attention span and is always "on the go."
Our Inspiration
Words from writer, director, producer Jada Silverstein:
"I was a gymnast for 14 years, and on an elite path for about five of those years. The sport that I loved more than anything slowly became the core of my struggles. I lost much of my childhood innocence and confidence to adults who took advantage of my ability and passion for the sport. I wll never get this time back. Emotional abuse from coaches throughout my time in the sport led to severe anxiety, overuse injuries, self-inflicted injuries, and other deep-seeded issues. Gymnasts are taught that tolerating abuse from coaches shows strength; strength that is necessary for the gymnast to succeed in the sport. This film shows the negative effects of this flawed logic and speaks to any and all people who have experienced emotional/narcissistic abuse, whether in gymnastics, or outside of the gymnastics world. I know many people who have been seriously affected by emotional abuse. Their stories remain untold. I want to change that, and tell my story in honor of all those who have been invalidated and have endured abuse without the opportunity to speak out. We want to create a better, safer future for all gymnasts."
Where are we at in the filming process?
The two year process of writing this script has been long and grueling, but it is finally ready to be shared with the world. Behind Bars is now fully cast and in pre-production. We have had script readthroughs over zoom and have locked in filming dates, which are in early summer. We have a meaningful story and a wonderful cast and crew who believe in the story. Now we just need YOU to believe in the story.
Money Raised
The money raised will be used to:
- Get the equipment we need to make the film the best quality it can be. This includes lights, camera, and a boom mic for sound.
- Pay for location
- Cover post-production fees
- Submit the film to the film festivals around the world
If we surpass our goal, the money will be used to:
- Reimburse our cast who traveled to be part of this film
- Pay our wonderful editors, DP, composer, and main actors for their time; as everyone who is working on this film is volunteering
- Hold a screening for our cast, crew, friends, and family to watch the film together for the first time.
FOLLOW US!
We have a big support system surrounding this film and many people who are invested in it's purpose. When this project is completed, we plan to submit it into all the major film festivals around the world. The film will not be released to the public until it goes through the festival process. Prior to that, details regarding the film's release to the public, trailers, behind the scenes photos and videos, and any updates will be posted on our Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter accounts.
Instagram Link:
YouTube Link:
Twitter Link:
SHARE!
Thank you for reading our story! Please follow and share our page. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated and extremely helpful. We cannot wait to share this film with you all.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable Bi-Color 480 LED Video Light and Stand Lighting Kit
Costs $179
Lighting is important in a good film. I have used these lights before and they work wonders
2 SanDisk 128GB Extreme
Costs $88
An SD card is needed to save footage when filming. We will need a few just in case.
Takstar SGC-600 Camera Microphone, Universal Shotgun Microphone
Costs $31
Microphone to capture sound while filming
Film Festivals
Costs $1,500
We plan to submit to festivals across the world. All these costs combined add up.
Costumes and Makeup
Costs $500
Costumes are important to this film. Our gymnasts will be wearing competition leotards.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Crew:
Jada Silverstein: Jada is the writer, director, and producer of Behind Bars. Jada was a level 10 gymnast for four years and trained elite for five years. After retiring from gymnastics, she competed in the National Ninja Warrior League and trained parkour. Jada began acting at the age of 14 and fell in love. She has taken part in many acting classes and workshops with professional actors, agents, casting directors, and producers. She wrote and directed a short-film, before taking on this project, alongside her classmates. Jada recently booked her first role in a feature-length independent film which she is so excited to share soon. She is extrememly passionate about this story, as it is her own, and she is finally able to tell it after being invalidated and silenced for years. She is looking forward to making this film come to life with the help of her wonderful cast and crew.
Jake Schick: Jake is a filmmaker, writer, and comedian from Brooklyn, New York. Jake will be the Director of Photography for "Behind Bars." As a former college athlete, he understands the importance of the message of this film. Jake cannot wait to get started on filming and bringing this story to life.
Bejamin Jackson:
Benjamin is an editor and cinematographer based in Manhattan. Benjamin will be the editor of "Behind Bars." He loves the art of visual storytelling and is inspired by the plot of this short film.
Ally Carlsten: Ally is an actress, singer, and dancer currently studying musical theatre at NYU Tisch. She was a level 10 gymnast and was homeschooled, training in a pre-elite program six days a week. She has trained at the Olympic Training Site in Texas. Ally will be the Assistent Director of "Behind Bars," as well as a background gymnast. In her free time, Ally loves hanging out with friends. She is working toward a double major in Musical Theater and Psychology! As a past gymnast, Ally knows all about the emoitonal abuse that typically comes with being a gymnast. She is excited to be a part of this project.
Cast:
Marissa Tolero: Marissa is an actress who plays the role of Cayley's mom in "Behind Bars." She was a gymnast when she was younger and also experienced emotional abuse from coaches. She knows the damage that it causes, and wants to raise awareness. She is a great choice for this role.
Charlotte C: Charlotte is a competitive gymnast and actress. She plays the role of "Annie," one of Cayleys teammates, in "Behind Bars." Charlotte loves gymnastics. She has had to overcome many struggles, and understands the harmful effects of abusive coaching. She has recently learned the importance of having a kind, encouraging coach. Charlotte also likes to sing, write her own songs, draw, and play the ukulele.
Yasmin Larson, Milán Madison, Aubree Bradley, Olive Schryver, Camila Sierra, Adele: All of these wonderful actresses will be featured as young background gymnasts in "Behind Bars." They are all unique and talented in their own ways, and love gymnastics. They are so excited to be a part of this film, and we are so excited to see them shine on screen.
Background: We have many actors and gymnasts who understand the importance of this project and believe in the plot. These people have volunteered to be background actors in Behind Bars. They are vital in making the gymnastics setting believable. We are so grateful!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Behind Bars Storyline:
Behind Bars is based on a true story. It follows a young gymnast training to compete at an elite level. In addition to the physical and mental strain common in gymnastics, she endures emotional, verbal, and narcissistic abuse from her coach. Cayley, our lead character, is going through a series of changes in her life. She has severe anxiety, which her coach (Ethan) disregards when it comes to her training and well-being. The support from her teammates begins to diminish, as Ethan makes Cayley out to be the cause of all of their struggles. Alexa is one of the only teammates who sticks by her, seeing past Ethan's malicious attempt to make Cayley the villain. Cayley, however, is too blinded by her dream to recognize that the relationship between her and her coach is detrimental to her well-being, until someone opens her eyes.
"Emotional abuse can be more difficult to recognize than physical violence - though it can be just as damaging" - Olympic Gymnast Laurie Hernandez
After years of being silenced and/or ignored by USAG, many gymnasts have recently come forward with reports of sexual abuse that they endured during their gymnastics careers. The courage of these gymnasts has inspired me to take back my story. With so much upheaval in the sport of gymnastics, now is the perfect time to share my experience and open doors for others who have endured a similar experience.
Meet The Characters:
Cayley is a 13 year old competitive gymnast. She dreams of being an elite level athlete. Cayley is empathetic and has a big heart that is clear in everything she does. She is dedicated, harworking, and talented in her sport. Cayley is a leader, but she doesn't know this. She struggles with severe anxiety and is often unable to recognize her strengths. Cayley looks up to her coach, Ethan, and constantly longs for his approval but continues to be disappointed. Blindsided by her dreams, loyalty, and heart, Cayley is unable to see the danger that is Ethan.
Cayley's Mom and Dad both want the best for their daughter. They have been supportive of all her dreams since she was a little girl. Her dad is very black and white, while her mom is an empath. Cayley's mom is suspicious of Ethan, questioning his ways, but she keeps supporting him, for her daughter.
Ethan is the head gymnastics coach. He is narcissistic, manipulative, and abusive. Ethan is an egotist with a sense of entitlement. He initially entraps Cayley by inflating his own importance, while seemingly caring about her well-being. However, as Cayley's trust grows, Ethan's behavior begins fluctuating from nice and caring, to cold and mean. He is passive-aggressive and often projects his own shortcomings onto Cayley, blaming her and making her the scapegoat when anything goes wrong. Ethan induces self-doubt in Cayley by gaslighting and denying her experiences, leading her to question her own thoughts and emotions.
Alexa is Cayley's teammate. She struggles with anxiety, and is one of the only people that understands Cayley. She has a kind heart and no matter how hard Ethan tries to isolate Cayley from her teammates, Alexa is always there for her. She works hard and is serious about her training.
Jill is the assistant gymnastics coach. She is loud and outgoing when it comes to cheering for her gymnasts or giving out corrections, but silent when it comes to standing up to Ethan. She cares about the girls and sometimes disagrees with Ethan, but never does anything about it. When things get difficult, she turns away.
Sophia is Cayley's teammate. Unlike Alexa, she easily turns on her friends. She has a sweet side, but she doesn't always let that show. She is entitled and likes (and usually gets) things her way.
Annie is another one of Cayley's teammates. She trains in the same group as Cayley, but is younger. Because of this, she looks up to Cayley as her "gym big sister." Annie has a wonderful sense of humor and is always making jokes to lighten up the mood.
Shannon is a younger teammate of Cayley. Shannon has a happy-go-lucky attitude and is almost always smiling. For the most part, skills come pretty easy for her. Therefore, she doesn't always understand the struggle of others.
Aaliyah is another younger teammate of Cayley. She is close with Shannon and also has an upbeat attitude. Aaliyah has a short attention span and is always "on the go."
Our Inspiration
Words from writer, director, producer Jada Silverstein:
"I was a gymnast for 14 years, and on an elite path for about five of those years. The sport that I loved more than anything slowly became the core of my struggles. I lost much of my childhood innocence and confidence to adults who took advantage of my ability and passion for the sport. I wll never get this time back. Emotional abuse from coaches throughout my time in the sport led to severe anxiety, overuse injuries, self-inflicted injuries, and other deep-seeded issues. Gymnasts are taught that tolerating abuse from coaches shows strength; strength that is necessary for the gymnast to succeed in the sport. This film shows the negative effects of this flawed logic and speaks to any and all people who have experienced emotional/narcissistic abuse, whether in gymnastics, or outside of the gymnastics world. I know many people who have been seriously affected by emotional abuse. Their stories remain untold. I want to change that, and tell my story in honor of all those who have been invalidated and have endured abuse without the opportunity to speak out. We want to create a better, safer future for all gymnasts."
Where are we at in the filming process?
The two year process of writing this script has been long and grueling, but it is finally ready to be shared with the world. Behind Bars is now fully cast and in pre-production. We have had script readthroughs over zoom and have locked in filming dates, which are in early summer. We have a meaningful story and a wonderful cast and crew who believe in the story. Now we just need YOU to believe in the story.
Money Raised
The money raised will be used to:
- Get the equipment we need to make the film the best quality it can be. This includes lights, camera, and a boom mic for sound.
- Pay for location
- Cover post-production fees
- Submit the film to the film festivals around the world
If we surpass our goal, the money will be used to:
- Reimburse our cast who traveled to be part of this film
- Pay our wonderful editors, DP, composer, and main actors for their time; as everyone who is working on this film is volunteering
- Hold a screening for our cast, crew, friends, and family to watch the film together for the first time.
FOLLOW US!
We have a big support system surrounding this film and many people who are invested in it's purpose. When this project is completed, we plan to submit it into all the major film festivals around the world. The film will not be released to the public until it goes through the festival process. Prior to that, details regarding the film's release to the public, trailers, behind the scenes photos and videos, and any updates will be posted on our Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter accounts.
Instagram Link:
YouTube Link:
Twitter Link:
SHARE!
Thank you for reading our story! Please follow and share our page. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated and extremely helpful. We cannot wait to share this film with you all.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable Bi-Color 480 LED Video Light and Stand Lighting Kit
Costs $179
Lighting is important in a good film. I have used these lights before and they work wonders
2 SanDisk 128GB Extreme
Costs $88
An SD card is needed to save footage when filming. We will need a few just in case.
Takstar SGC-600 Camera Microphone, Universal Shotgun Microphone
Costs $31
Microphone to capture sound while filming
Film Festivals
Costs $1,500
We plan to submit to festivals across the world. All these costs combined add up.
Costumes and Makeup
Costs $500
Costumes are important to this film. Our gymnasts will be wearing competition leotards.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Crew:
Jada Silverstein: Jada is the writer, director, and producer of Behind Bars. Jada was a level 10 gymnast for four years and trained elite for five years. After retiring from gymnastics, she competed in the National Ninja Warrior League and trained parkour. Jada began acting at the age of 14 and fell in love. She has taken part in many acting classes and workshops with professional actors, agents, casting directors, and producers. She wrote and directed a short-film, before taking on this project, alongside her classmates. Jada recently booked her first role in a feature-length independent film which she is so excited to share soon. She is extrememly passionate about this story, as it is her own, and she is finally able to tell it after being invalidated and silenced for years. She is looking forward to making this film come to life with the help of her wonderful cast and crew.
Jake Schick: Jake is a filmmaker, writer, and comedian from Brooklyn, New York. Jake will be the Director of Photography for "Behind Bars." As a former college athlete, he understands the importance of the message of this film. Jake cannot wait to get started on filming and bringing this story to life.
Bejamin Jackson:
Benjamin is an editor and cinematographer based in Manhattan. Benjamin will be the editor of "Behind Bars." He loves the art of visual storytelling and is inspired by the plot of this short film.
Ally Carlsten: Ally is an actress, singer, and dancer currently studying musical theatre at NYU Tisch. She was a level 10 gymnast and was homeschooled, training in a pre-elite program six days a week. She has trained at the Olympic Training Site in Texas. Ally will be the Assistent Director of "Behind Bars," as well as a background gymnast. In her free time, Ally loves hanging out with friends. She is working toward a double major in Musical Theater and Psychology! As a past gymnast, Ally knows all about the emoitonal abuse that typically comes with being a gymnast. She is excited to be a part of this project.
Cast:
Marissa Tolero: Marissa is an actress who plays the role of Cayley's mom in "Behind Bars." She was a gymnast when she was younger and also experienced emotional abuse from coaches. She knows the damage that it causes, and wants to raise awareness. She is a great choice for this role.
Charlotte C: Charlotte is a competitive gymnast and actress. She plays the role of "Annie," one of Cayleys teammates, in "Behind Bars." Charlotte loves gymnastics. She has had to overcome many struggles, and understands the harmful effects of abusive coaching. She has recently learned the importance of having a kind, encouraging coach. Charlotte also likes to sing, write her own songs, draw, and play the ukulele.
Yasmin Larson, Milán Madison, Aubree Bradley, Olive Schryver, Camila Sierra, Adele: All of these wonderful actresses will be featured as young background gymnasts in "Behind Bars." They are all unique and talented in their own ways, and love gymnastics. They are so excited to be a part of this film, and we are so excited to see them shine on screen.
Background: We have many actors and gymnasts who understand the importance of this project and believe in the plot. These people have volunteered to be background actors in Behind Bars. They are vital in making the gymnastics setting believable. We are so grateful!