"Shadows in the Darkness" Feature Film

"Shadows in the Darkness" is the working title for a feature film about sex-trafficked American boys. It is based on my book, Wretch - Haunted by Shadows, Rescued by Jesus. I was trafficked in the USA from ages 5 to 10, and otherwise sexually assaulted until age 19. At age 7, I was used in child sexual abuse material along with another boy, a girl and 3 adults. By the time I was 10, I had been taught to drink alcohol, smoke and knew all about pornography.

Studies since 2002 show that boys are half the victims in the USA and globally too, yet they receive almost no support and have little voice in the public arena about abused children. The truth is that one in four American-born boys or girls will be abused verbally, physically, emotionally or sexually by the time they reach age 18. It is not just happening in other countries, or to children smuggled over the US borders. What happened to me began in a small mid-western town of about 5500 people, and it continues to happen in most US communities today. Almost 35% of those who abused me as a pre-teen boy were women too.

Today I have been set free from shame, guilt and fear. I am an ordained pastor, and through my work with Starfish Ministries, almost 6 million people worldwide have heard my testimony. I also work with two prison ministries with convicted sex offenders. That's the hook to this film, how I went from broken boy to being a pastor who gets to tell sex offenders about a grace that is more powerful than sin. I have forgiven my abusers too.

Children are trafficked here too, and people need to wake up to that fact. Together we can change that reality for kids trapped in that sad world today.

This fund-raiser supports the development of a film script. The cost to hire a writer through the Writer's Guild of America is around $160,000 to get a script the studios will consider. I invested $54,000 from my retirement fund to start the process and now have a WGA writer, a treatment and a story outline. We need around $120,000 to cover the balance of the WGA contract and related fees. I can also provide a contract that provides two options; either a direct donation or repayment based on box-office receipts at 5% interest, if a studio green-lights the project. We can provide a detailed breakdown of the remaining steps and costs to get a complete script.

In the name of transparency, repayment is not a guarantee. Investing in a feature film production involves risk, but if recent films are any indicator I believe that my writer will produce a script that a studio will turn into a film. My story is not a sad story but one of victory. If you believe in this message, please consider supporting us.