California's Forgotten Children is a powerful documentary resource directed by Melody C. Miller that illuminates the stories of resilient survivors who have triumphed over the harrowing experience of commercial sexual exploitation as children. The film serves as a beacon of empowerment, illustrating how these survivors are not only overcoming their past but actively working to change the world.
The film introduces us to survivor advocates who have overcome exploitation and now champion the rights of trafficking survivors, as well as others who champion the rights of the exploited such as child welfare workers and educators, legal experts, law enforcement, and even former gang members. The documentary goes beyond recounting personal narratives, offering viewers tangible tools to combat the epidemic of child exploitation. By providing insights into the survivors' journeys and the challenges they faced, California's Forgotten Children aims to raise awareness and equip the audience with the knowledge needed to address this issue.
The documentary is uncompromising in its depictions of child sex trafficking, making it difficult to watch at times, though it is absolutely necessary to fully convey the severity and surprising prevalence of these crimes, as well as the impact these experiences have had on those who have survived them. Melody C. Miller, the director behind California's Forgotten Children, is both a filmmaker and a dedicated advocate for the rights of women and children. Driven by a passion for social causes, Miller uses her storytelling skills to create a positive impact on the world. From the onset of her career, she has been committed to amplifying the voices and stories of issues close to her heart. Her films go beyond entertainment; they form a movement for change.
Miller's involvement with a local non-profit exposed her to the harsh reality of students being trafficked in her high school. Fueled by a sense of responsibility, she harnessed her filmmaking skills to raise awareness and equip communities to combat this grave issue. Even before graduating from university, Miller rallied 100 influential artists and 20 organizations to join her in the fight against trafficking, resulting in the creation of California's Forgotten Children. The film has received numerous awards and honors, such as Best Documentary at the Soho International Film Festival and the Rising Filmmaker Award at the Riverside International Film Festival.
The documentary is a testament to Miller's dedication and hard work and serves as a tool for raising awareness and fostering change–the film's key mission is to ensure that no child is forgotten in the fight against commercial sexual exploitation. By shedding light on the survivors' strength and resilience, California's Forgotten Children becomes a rallying cry for action and advocacy. The stories featured in the documentary, though heartbreaking, will inspire viewers to contribute to a world where every child can live free from exploitation, and interesting discussions about the role of popular culture and the objectification of women will encourage viewers to re-think societal norms.
California's Forgotten Children is a poignant documentary resource that intimately explores the triumphs of survivors, activists, and law enforcement in the fight against commercial sexual exploitation; it is a compelling narrative that not only informs but deeply resonates, offering a concise yet impactful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the unwavering commitment to justice. Though the subject matter is dark and often disturbing, Miller's direction captures the essence of resilience, advocacy, and hope in the face of adversity, making this documentary a must-watch for those seeking insight into the fight against child exploitation.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
California’s Forgotten Children would be a great addition to documentary film and academic collections.
What subjects or college majors would benefit from the content covered in this film?
Students enrolled in Women’s Studies, Social Justice, Social Work, Law, and Criminal Justice majors will benefit from a viewing of California’s Forgotten Children and those studying to work with children and other social services.
How would audiences react to this screening?
Though audiences may be disturbed by the subject matter, it is important to note that these terrifying circumstances children are subjected to are unfortunately much more prevalent than most people are aware of. Awareness is a vital step in ending the exploitation of vulnerable women and children. Despite the shocking testimonies of survivors, there is a feeling of perseverance that makes it a compelling watch.
Director's Bio
Melody C. Miller is an Emmy Award-Winning documentary filmmaker and cinematographer whose clear creative vision and human rights advocacy has made her films a powerful voice for change promoting understanding, empathy, and action. She has produced and directed two critically acclaimed feature documentaries that have had a positive impact on audiences worldwide. California's Forgotten Children sheds light on an important human rights issue, received recognition at the United State Senate for fostering a movement to help protect children. While her electrifying film about one of the influential poets of the Beat Generation, ruth weiss, the beat goddess earned an Emmy Award for Best Historical and Cultural Documentary.
Director's Statement
In high school, I watched a documentary about child trafficking. I was enraged and heartbroken by this horrific crime being done to children. A fire ignited within me and I felt a profound urge to take action, to make a difference. So, I signed up to volunteer at MISSSEY, an organization that motivates, inspires, supports, and serves sexually exploited youth in Oakland. At the time, I thought I would be helping children in other countries, but I discovered that students from my own high school were victims of exploitation. So I was not allowed to meet the youth I was helping. Regardless of that, I dived into the cause, volunteering tirelessly to support survivors and the organizations fighting this battle. I would sweep floors, collect general necessities, wrap birthday and holiday presents, and help fundraise.
Years later, my commitment to the cause continued, and I asked what the movement needed as a documentary. Armed with my skills as a filmmaker, I embarked on a mission to raise awareness and give communities the tools and knowledge needed to combat this epidemic. They connected me with organizations across California and prominent survivors leaders in the movement and I began making the documentary. I was a recent college graduate from UCLA, I didn’t have any money and I didn’t even have a car but I had skills, talent, and friends so we worked together to make this film on a shoestring budget. My journey led to the creation of California's Forgotten Children, a powerful documentary that became a movement to bring about change.
California's Forgotten Children has reached thousands of people internationally, sparking conversations and raising awareness about the prevalence of child sex trafficking. The film's reach has been vast, from airing on PBS channels to being screened at prestigious events like the United States of Women Summit and the United States Senate. Even tech giants like Facebook recognized the film's impact, using it to train their international staff to protect at-risk individuals and hiring survivor leaders from the film to aid them.
We collaborate with schools, government bodies, health services, crisis services, juvenile justice, and community centers, holding screenings and discussions to educate students, policy leaders, and communities. The film serves as a crucial tool to initiate conversations about prevention, protection, and prosecution. We have worked diligently to create a trauma-informed guidebook to accompany the film, ensuring it becomes a part of essential Health & Safety courses. The film has aided victims of abuse, homelessness, and exploitation in classrooms with the support of crisis centers and the police department.
Through film screenings, it has been used to fundraise for safe homes and direct services for victims of commercial sexual exploitation, sexual assault, homelessness, and HIV/AIDS. We also have an Ambassador program with the film that creates jobs and opportunities for survivor leaders with the film. But our work is far from over. We stand committed to donating the net proceeds from our film to the organizations featured in it, as well as others we have encountered along this arduous journey. And that is where you come in. Your voice, your influence, and your encouragement can make all the difference. By advocating for our cause, sharing our film and hosting a screening of it in your community, bringing it to your schools, you can help magnify our impact.
Accolades
- United Nations Associations World Day Against Trafficking
- United State of Women Summit
- United State Senate Winner Best Documentary - Soho International Film Festival
- Winner Best Topical Documentary at the 53rd Annual Public Media Awards NETA
- Winner of Rising Filmmaker Award - Riverside International Film Festival
- Winner of Best Director - Chico International Film Festival
- Winner the Orson Welles Award - the California Film Awards
- Winner Best Documentary - Angeles Documentary
- Nominated for Best Social Issue - San Diego International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival
- Nominated for Special Jury Award at the Montana International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Oakland International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Newport Beach International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Riverside International Film Festival
- Nominated for Audience Choice Award at the Riverside International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Social Awareness Award at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Long Beach Indie International Film Festival
- Nominated for Dolores Huerta Award at the Long Beach Indie International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Chico Independent Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Awareness Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Justice for All Film Festival
- Nominated for Special Jury Award at the BraveMaker Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Documentary at the Courage Film Festival
Awards
- Winner Best Documentary - Soho International Film Festival
- Winner Best Topical Documentary at the 53rd Annual Public Media Awards NETA
- Winner of Rising Filmmaker Award - Riverside International Film Festival
- Winner of Best Director - Chico International Film Festival
- Winner the Orson Welles Award - the California Film Awards
- Winner Best Documentary - Angeles Documentary
- Nominated for Best Social Issue - San Diego International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival
- Nominated for Special Jury Award at the Montana International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Oakland International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Newport Beach International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Riverside International Film Festival
- Nominated for Audience Choice Award at the Riverside International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Social Awareness Award at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Long Beach Indie International Film Festival
- Nominated for Dolores Huerta Award at the Long Beach Indie International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Chico Independent Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Awareness Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Justice for All Film Festival
- Nominated for Special Jury Award at the BraveMaker Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Documentary at the Courage Film Festival
Festival and Special Screenings
- United Nations Associations World Day Against Trafficking
- United State of Women Summit
- United State Senate Winner Best Documentary - Soho International Film Festival
- Winner Best Topical Documentary at the 53rd Annual Public Media Awards NETA
- Winner of Rising Filmmaker Award - Riverside International Film Festival
- Winner of Best Director - Chico International Film Festival
- Winner the Orson Welles Award - the California Film Awards
- Winner Best Documentary - Angeles Documentary
- Nominated for Best Social Issue - San Diego International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival
- Nominated for Special Jury Award at the Montana International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Oakland International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Newport Beach International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Riverside International Film Festival
- Nominated for Audience Choice Award at the Riverside International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Social Awareness Award at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Long Beach Indie International Film Festival
- Nominated for Dolores Huerta Award at the Long Beach Indie International Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Chico Independent Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Awareness Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Justice for All Film Festival
- Nominated for Special Jury Award at the BraveMaker Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Documentary at the Courage Film Festival
- UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
- California Department of Social Services
- American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Facebook Global Headquarters
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OUR REACH & IMPACT
Fueled by powerful stories and a desire to foster change alongside our partners across the globe, California’s Forgotten Children has become a movement. We have reached thousands of people internationally raising awareness about the prevalence of child sex trafficking through festival and community screenings. We are mobilizing change within communities by partnering with local advocates and survivor leaders, and we are inspiring education reform that advocates for bringing an end to the exploitation of children. Our expanding network includes partners on the ground that range from non-profits, government organizations, and survivors and now YOU!
It is at the heart of California’s Forgotten Children's mission to bring impact that sparks important conversations and connects with audiences around the world to create change. This film gives viewers the tools to combat this epidemic and empowers survivors on their path to freedom. Let's put an end to commercial sexual exploitation and not leave any child forgotten.
RAISING AWARENESS
Currently airing on PBS, our film aired on 44 channels and reached millions of people across the nation. Screened at the United Nations Association World Day Against Trafficking 2023. Screened with a panel discussion at the 2018 United States of Women Summit, where former first lady Michelle Obama was the keynote speaker. Screened at FACEBOOK HEADQUARTERS in California, Texas, and Dublin, Ireland to train an international staff in protecting at-risk people from real-world harm. Before and after the documentary, Facebook staff had a powerful discussion with the Ambassadors from the film to formulate strategies for protecting children. Brought audiences and local human rights organizations together in the United States, Nepal, and the United Kingdom to discuss the film and how it relates to their community.Launched an Impact Campaign to have 100 screenings around the world for the year 2019.
MOBILIZING CHANGE
In June 2019, it screened on Capitol Hill at the United States Senate encouraging policymakers in creating and implementing laws and policies to combat trafficking, and resources for prevention, protection, and prosecution. Thank you Senator Kamala Harris for making this possible. 90+ grassroots community partner organizations and corporate partners engaged and active in work with California’s Forgotten Children. Established ongoing partnerships with the Department of Social Services, District Attorney’s Offices in California, foster care systems, juvenile halls, crisis centers, and health services organizations. Reached students, educational institutions, corporate employees, and policy leaders through screenings of the film. Helped fundraise for safe homes, crisis centers, and direct services for victims of commercial sexual exploitation, sexual assault, homelessness, and HIV/AIDS.
EDUCATION
Collaborated with a local crisis center and the police for screenings held at six high schools to educate thousands of students, including community screenings where families of students were encouraged to attend. The film has already helped several victims who have reached out for help. Worked to create an interactive guidebook that accompanies the film and will be integrated into Health & Safety courses. Screened at Universities and Community Colleges across the country. Translated into Spanish and subtitled to reach a more inclusive audience; currently being translated into more languages to reach an even wider audience. California’s Forgotten Children started with the intention of highlighting the stories of survivors and advocates to shine a light on the epidemic of child sex trafficking within our communities. It has transformed into a movement to educate and mobilize in the fight to end the unlawful trafficking of minors. Our expanding network includes partners on the ground that range from nonprofits, government organizations, and survivors themselves.