RESERVE
min $500
What if you could invest in a film that delivers content that could save a child's life? A film that demands change, empowers people to take action and holds corrupt individuals accountable? Now you can, with an investment of just $500.
The driving force behind Open Secret is to protect children from the horrific abuse that has been allowed to persist in schools across the country. The story of New Hanover County is not an isolated incident; it’s a microcosm of a national issue, where the systems meant to protect children all too often fails them to protect the predator and their enablers.
By supporting Open Secret, you're not just investing in a film—you’re joining a movement to protect children and demand accountability
"This is just the tip of the iceberg...."
Open Secret is a social impact documentary.
Countless children became victims of child sexual predators in New Hanover County School District - it lasted for decades - because a corrupt and collusive system protected institutions and predators over its vulnerable children.
However, Open Secret is ALSO an inspirational story capturing the power of a community rising. We filmed courageous residents who unite to challenge the corruption and cover-up culture, seeking accountability from those responsible, and justice for the victims and their families.
These men and women are heroes - and this is their story...
CLIP FROM OPEN SECRET:
New Hanover County's School Board of Education Holds A Press Conference And Are Challenged By A Local Reporter.
This is a high risk / high potential reward social impact investment.
While many documentaries fail or break even with their sales and licensing, there are also those that surprisingly grab the public's attention and go on to great financial and/or critical acclaim. "Supersize Me," for instance, a low budget documentary about a man deciding to eat nothing but MacDonald's for a year to see what it did to his health - grossed over $22 Million.
The estimated number of viewers was calculated by taking the theatrical revenue / $15 per ticket. Most ticket prices averaged $11 or less during this time period so the total audience is actually higher than shown above. These amounts are from theatrical revenue. When a streamer such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon or similar, licenses or purchases a title, that would be an additional revenue stream. Not all streamers/distributors reveal how much they pay to license or buy a title.
"Documentary distribution has expanded beyond traditional channels to embrace digital platforms. This shift has increased global reach" - Factual America
Regal Cinemas has already expressed interest in releasing us theatrically and upon completion we will approach traditional streamers and platforms. In addition, our producing team's expansive podcasting network exposes Open Secret to hundreds of thousands, if not millions of listeners, ready to engage with us on our number one concern today; child protection and safety.
"Most documentary filmmakers don't have time to spend 2 years supporting a nationwide release, because they have to focus on their next project. I don't have that constraint at this point in my life and am committed to supporting this film's release." Kerry David
Open Secret is by definition, user generated content - it’s not a film influenced by any studio for any particular outcome. It's authentic and gritty, we lay out the facts as we uncover them for our viewers to determine the outcome.
User generated content is constantly noted as the fastest growing, most widely consumed content by audiences under 50. As we mentioned earlier, documentaries and docuseries are clearly having their moment.
Open Secret is already 80% complete. We are reaching out to investors to fund the final 20% of filming, through post-production, hire a social impact partner, distribution through a theatrical partner, community based screenings; including panel discussions with experts and audience participation. Materials to support an educational component and support our nationwide marketing plan, engaging audiences across the US and beyond.
By investing in Open Secret, you’re not just contributing to a film, but a movement to protect children through its messaging, and educating parents and guardians on methods of prevention.
"If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand up for much" - Marian Wright Edelman.
The Reverend Dante Murphy explains how and why his line of questioning the school board of education ignited a State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) into the allegations.
This is not a North Carolinian problem. All over the news today we hear of horrors that involve children and it's almost impossible to comprehend. It's time to act on their behalf. If we don't, we numb ourselves to that horror, and more children will suffer. Investing in our film is just one way to get involved. What happens after our film's release? We have a plan which we lay out further down.
Open Secret is a cautionary tale, but it's also a film that offers solutions and preventative measures. Our overriding mission is for Open Secret to be a significant tool that helps to end sexual abuse in ALL schools. We are in the process of actively building a survivor's resource database and speaking with potential partners throughout the U.S.
We have a wealth of experts speaking up for children in our film, including Apogee Schools Founders, Tim Kennedy and Matt Beaudreau:
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.
As we approach the final stages of Open Secret, the most critical task ahead is completing the last 20% of filming. This includes additional investigative work, final interviews with key figures and historians, and gathering the final pieces of evidence to complete the narrative.
Then we move into post-production - editing five years of film footage into a tight, impactful story.
CLIP FROM FILM: WE SPOKE TO HUNDREDS WHO WERE TOO TERRIFIED TO SPEAK UP
Journalist, Ben Schactman on the terror in the community to step forward and tell their stories.
Many of the predators revealed in Open Secret have already been arrested or are in prison. While the film focuses on the courage of those who challenged a decades-long culture of silence and fear - their ultimate success is in how the film reveals the product of their endeavors.
Fortunately, many of these enablers and all of the known perpetrators were forced to remove themselves from places of power, or exit their positions during the filming of Open Secret. This is how powerful advocacy manifests when we unite, lead with courage, and challenge the status quo.
School Board Chair, holds a press conference about the child predators in her school district and is questioned by a reporter: "Why hold a press conference if you're not going to answer these questions that everyone in this county wants to know?" From the film, Open Secret.
Our distribution strategy for Open Secret:
One of the more common questions we receive is "How do I have a conversation with my child about the dangers of sexual abuse and predators?"
Sexual Predation is not an easy subject to bring up within the family unit. But if children aren't made aware at least to the point of self-preservation should the need ever arrive, how else will they protect themselves? Our goal with Open Secret is to create a film families can use for context to commence these difficult conversations, inspire action, and drive policy changes that ensure children are safe in their schools. We want this film to be more than just a story—it needs to be a catalyst for real, lasting change.
Our film’s message is urgent, and we are committed to ensuring that it sparks conversations, solutions and prevention measures.
Do you need a why? We believe whether you are a parent or not, you have children in your lives and you want to protect them.
MMA/UFC fighter, Special Forces, Bronze Medal for Valour, Entrepreneur and Apogee Co-Founder, supports and contributes to our documentary, Open Secret - "What's Your Why?"
Founders: $254k as equity ownership & $22k on a debt basis.
It supported the development, research and past four & half years of filming.
As an investment, the allure is the potential of a viral-record breaking hit, but film investing also comes with risk. Arguably the two greatest risks are that the film does not get completed, or once complete, is never seen. This is how we plan to mitigate these risks:
Success for this raise could be defined as securing 1,100 investors to invest $500. That’s it.
Film Investment is risky. However, we believe we have a winning strategy to return your capital, plus 10% ROI - for the life of the company on its profits and its potential as an Intellectual Property as d
We want investors who see both the societal value of releasing this film, AND who care enough to stand with us as we help to put an end to sexual abuse in ALL schools with CHILD PROTECTION leading the charge.
Our Unique Approach with "Open Secret":
1,000 screenings across the U.S, with attendance of 200 per, at $15 per ticket, grosses $3 million—against a budget up to $800K, offering a return on investment within the first 24 months.
This is a global crisis affecting our children - it demands all of our attention - we answered the call with making this film. Lean in with us to take us across the finish line.
Our film's Director, Kerry David ends by sharing her sentiments on staying on this film for almost five years...
"I gave this film five years of my life because I believe we must do all we can to protect our children at a time in our history where they are at possibly the greatest risk and when they feel abandoned. I also have the greatest admiration and respect for the advocates we filmed, who dared greatly against all the odds to challenge the toxic status-quo. I’m AGAINST corruption and collusion, and I'm FOR courage and community. It's simple really, their journey deserves to be witnessed."
What's your why?
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Click here for Kerry's IMDB Page
