"In Our Backyard" is an investigative look into the widely unknown and unspoken world of sex trafficking in Brooklyn, documenting the emotional stories of three recent survivors while also presenting the work of determined aid organizations, law enforcement agencies and politicians. The film aims to raise awareness and fight this serious epidemic.
FESTIVALS & AWARDS
Excited to Announce "In Our Backyard" was selected as the opening night feature film
at The Big Apple Film Festival where the film was awarded the "Best Feature Documentary"
AWARDS
"In Our Backyard" was selected to have it's Brooklyn Premiere at The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival on June 11th, 2016 at Saint Francis College.
“In Our Backyard” has won Best Documentary and the Audience Choice Award in The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and Best Documentary in the Big Apple Film Festival. Recently in 2020 it won again the Best Documentary and the Audience Choice Award. The film was also awarded the “Silver Spotlight Award”. “In Our Backyard” has had had over 30 screenings where Danielle Rose has spoken on panels with Survivors, Detectives, Representatives of NYPD, the NYC Public Advocate, Politicians and many more. The film has been screened at The United Nations, The NYPD Intelligence Bureau, Maimonides Medical Center, The Brooklyn Public Library main branch, The Brooklyn Historical Society, art galleries, many schools, and diverse places of worship. Danielle and the survivor advocates have been interviewed by BRIC Arts Media, NY1 (twice) and Salon regarding the film. The film has also been used to help pass new legislation in New York State and continues to be an education tool across the country. This happens in our backyards.
PRESS
Danielle was honored to be invited by ECPAT USA to speak about her documentary and sex trafficking at the UN Conference for the Commission on the Status of Women.
Please watch the live interview with filmmaker Danielle Rose and Survivor Iryna on BRIC TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1yVQtqeKFY
“I AM AN EMPOWERED SURVIVOR OF INTERNATIONAL SEX TRAFFICKING AS AN ADULT, AND OF SEXUAL ABUSE, ASSAULT AND EXPLOITATION AS AN ADOLESCENT, AND AS I WATCHED YOUR MOVIE, I FELT AS THOUGH I WERE SITTING IN THE STANDS CHEERING AS MY TEAM HIT HOME RUN AFTER HOME RUN. AS A SURVIVOR AND ADVOCATE, I THANK YOU! THIS IS A FILM EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE.
MARTI MACGIBBON, SURVIVOR, SPEAKER, ADVOCATE”
MISSION STATEMENT
When people think of sex trafficking most think it only happens in countries such asIndia, Thailand and the Dominican Republic. We often pretend that it doesn’t happen here. It is however estimated that 100,000 children are in the sex industry right now in the United States. New York City is a major hub, making our beloved Brooklyn a prime location for sex trafficking.
Awareness is the key to fighting this epidemic. The film can be used weapon for change and a tool to help prevent sex trafficking. Sex trafficking does happen in Brooklyn and the world needs to know. By submitting “In Our Backyard” to film festivals worldwide, showing the film in schools, religious spaces and other areas where humans congregate, "In Our Backyard" can reach a potentially vulnerable audience. It can also educate bringing more to an awareness of the problem.
Even if one person can be saved by seeing the film, then the film has achieved it’s goal. As the film receives more publicity and has more screenings, audiences will feel empowered to do their part in joining the fight to end sex trafficking. Together we can save many!
Looking just at the borough of Brooklyn, you begin to realize the extent of the problem in New York City, the Country and the World. “In Our Backyard” is a universal story.
We need to step up as a community and look into the space we live, work and play and make sure this is
#NOTInOurBackyard
BIOS
Filmmaker:
Danielle Rose, 26, producer, director, cinematographer, editor and award winning filmmaker was born and raised in Brooklyn. She attended Saint Ann's School for thirteen years (where they injected her with art). She went on to continue at Sarah Lawrence College and spent her junior year at Columbia University studying film and anthropology. She was searching for herself in the world of fine arts, writing, anthropology, activism and storytelling. Her epiphany: Documentary.
During her last year at Sarah Lawrence under the guidance of devoted teachers and mentors she went from not knowing how to use a camera, worrying if the sound was being recorded, losing footage and lugging around equipment to finishing her first feature length documentary four years later, "In Our Backyard."
She felt honored to have the opportunity to interview the fierce survivors, the dedicated activists and politicians. She would call making this film nothing short of a major "journey."
In her words: "Documentary allows you to enter the front lines of a story, investigate and increase awareness of our common environment while learning about ourselves along the way."
She just completed her Master of Science degree at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism- along with the specialization: The "Documentary Project."
Editor:
Lennon Nersesian is an American writer and editor. Lennon is the editor of the award-winning 2014 documentary, TWO: THE STORY OF ROMAN & NYRO, about Desmond Child’s ten-year journey to parenthood. Lennon made his directorial debut in 2013 with the music video for artist Levi Hummon's first single, “Make it Love,” in consideration for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture. Lennon has produced and written over 20 youth sports instructional videos for Youth Sports Club, the leading provider of sports instruction. In addition to filmmaking, Lennon is a published author of three novels, THE GREEN DOOR, ATOM and PALISADES.Lennon has written several award-winning screenplays, including “National Pastime,” winner of the 2005 Expose It! Comedy Screenwriting Competition.Lennon is a graduate of Fordham University, where he wrote, produced, and directed three dramatic plays performed at Fordham’s Backdoor Theatre. Lennon won First Prize at the inaugural Fordham Film Festival for his short dramatic film, “Repent.”
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Filmmaker: Danielle Rose
Email: InOurBackyardBK@gmail.com
Twitter: @InOurBackyardBK
FB: InOurBackyardBK
© Danielle Rose 2018 All Rights Reserved.
