RESERVE
min $500
What if you could invest in a film that actually drives change, empowers people to take action and hold corrupt individuals accountable? Now you can, with an investment of $500 and up.
This is just the tip of the iceberg....
Invest in Open Secret, a documentary revealing decades of corruption and cover-ups that allowed for child predators to permeate its school district. It's a story of courage and community. How a handful of local residents unite to fix a corrupt system.
This is their story.....
Unlike most films raising funds, Open Secret is already 80% complete. Investor funds will enable us to complete the film and get it in front of potential distribution parties such as Regal Cinemas who has already expressed interest in taking it nationwide as well as through existing influencer relationships.
Similar issues have existed in other large institutions. This is your chance to invest in a film that unveils the similar corruption occurring in school systems. You help start the movement by funding the completion of this documentary; produced by a multiple award-winning filmmaker.
At the heart of Open Secret is the story of New Hanover County, North Carolina, where years of systemic failure allowed for child predators to permeate its school district and prey on students for decades. Families who spoke up about their experiences were targeted, intimidated or threatened and the allegations were covered-up or denied. "People Knew!"
The Reverend Dante Murphy explains how and why his line of questioning the school board of education turned into a State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
This is not a North Carolinian problem. It was a problem that happened IN North Carolina and has become all too systemic around the nation.
Our overriding mission is for Open Secret the film, to become a conversation starter, for families to keep their children safe, with other organizations, to spread awareness - while serving as a cautionary tale.
"If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand up for much" - Marian Wright Edelman.
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.
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. While every film carries risks, we believe Open Secret could garner a nationwide release since the topics discussed hit at core concerns that are at the front of public discussion.
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.
We know from multiple reports that there are many who truly fear an Open Secret release - those with knowledge of these crimes over the years.
Fortunately, many of these enablers and active perpetrators were forced to remove themselves from places of power, or exit their positions during the filming of Open Secret, in part because of our brave heroes and their tireless work. This is how powerful advocacy manifest 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.
The distribution strategy for Open Secret is ambitious:
These screenings serve as catalysts for local conversations about child safety in schools, the signs to look out for, solutions to confronting. Encouraging communities to take action and aid our goal to partner with non-profits and advocacy groups.
Doing this helps us mobilize Open Secret as a tool for education and policy change, driving reform at both local and national levels.
The distribution plan is designed to ensure that Open Secret not only reaches a wide audience but also creates lasting change. The film’s message is urgent, and we are committed to ensuring that it sparks conversations and drives action across the country.
This is a high risk / high potential reward impact investment.
The raised capital will primarily go toward completing the film, with funds allocated to final filming, post-production, a social impact partner and marketing and full distribution.
Additionally click on "Investor Perks" at the top of this page under raise bar to see additional access and benefits we're providing investors.
By investing in Open Secret, you’re contributing to a movement that if successful, will continue to funds itself, with investors offered first opportunity at a sequel (if any).
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?"
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 the enablers. In our case, the statute of limitations on these crimes protected many who were clearly engaged in cover-ups and denials.
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 from predators? 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.
By supporting Open Secret, you're not just investing in a film—you’re joining a movement to protect children and demand accountability
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:
Previously successful documentaries that have taken similar approaches to generate millions of dollars in revenue.
*The above amounts are from theatrical revenue. When a streamer such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon or similar, licenses or purchases a title, that would be additional revenue streams. As would any ad-revenue from streamers we release through.
**Not all streamers/distributors reveal how much they pay to license or buy a title.
Success for this raise could be defined as 1,100 more investors to invest $500. That’s it.
We believe we have a winning strategy to return your capital, plus 10% ROI - for the life of the company on any profits.
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.
Our Unique Approach with "Open Secret":
Our producer/director is committed to supporting the film’s release across 1,000 theaters nationwide, ranging from 99 to 1,000-seat venues. If the film screens in 1,000 theaters, with a theatre attendance of 200, at $15 per ticket, we gross $3 million—against a budget of approximately $800K, offering a return on investment within the first 24 months.
Additional Revenue Streams:
Will also include potential income from larger venues (theatres in excess of 200 seats), sponsored event screenings (partnering with like-minded orgs and fundraisers for child safety programs), digital streaming rights (Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Max etc), Broadcast (TV), DVD/BluRay sales and downloads, educational licensing, sponsorships, and such ancillary revenue streams as resorts, military bases, airlines and similar.
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 the fastest growing, most widely consumed content by audiences under 50. As we mentioned earlier, documentaries and docuseries are clearly having their moment. We plan to make the most of this information to attract the widest audience.
This is a global crisis demanding our attention - we answered the call. Lean in with us.
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 in the advocates who dared greatly against all the odds, challenging 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
