Feature-Length Documentary, “Stolen Innocence,” Seeks Funds via Kickstarter to Expose Human Trafficking in India

By: Aug. 28, 2014
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Two filmmakers are currently crowdfunding their human trafficking documentary on Kickstarter in hopes of raising $100,000 by September 7, 2014. The film, titled "Stolen Innocence," has raised $34,000 to date. Creators Casey Allred and Chris Davis aim to use the film to arm viewers with knowledge, inspire them with the strength of the victims and motivate them with the heroic efforts of activists.

Four years ago, producer Casey Allred opened his first school in Northern India to help educate India's poorest children. Over time, he noticed that many girls who were originally enrolled in his school did not return. He was shocked to learn that many of these girls were disappearing from their families and trafficked into the sex industry.

"I was shocked that girls as young as 13 years old were being trafficked," Allred said. "The issue became personal to me, and I quickly made it my mission to inform people around the world and fight the problem directly in India"

Allred teamed up with director Chris Davis and the pair has been shooting their film for The Past six months. Allred and Davis have traveled across India and filmed in numerous cities to piece together the inside story of this hidden world. Rather than shoot a sterile, depressing chronicle, the pair has Documented the forces behind trafficking, the industry's rapid growth, and why lawmakers are doing nothing to prevent it. In an attempt to examine every angle and every story, Allred and Davis have filmed and interviewed everyone from brothel owners, pimps and customers to survivors, rescue workers and anti-trafficking activists.

About half of the documentary has been filmed already, but an estimated $100,000 is needed to finish filming and put the documentary through post-production. Allred and Davis have chosen to crowdfund because they want to involve the world in this project, and encourage a movement to fight human trafficking. Educating girls is the number one preventor of sex trafficking; therefore, eventual proceeds from the film will fund all-girl schools in India.

For just $25, campaign contributors can reserve their own digital copy of "Stolen Innocence," as well as an exclusive and early online screening of the documentary. Larger contributions earn additional rewards such as professional prints signed by the filmmakers, tickets to the film premier in San Francisco and a mention in the film credits. To learn more and contribute to the campaign, visit http://bit.ly/StolenInnocenceFilm.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

Producer Casey Allred started in international development at the age of 19 while residing in Albania for two years. While attending college at Utah State University, he started a nonprofit organization, Effect International. In 2013, he founded Effect.org, a social enterprise that operates affordable private schools in India. Director Chris Davis started his film career at the age of 15 with short films and documentaries. His Passion for travel and culture began at age 19, when he lived in Guatemala for some time. For The Past two decades, he has worked professionally to tell the stories of people and cultures around the world through both motion and still photography. For more information, visit http://www.stolendocumentary.com.



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