Invest in Open Secret: The Film

IF WE LOOK AWAY FROM THIS CHILD ABUSE-it persists. IF WE ACT - it will stop.

New Hanover County Schools had a duty to protect and educate children. How then, is it possible that child sexual assault and discrimination went unchecked within the walls of their schools for generations? The answers are almost too shocking to believe. Which is part of the problem.

Our film exposes the corrupt web of enablers, who time after time, chose to protect sexual predators over the children entrusted into their care. In revealing their methods through this film, we can save future children from the trauma of abuse because protecting even one child is worth a lifelong fight for change.

By investing along side us today, your legacy will be to protecting children from lifelong trauma.

We intend to release Open Secret this summer. In order to bring this cautionary tale to the world, WE NEED YOUR COMMITMENT TODAY.

A message from Kerry David, the filmmaker behind Open Secret:

First of all, thank you so much for investing alongside us in Open Secret.

I started filming Open Secret five years ago with a small crew of passionate filmmakers. What we uncovered fundamentally changed the way we view our educational institutions and forced us to reevaluate the implicit trust we place in those who work in them. Especially those charged with protecting children. uncovered made us reevaluate the implicit trust we place in those who work in and around our educational institutions, especially those charged with protecting children.

We believe it will influence yours too. Open Secret reveals how corruption bleeds from one entity to another until the entire system is broken - and how self-preservation and fear keeps EVERYONE quiet. But what if there was a road map back to safe learning environments for children? 

What we expose in Open Secret WILL prevent predators from walking the halls of schools and save a child from abuse–maybe even yours. 

We NEED your help.

Filming is 80% complete and we share below how we plan to utilize your contributions, but time is running out for a nationwide release this summer. If we want to eradicate child sexual abuse and discriminatory practices on school grounds, we must rally around its prevention and demand better from our institutions. We have to spread awareness and educate both children and adults on how to recognize predatory behaviors. Child abuse thrives on secrecy. Predators, their enablers and even survivors ensure their dark world remains hidden. So it's imperative that WE resist, that we SPEAK UP about ways to end it. Because if we ALSO look away, we become part of the problem. And PREDATORS RELY ON US LOOKING AWAY.

The theme of Open Secret is not victimization-its COURAGE. The courage to speak up about unspeakable things; the courage to stand up for those who can't. You'll be inspired by the courage of a handful of citizens who unite to successfully challenge generational corruption in our film. Their tenacity and ultimate success is not only inspiring, it demonstrates what's possible on a global scale. Recognizing predatory behaviors, lobbying for laws that protect children over predators, and demanding better from our institutions - to hold those who ENABLE predators accountable. Changing current statutes and laws will be an integral part of our mission.

Open Secret is a teaching tool, AND an inspirational journey of a community rising. You’ll meet experts and innovators, authors, news anchors, journalists, elected officials, parents and former faculty members - all in the service of saving future children-and putting school boards on notice. 

Thank you for making Open Secret a film that igniates a movement for child safety.

Kerry David,

Filmmaker

Do you have questions about the investment? Let's connect: Producer.grl@gmail.com

A CLIP FROM OPEN SECRET: How it began....

Whistleblower: Sherri Yelton. Sherri wrote a detailed report outlining sevearl un-investigated allegations of child abuse and racial discrimination within the New Hanover County school district. As a single mom of two, she felt it was her responsibility to raise the alarm and protect children. She paid a high price for her courage as the retaliation that followed was devastating. 

UNCW Professor, Clyde Edgerton, met with similar resistance. He noticed alarming discriminatory practices in his son's Spanish Immersion class that led to an exhaustive investigation. Despite being a tenured professor at UNCW, Clyde also met with retaliation. Unable to enlist any colleagues to help restore equity, he was ultimately banned from all school grounds.

Professor Edgerton was introduced to Sherri Yelton and Reverend Dante’ Murphy, a former NAACP leader, and together they boldly challenged the school district. The small group slowly grew in size … and a movement began.

Documentaries are having a resurgence and part of that has been linked to the popularity of User Generated Content (UGC), considered the fastest growing sector in the entertainment industry.

A CLIP FROM OPEN SECRET: "Passing the Trash"

We interviewed family members, witnesses, experts, and even attorneys representing survivors of sexual abuse–anyone who was willing to speak to us about the inaction and stonewalling they experienced from New Hanover County School District.

Attorney Faith Fox of the Cochran Law Offices in Charlotte, herself a mother, was staggered by the actions of the district towards one of her clients:

There is a term for when teachers are moved from school to school for inappropriate behavior with children: it's called "Passing the Trash.” This is not a new concept and is not unique to New Hanover. It is widespread and it is rampant. If the adults in the room don't act–what chance do children have?

A CLIP FROM OPEN SECRET:

How did Open Secret get its name? Because people knew...A LOT of people knew.

Some were complicit in covering up allegations of abuse and others simply looked the other way. As mandated reporters, many had a legal obligation to report suspected child abuse, but instead they allowed it to happen. They actively allowed children to suffer.

RELEASE STRATEGY FOR OPEN SECRET

Our release strategy is to screen Open Secret theatrically across the United States–in community venues, educational settings, special events–and then globally. Partnering with a social impact specialist, we will strategically release from the east coast to the west coast, with targeted panel discussions and Q&A's after select screenings. The main point of discussion with our viewers will be how we can implement safeguards for children in school and how parents can help prevent abuse.

A CLIP FROM OPEN SECRET: "There were reasons for that fear."

Several families were reluctant to come forward after witnessing retaliation against others in their community. It took Professor Clyde Edgerton and Reverend Dante' Murphy presenting these facts to the School Board of Education (most if not all of whom knew about these allegations having been cc'd on multiple emails and letters from parents and survivors, or cc'd on them).

A CLIP FROM OPEN SECRET:

Journalist to the Chair of the School Board of Education: "Why hold a press conference if you aren't going to answer these questions that everyone in this county wants to know?"

A Powerful Team of Allies And Wide Network:

Open Secret's film crew, growing cast of contributors, experts, investors, podcasters and allies collectively open up a vast marketing network to our team as we release the film.

While this film is very much a passion project for the majority of us, we are incredibly grateful to our investors, without whom, we could not finish and then share this film. This is why we are focused on getting you a return on your investment, while simultaneously sharing information that we believe will SAVE A CHILD'S LIFE.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES ON OPEN SECRET:

We have a wealth of experts speaking up for children in our film, including California trial lawyer Raymond P. Boucher who has successfully settled numerous sexual abuse cases against the Catholic Church, totaling $1.2 billion. Through his work he uncovered how predators operate within the clergy, and their methods are chillingly similar to those within New Hanover County Schools. 

First, they establish trust - within the community, then they groom the families, before targeting the child. Predators often present themselves as mentors, role models or surrogate parents - even earning accolades like “Teacher of the Year,” all carefully crafted to deepen that trust. The deception is so complete, so convincing, that no one could imagine they are capable of such heinous, criminal acts — until it’s too late.

They rely on their carefully crafted relationships to believe them over the child - every time.

Tim Kennedy and Matt Beaudreau, Open Secret contributors and Co-Founders of the successful franchise, Apogee Schools.

Tim Kennedy and Matt Beaudreau, Open Secret contributors and Co-Founders of the successful franchise, Apogee Schools.

Special Forces, Bronze Medal of Courage Recipient, Tim Kennedy and TEDx Speaker, Disruptor and Educator, Matt Beaudreau, Co-Founders of Apogee also support Open Secret.

What's Your Why? Tim Kennedy's "Why"

MMA/UFC fighter, Special Forces, Bronze Medal for Valor, Entrepreneur and Apogee Co-Founder, supports and contributes to our documentary, Open Secret - "What's Your Why?"

Open Secret Director/Producer/Writer interviewed by SuperPowers' Host & Founder, Devin Thorpe:

"It's more than a film, it's a mission."

The clip below is from a recent interview of Open Secret's producer, writer and director, Kerry David and Founder of SuperPowers, Devin Thorpe.

Open Secret's Director, Kerry David, interviewed by Devin Thorpe, host and founder of Super Powers for Good.

"I have the greatest admiration and respect for the survivors and advocates we filmed. They dared greatly against the odds, and challenged the systemic corruption that has traumatized so many children and families in their community.

For me it's simple, their courage and unity deserve to be witnessed." Filmmaker, Kerry David

Child sexual abuse is a global crisis. Our children are under attack, and it demands our attention NOW! Lean in with us. Take this film across the finish line and out into the world where it will raise awareness - and provide tools for prevention against further sexual abuse.

Open Secret: It's more than a film, it's a mission.

Invest with us and follow our journey as we post behind-the-scenes clips and outtakes, links to interviews and podcasts along the way.

Our social media platforms: IG and TikTok (@OpenSecretTheFilm)

SUPER POWERS FOR GOOD CLIP:

Click here for Kerry's Film & TV Credits