"Slut: A Documentary Film"
California, United States |
Documentary
In 2013, Halifax teenager Rehtaeh Parsons took her own life after being raped and ostracized by her classmates. Through the stories of four women who overcame various sexual shaming, this film explores how we can work toward a world where the word "slut" doesn't even make sense as an insult.
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This campaign raised $31,060 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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In 2013, Halifax teenager Rehtaeh Parsons took her own life after being raped and ostracized by her classmates. Through the stories of four women who overcame various sexual shaming, this film explores how we can work toward a world where the word "slut" doesn't even make sense as an insult.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
The Story
After hearing about the death of Rehtaeh Parsons in 2013, I started The UnSlut Project by blogging my own diary entries from when I was labeled the school "slut" in middle school and considered committing suicide. I wanted to share my story as a way to offer hope to girls who, fifteen years later, are going through something similar. The UnSlut Project has since expanded into a supportive online community where people from all over the world can share their experiences overcoming what is often called "slut" shaming. The UnSlut Project's goal is to inspire cultural change through personal story sharing and, most importantly, to reach girls who are currently suffering with the message that they, too, can survive and go on to lead full, successful lives. Finishing "Slut: A Documentary Film" and sharing it with as broad an audience as possible is an important part of reaching that goal.
Along with The UnSlut Project's ongoing work and the upcoming publication of my diary by Zest Books, "Slut: A Documentary Film" will reach a wide audience with the message that we all need to take part in changing our cultural understanding of female sexuality, so that girls are not labeled "sluts" for their perceived sexuality or, in the most tragic cases, after they have been sexually assaulted.
In August, 2013, we used Kickstarter to raise $19,578 for production of this film. With days to go before our deadline, we still had a significant amount of money to raise. That's when I got a phone call from WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Mick Foley, who surprised me by telling me he is also a former volunteer at RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) and that he wanted to become our executive producer. He generously offered to match donations until we reached our goal, which we did!
Over the past year and a half, my co-director Jessica and I have traveled all over North America to interview women who wanted to share their stories of overcoming sexual shaming, the family and friends of Rehtaeh Parsons, and various sexologists, women's advocates, media figures, and academics. Our goal was to continue the tradition of personal story sharing that has been a part of The UnSlut Project since I first shared my middle school diaries online, and furthermore to explore how we got here and the specific steps we can take toward personal, community, and societal change.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editor
Costs $16,000
Great editing will help us share these compelling stories in the most meaningful way possible.
Sound Editor
Costs $2,500
Effective sound editing will help us get these women's stories heard.
Graphic Designer
Costs $10,000
Infographics and animation will help the audience visualize the issues our interviewees describe.
Composer
Costs $1,000
Music helps us draw the audience in and convey the complex emotions behind these stories.
Festival Fees
Costs $500
We want to show our film to as many people as possible! Festivals are a great way to do that.
Share this update!
About This Team
Since founding The UnSlut Project, I have shared its message and my own personal experience with sexual shaming on ABC with Katie Couric, CNN with Brooke Baldwin, Al Jazeera America, HLN with Kyra Phillips, NPR with Lance Orozco, DNTO Radio with Sook-Yin Lee, Deutsche Welle Radio, Radio Ireland, and on many other programs, magazines, and blogs including The Observer, El Pais, and The Huffington Post. I also presented a talk called "Discover Confidence" about overcoming bullying at TEDxYouth Toronto in 2013.
As a first-time filmmaker, I asked my best friend and former Harvard classmate Jessica Caimi to come on board as my co-director. Together, we used the funds we had raised on Kickstarter to travel all over North America to interview women who wanted to share their stories with us.
Our core post-production team also includes editor Jean Kawahara, who has been donating her time to use as a consultant throughout production, and whom we are excited to be able to finally pay for her time and wonderful work.
Our producer is WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Mick Foley, who represents the inspiring and often unexpected connections that can be made when we are brave enough to start conversations. Now a best-selling author and spoken-word performer, Mick was recognized for his long-time volunteer work at RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) at Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in 2010, where he was awarded a "Medal of Reasonableness."
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
The Story
After hearing about the death of Rehtaeh Parsons in 2013, I started The UnSlut Project by blogging my own diary entries from when I was labeled the school "slut" in middle school and considered committing suicide. I wanted to share my story as a way to offer hope to girls who, fifteen years later, are going through something similar. The UnSlut Project has since expanded into a supportive online community where people from all over the world can share their experiences overcoming what is often called "slut" shaming. The UnSlut Project's goal is to inspire cultural change through personal story sharing and, most importantly, to reach girls who are currently suffering with the message that they, too, can survive and go on to lead full, successful lives. Finishing "Slut: A Documentary Film" and sharing it with as broad an audience as possible is an important part of reaching that goal.
Along with The UnSlut Project's ongoing work and the upcoming publication of my diary by Zest Books, "Slut: A Documentary Film" will reach a wide audience with the message that we all need to take part in changing our cultural understanding of female sexuality, so that girls are not labeled "sluts" for their perceived sexuality or, in the most tragic cases, after they have been sexually assaulted.
In August, 2013, we used Kickstarter to raise $19,578 for production of this film. With days to go before our deadline, we still had a significant amount of money to raise. That's when I got a phone call from WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Mick Foley, who surprised me by telling me he is also a former volunteer at RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) and that he wanted to become our executive producer. He generously offered to match donations until we reached our goal, which we did!
Over the past year and a half, my co-director Jessica and I have traveled all over North America to interview women who wanted to share their stories of overcoming sexual shaming, the family and friends of Rehtaeh Parsons, and various sexologists, women's advocates, media figures, and academics. Our goal was to continue the tradition of personal story sharing that has been a part of The UnSlut Project since I first shared my middle school diaries online, and furthermore to explore how we got here and the specific steps we can take toward personal, community, and societal change.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editor
Costs $16,000
Great editing will help us share these compelling stories in the most meaningful way possible.
Sound Editor
Costs $2,500
Effective sound editing will help us get these women's stories heard.
Graphic Designer
Costs $10,000
Infographics and animation will help the audience visualize the issues our interviewees describe.
Composer
Costs $1,000
Music helps us draw the audience in and convey the complex emotions behind these stories.
Festival Fees
Costs $500
We want to show our film to as many people as possible! Festivals are a great way to do that.
Share this update!
About This Team
Since founding The UnSlut Project, I have shared its message and my own personal experience with sexual shaming on ABC with Katie Couric, CNN with Brooke Baldwin, Al Jazeera America, HLN with Kyra Phillips, NPR with Lance Orozco, DNTO Radio with Sook-Yin Lee, Deutsche Welle Radio, Radio Ireland, and on many other programs, magazines, and blogs including The Observer, El Pais, and The Huffington Post. I also presented a talk called "Discover Confidence" about overcoming bullying at TEDxYouth Toronto in 2013.
As a first-time filmmaker, I asked my best friend and former Harvard classmate Jessica Caimi to come on board as my co-director. Together, we used the funds we had raised on Kickstarter to travel all over North America to interview women who wanted to share their stories with us.
Our core post-production team also includes editor Jean Kawahara, who has been donating her time to use as a consultant throughout production, and whom we are excited to be able to finally pay for her time and wonderful work.
Our producer is WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Mick Foley, who represents the inspiring and often unexpected connections that can be made when we are brave enough to start conversations. Now a best-selling author and spoken-word performer, Mick was recognized for his long-time volunteer work at RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) at Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in 2010, where he was awarded a "Medal of Reasonableness."