Building a better world start at the local level.  Whether that be helping communities organize food drives, volunteer at homeless shelters, or host fund-raising events for the effects of natural disasters.  Creating avenues of outreach at community based levels demands action.  Yet, for a documentary, this phase of the film’s campaign is the most engaging and worthwhile for any filmmaker.  After all, isn’t this why we make documentaries in the first place?  To create change!

In creating Sin by Silence, I had many hats to wear.  Yet, once the film was done and the campaign needed take life, I had to take my Director hat off and take on the role of being the Outreach Coordinator.  It wasn’t an easy task. I had the challenge of transforming the film into a tool that would create a new level of activism for the fight against violence towards women.  Exhausting, but worthwhile.

I had to research the state statistics of domestic violence, and assess where to travel with who would benefit from a screening event.  I had to create strategic partnerships with non-profits and organizations who already had the network and advocacy in place.  I had to organize and create the schedule, logistics of travel, organize the regional data of domestic violence, as well as set in place all promotional and local press connections for each event.  Impossible?  No way!

In the end, the Stop the Violence Tour went to the top 10 states with the worst domestic violence statistics and reach over 5700 in less than 3 months.  We ventured into the “trenches” where the film would have the most impact and biggest ripple effect.  Attendance was amazing, press coverage was incredible, hearts and minds were transformed right in front of me at each and every screening.

My comrade on tour was Brenda Clubine.  She is featured in the film and recently released from prison after 26 years.  Her presence provided the campaign an opportunity to continue extending the message beyond the screen.  She is the living embodiment of the film’s cause, and audience after audience were speechless when I brought her up on stage after they had just experienced her journey from victim to survivor from watching the film.

I could go on and on, but instead click below to see some of the impact…

Tour Assessment

Local Press Coverage

Facebook Page

Outreach and Web Videos

Screening Events

Stop the Violence Network