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.
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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Story
About The Project
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.
Incentives
$10
SHOUT OUT
You'll get a shout out from The UnSlut Project on Twitter and Facebook! Plus, your photo will be included in the mosaic movie poster! It will be an awesome photo collage of all of you, plus our Kickstarter backers who helped to make this project a reality. Note: You can totally opt out of having your photo included.
$50
AWESOME SHIRT
You'll get one of our signature Define "Slut" shirts. These soft, high-quality shirts are available in all V-neck and Unisex sizes, and they're great for starting conversations! + PERSONAL THANK YOU and SHOUT OUT incentives.
$100
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
You'll get a free digital download of "Slut: A Documentary Film" once it's finished! + AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives.
$250
SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS
Your name will be listed in the "Special Thanks" section of "Slut: A Documentary Film" once it's finished! + DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives.
$500
SNEAK-PREVIEW EVENT
You'll get admission for 2 to a special sneak-preview viewing of the completed film in San Francisco, California! + SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives. (Does not include cost of travel or accommodations.)
$1,000
VIP TICKETS
You'll get 2 VIP tickets to the "Slut: A Documentary Film" United States or Canadian premiere! + SNEAK-PREVIEW EVENT, SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives. (Cost of travel and accommodations not included.)
$2,500
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT
You'll be credited as an Associate Producer of "Slut: A Documentary Film"! + VIP TICKETS, SNEAK-PREVIEW EVENT, SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives.
$5,000
UNSLUT WORKSHOP OR LECTURE
I will come to your school or community center and present an UnSlut Project workshop or lecture! + ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT, VIP TICKETS, SNEAK-PREVIEW EVENT, SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives. (Includes cost of my travel and accommodations within the US and Canada.)
$10,000
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREDIT
You'll be credited as an Executive Producer of "Slut: A Documentary Film"! + UNSLUT WORKSHOP OR LECTURE, VIP TICKETS, SNEAK-PREVIEW EVENT, SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives.
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
SHOUT OUT
You'll get a shout out from The UnSlut Project on Twitter and Facebook! Plus, your photo will be included in the mosaic movie poster! It will be an awesome photo collage of all of you, plus our Kickstarter backers who helped to make this project a reality. Note: You can totally opt out of having your photo included.
$50
AWESOME SHIRT
You'll get one of our signature Define "Slut" shirts. These soft, high-quality shirts are available in all V-neck and Unisex sizes, and they're great for starting conversations! + PERSONAL THANK YOU and SHOUT OUT incentives.
$100
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
You'll get a free digital download of "Slut: A Documentary Film" once it's finished! + AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives.
$250
SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS
Your name will be listed in the "Special Thanks" section of "Slut: A Documentary Film" once it's finished! + DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives.
$500
SNEAK-PREVIEW EVENT
You'll get admission for 2 to a special sneak-preview viewing of the completed film in San Francisco, California! + SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives. (Does not include cost of travel or accommodations.)
$1,000
VIP TICKETS
You'll get 2 VIP tickets to the "Slut: A Documentary Film" United States or Canadian premiere! + SNEAK-PREVIEW EVENT, SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives. (Cost of travel and accommodations not included.)
$2,500
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT
You'll be credited as an Associate Producer of "Slut: A Documentary Film"! + VIP TICKETS, SNEAK-PREVIEW EVENT, SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives.
$5,000
UNSLUT WORKSHOP OR LECTURE
I will come to your school or community center and present an UnSlut Project workshop or lecture! + ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT, VIP TICKETS, SNEAK-PREVIEW EVENT, SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives. (Includes cost of my travel and accommodations within the US and Canada.)
$10,000
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREDIT
You'll be credited as an Executive Producer of "Slut: A Documentary Film"! + UNSLUT WORKSHOP OR LECTURE, VIP TICKETS, SNEAK-PREVIEW EVENT, SPECIAL THANKS IN CREDITS, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AWESOME SHIRT, PERSONAL THANK YOU, and SHOUT OUT incentives.
- Updates
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Current Team
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."
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