SUMMARY

This isn't a story about one predator. It's a story about a fractured system, and the courageous few who united to dismantle it. We're in the final stretch: $30,000 stands between this film and a finished edit ready to show distributors.

For five years we filmed a small group of courageous parents, journalists, elected officials and former law enforcement in New Hanover County, North Carolina doing what countless institutions around them refused to do: confront systemic corruption with the truth, and demand accountability.

Every dollar invested in Open Secret protects a child you'll never meet from a predator counting on your indifference. That's not a metaphor. It's the mechanism. Open Secret exposes generational child sexual abuse in a public school district that had documented proof and consistently chose reputation and predator protection over child safety.

OPEN SECRET FILM CLIP: Assistant D.A. Connie Jordan

Judge: "Are you Condemning the school system?"

Connie Jordan: 'How can I not?"

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

There are films you choose, and films that choose you.

Open Secret chose me in 2020, when a community in Wilmington, North Carolina trusted me with truths they had carried alone for decades. What began as a story about institutional failure became, over five years of filming, a documented record of calculated betrayal - of children, of families, of every adult punished for trying to stop it.

My previous films have collectively won 75+ international and domestic festival awards, been reviewed and segmented on CNN, BBC, and The Today Show, and my last documentary earned a TEDx invitation. I share that so you know I understand the difference between a story worth telling and one worth fighting for. Open Secret is both.

What I wasn't prepared for was the human cost of bearing witness. We filmed a whistleblower, a single mother of two, who documented child endangerment, brought it to every school board member, and was demoted, relocated, cut in salary, and had her reputation and peace of mind permanently altered. Why? For bringing attention to child endangerment instances she had documented and believed to be a direct threat to the children in their school. We filmed families on the side lines who stayed silent for years after watching what happened to her.

And then we filmed the ones who refused to stay silent.

This is the film I'm asking you to help me finish. Not because the story is easy, but because it's necessary right now. With national attention for demanding accountability for crimes against children, the window is open.

Your investment finishes the edit and post-production. It also helps fuel a national child safety curriculum in development with Shark Tank winner Brandi Dugal, whose programs already reach 50,000 schools across all 50 states, tools that could protect the next generation from this exact trauma.

The finish line is close. With your support, we cross it.

With gratitude,

Kerry

Questions? Reach me directly: [email protected]

"I have the greatest admiration for the survivors and advocates we filmed. They dared greatly against the odds. Their courage deserves to be witnessed." -

Kerry David, Director, Producer, Writer, Open Secret

Full filmmaker bio

The Filmmakers

OPEN SECRET: FILM PRODUCTION TEAM BIOS

Producer, Director, Writer

Kerry David is an award-winning producer, writer, and director whose films have screened at 75+ international festivals and earned numerous awards across three continents. She has been featured on multiple news outlets including, CNN, BBC, and The Today Show, and was invited to speak at TEDx Charlottesville for Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War.

Her box office cume is over $90M, not including streaming.

Team of Contributors:

1. Raymond P. Boucher, California trial lawyer who has settled sexual abuse cases against school districts, foster care systems, and the Catholic Church totaling over $1.2 billion, and rising
2. Faith Fox, Attorney, child advocate and parent
3. David Zucchino, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Wilmington's Lie
4. Sherri Yelton, the whistleblower who documented child endangerment and was demoted, salary-reduced, relocated, and placed on unpaid leave in retaliation
5. Professor Clyde Edgerton, UNCW Professor, relentless pursuit of justice for the children in New Hanover County
6. Reverend Dante Murphy, community protagonist who challenged the school board openly on the record.
7. Ben Schachtman, journalist, now news editor of WHQR
8. Tim Kennedy, Special Forces veteran, Co-Founder of Apogee Schools.
9. Matt Beaudreau, TEDx speaker, educator, Co-Founder of Apogee Schools.

"A culture of fear so deeply embedded in this community it became normal."

THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT

Open Secret is not a single release. It's the foundation of a national prevention initiative.

Goal: Open Secret curriculum licensed and taught in schools nationally.

We have an existing collaboration with Brandi Dugal, founder of The Fidget Games (featured, and received her funding from Shark Tank), whose programs currently reach 50,000 schools across all 50 states. She is willing to co-develop a child safety curriculum built around the film, creating a recurring institutional licensing revenue stream that most documentaries never access.

"I am so honored and thrilled to be a part of something so transformational." -

Brandi Dugal, Entrepreneur & Founder

Every dollar invested does two things: it completes this film, and it funds the infrastructure to prevent the next Sherri Yelton from standing alone.

"I am so honored and thrilled to be a part of something so transformational." — Brandi Dugal, Entrepreneur & Founder

THE INVESTMENT CASE

Terms: 100% of principal returned, plus a pro-rata share of 10% of net profits on the film and any sequels for the life of the film.

Stage: Filming complete. Currently in editing.

Total production budget: Under $500,000, with approximately $397,000 already invested.

Amount needed to complete edit and post-production: $30,000

Use of funds: Edit, post-production, finished cut to show distributors.

Mission-driven, community-backed documentaries have a track record of meaningful returns across combined theatrical, streaming, ancillary and educational windows in their first two years of release. We have five years of groundwork already in place, a built-in audience of contributors and supporters, and a fraction of typical documentary overhead left to cover.

PERKS

We love to bolster our perks, and whenever we can, we do - moving people up a level from what's guaranteed below.

$30,000 - Executive Producer

All of the perks named below and name in the film's opening credits, poster artwork, and all advertising where producers are credited, plus IMDb. Two tickets to the premiere and after-party. Invitations to private cast and crew screenings and events, and to participate in a post-screening Q&A at a specified screening. Includes all perks below, plus:

1. Private dinner with the filmmaker and notable key cast (date and location TBD)
2. Invited to view rough cuts and discuss the film with the director before lock
3. Invitation to the filmmaker's private industry screening before public release, and to all events where physical producers attend
4. Named dedication in the film ("This film is dedicated in part to [name or company]"), and name or logo in the film and educational curriculum materials where legally possible
5. First right of refusal to invest in Kerry's next project

$20,000 - Co-Producer

Co-Producer credit on screen and IMDb. Invitation to a private cast and crew screening, and to the premiere and after-party. Signed limited-edition poster. Invitation to the post-screening Q&A panel and to Zoom conversations with the filmmaking team before launch.

$10,000 - Associate Producer

Associate Producer credit on screen. Invitation to the premiere and after-party. Signed limited-edition poster. Blu-Ray of the film once created.

$1,000 - Special Thanks

Special Thanks credit in the end titles. Private screener link after film's nationwide release. Personal thank-you card from the filmmaker. Invitation to Zoom events, private screenings, and a screening near you.

$500 - Founding Supporter

Private screener link after film's nationwide release. Invitation to a screening or Open Secret event near your location.

SUPPORT A HIGH-IMPACT INVESTMENT

For investors who align with globally relevant, critically urgent issues that take a small amount of courage to fund, which promises to deliver measurable impact for ending child abuse in schools.

This is a values-defining investment for all time.

INVEST

$100 or $10,000. The amount reflects your capacity. The decision reflects your values.

Every dollar is a force multiplier – for completion, for release, for the children in schools right now with nowhere to turn.

The systems that failed these children are counting on public indifference. Prove them wrong.

Questions? Kerry is available directly: [email protected]

HOW FUNDS WILL BE UTILIZED, AND PERPETUATED IF OVERSUBSCRIBED

Poised at the intersection of community, social justice, and child safety, Open Secret is a mission-driven, grassroots feature documentary on a mission to end abuse in schools.

How did they get away with it for so long? Because people who knew ... did nothing to help. These people are one of two things: perpetrators or enablers.

Every dollar you invest in Open Secret will protect a child you'll never meet from a predator who's counting on your indifference.

Amounts don't matter. Participation does. $100 or $10,000 – you decide your commitment level to protecting children from predators.

Fact: Thousands of children are being abused by sexual predators in schools right now, without support and with nowhere to turn.

Child sexual abuse is growing. In 2023 alone, NCMEC's Cyber Tipline received 36.2 million reports of suspected child exploitation.

Fewer than 6% of children lie about sexual abuse. Yet victim-blaming and shaming persist. The current cover-up culture empowers predators, and keeps survivors quiet.

Behind-the-Scenes Clip: Producers Erik Horbacz and Ben Schachtman, and Director Kerry David, roundtable with Open Secret protagonists Rev. Dante Murphy and Professor Clyde Edgerton, reflecting on five years of filming.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES CLIP:

Producers, Erik Horbacz, Ben Schachtman, and Director, Kerry David roundtable with Open Secret protagonists, Reverend Dante Murphy and Professor Clyde Edgerton. Reflecting on five years of filming:

FILM CLIP: The Whistleblower

Sherri Yelton. The retaliation she experienced for pointing out child endangerment was devastating.

Whistleblower: Sherri Yelton. The retaliation she experienced for pointing out child endangerment was devastating.

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.

“There are reasons for that fear.” Several families were reluctant to come forward after witnessing retaliation against others in their community.

A POWERFUL TEAM OF ALLIES AND WIDE NETWORK

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 school districts, the foster care system, and the Catholic Church, totaling over $1.2 billion and rising. Through his work, we learned how predators operate across systems, and how chillingly similar their methods are.

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

Behind the scenes with Tim Kennedy and Matt Beaudreau, Apogee Schools. Special Forces veteran and Bronze Medal for Valor 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 veteran, Bronze Medal for Valor recipient, entrepreneur, and Apogee co-founder, supports and contributes to our documentary, Open Secret.

Open Secret's Director, Kerry David, interviewed by Devin Thorpe, host and founder of Super Powers for Good: superpowers4good.com

“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

Our social media platforms: Instagram and TikTok @OpenSecretTheFilm

Kerry's Film & TV Credits: IMDb

INVESTOR TESTIMONIALS

Rafe Furst — 5x Founder, 2x Unicorn Investor, World Series of Poker Champion, Author: The Future of Venture Capital: How to Win the VC Game & Create Positive Impact - Father of 3 - Boulder, CO

"I've been a huge fan, supporter and collaborator with Kerry for over 20 years, and in all the projects she's directed and produced, I've never seen Kerry more passionate and committed to telling the story far and wide than with Open Secret. I'm personally passionate about this project, not just because I have three young kids, but because the corruption and cover-up of child sexual abuse is not limited to this one small town, it's EVERYWHERE. The perpetrators DEPEND on us looking the other way and not wanting to see what's happening.

The reason I'm investing in the film (rather than donating) is that I want to be truly invested. I know that when I make a charitable donation, I'm done with my support once I write the check. But as an investor, something alchemical happens within me and I end up investing way more than my money."

Erik Horbacz — Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, Father of Two-Wilmington, NC

"I believe in the power of people and projects that embody a hopeful vision for our children, their children, and generations yet to come. ....This project does more than just cast light into the darkness; it empowers parents with tools to protect their children, it encourages communities to seize control of their destinies and nurture their children. It inspires them to become shining examples of resilience and hope for the entire world to follow."

OPEN SECRET FILM CLIP

"There are reasons for that fear."

Several families were reluctant to come forward after witnessing retaliation against others in their community.

A Powerful Team of Allies And Wide Network:

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

BEHIND-THE-SCENES with Tim Kennedy and Matt Beaudreau, Apogee Schools.

Special Forces, Tim Kennedy and TEDx Speaker, Matt Beaudreau, Co-Founders of Apogee support Open Secret.

Below; Actor, author and nationally acclaimed child safety advocate, Victor Rivas Rivers, joins a growing list of Open Secret supporters. Victor survived a horrific childhood of unimaginable sexual abuse and domestic violence - he would not let it define him. At the tender age of 15, he emancipated himself. Despite living in a succession of foster homes and becoming a hardened gang member, Victor’s community stepped up to help him. Angels and mentors who understood that healing was possible, that protecting children starts with the courage of adults, willing to look, listen, speak up and act.

Today he is lending his voice to Open Secret because he knows what happens when adults stay silent.

It’s about making sure the next child doesn’t have to survive what so many before them did. And he speaks from experience….

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?"