BREAK THE CHAIN
An award-winning independent documentary film and educational program showcasing the hidden-in-plain-sight issue of Human Trafficking within Michigan and the United States. The film features two survivors of sex and labor trafficking, providing a detailed look at how this crime goes unnoticed within our backyards. Break the Chain challenges the ever-increasing misconceptions surrounding human trafficking and calls on audiences to recognize their connection to this billion-dollar industry so that we may better choose what we support and how we break the chain. In post-production, the film functions as an educational training resource for students, law enforcement, first responders, social workers, and health care professionals. In 2018, Break the Chain received a national grant to tour the east coast as part of The MidAtlantic Arts Foundation On-Screen/In-Person Program - a program sponsored by The National Endowment for the Arts.
THE MIDWEST BROKEN MIRROR PROJECT
The Midwest Broken Mirror Project is a photo/video series of body image stories. The series explores how our culture, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, trauma, and abilities affect our ideas about bodies, our own, and others. Our mission is to connect and inspire people to share their experiences and feel empowered by our collective differences — to “see bodies differently.” We envision a world where the identities our bodies hold are no longer seen through a lens of systemic oppression, and we are all visible and able to thrive within our skin.
EVERY TWO MINUTES
Every Two Minutes is a documentary film and college orientation program that brought greater attention to the issue of sexual assault on college campuses and communities across our nation. The film weaves the narratives of 14 survivors of sexual abuse and highlights the work within the Michigan State Center for Survivors. One key voice is that of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer: then, Democratic Senate Majority Leader. In 2014, the film received a national grant from the Robin McGraw & Dr. Phil Foundation and was featured on the Dr. Phil show. The grant enabled filmmakers to tour across the Midwest to connect with Big 10 Universities and gather data on how various colleges were addressing the issue of sexual assault. In 2016, E2M became a college orientation program for incoming freshmen in collaboration with Neon Entertainment.
TULIPS
’Tulips’ is a radio drama, stage play, and Theatre-in-Education project created by British artist and former Domestic Abuse Commisioner, Michael Beakhouse. Inspired by personal and real-life professional experiences working with victim services, ‘Tulips’ addresses the various communities affected by Domestic Violence and was written to help audiences confront their understanding of gender roles and domestic abuse. The stage-play toured as an Arts Council-funded play in 2019, but was adapted for radio following the dramatic worldwide rise in domestic abuse incidents. The multi-media project has been positively received by domestic violence services and mainstream media (including BBC), who have responded well to its dramatic and balanced depiction of a controversial subject. Now, Creative Embers is bringing the show to American audiences!
THE MICHIGAN COVID-19
A socially distanced photo and interview series documenting the struggles of Covid-19 survivors within Michigan in real-time. Starting at the heart of the pandemic in 2020, the series captured the early experiences of what is now called “Long Covid.” Survivors document their struggles with being believed by medical professionals, repeated hospitalizations, and ongoing symptoms to build connections, provide health information, dispel myths, and help others understand the impact outside of themselves. The series also raised awareness for the newly established Longhauler Advocacy Project to advance the understanding of Long Covid and seek increased resources for survivors and their families.
THE GLOBAL TRAUMA PROCESSING PROJECT
The GTPP (Global Trauma Processing Project) is a research-based mini docuseries in collaboration with Kintla Striker of Kintla Mind-Body Global. Kintla is a recognized trauma expert, a bridge between East and West, science and spirit, and a pioneer in the adaptation of ancient yoga and mindfulness practices for integrative trauma treatment and sustainable mental wellness. The series documents the research findings of how three varying cultures and communities respond to traumatic stress.