TheTurnOutAfilmbyPearlGluck

(USA,2018)

RT:90minutes

PearlGluckForInquiries:646-247-7329pearl@palinkapictures.com

©2018PalinkaPictures

TheTurnOutLOGLINE:InasmalltowninSouthernAppalachia,atruckermustdecideifhewillstandupandtakeactionagainstsextraffickingathistruckstop.SHORTSYNOPSIS:TheTurnOutisafeature-lengthfilmsetinSouthernAppalachiaandatatruckstopinMineralWells,WestVirginia.Thefilmexaminestheever-increasingepidemicofdomestichumantraffickingandchildendangerment,astheyrelatetothecurrentopioidcrisisbytellingthestoryofCrowbar,along-distancetruckerwhodiscoversthatateenagerisbeingtraffickedathislocaltruckstop.Thefilmexploresthechoiceshemakesonceheisawareofhersituation.TheTurnOutmeldsthetestimonyandtalentsofsextraffickingsurvivors,anti-traffickingactivists,andtruckerswiththeworkoffilmprofessionalstocreateatapestryofmoraldilemmaandpersonalconnectionsetinthelocallandscapeofGlouster,Ohio,AthensCounty,andMineralWells,WestVirginia.Onestorysharedwithusbyasurvivor:“Mygrandmotherwassoldatatruckstopfromthetimeshewas12untilsheturned18andbecameanadult…yourmoviehitmehard.ItwasasifIwaswatchingmygrandmotheronthatscreen.”

JessicaGrahamSurvivor'sInk

DIRECTOR’SSTATEMENT:

In2017,4,687callsweremadetotheNationalHumanTraffickingHotline.AccordingtoTruckersAgainstTrafficking,1,980callsweremadebytruckers.Almosthalf(48.5%)ofthecasesreportedbytruckersinvolvedminors.WhileIwasteachingatTheOhioUniversitySchoolofFilm,inSeptember2013,twoarrestsweremadeinAthens,Ohio,inadomesticsextraffickingcase:ayounggirlwasbeingtraffickedbyherfather’sgirlfriendinexchangefordrugsandmoney.Elevenyearsprior,in2002,atruckerparkedatatravelcenterinDetroitmadeaphonecalltoreporthissuspicionsoftwogirlsbeingtraffickedathistruckstop.HesavedthelivesofayounggirlandhercousinwhowerekidnappedfromToledo,Ohio,andtraffickedacrossstatelines.BasedinitiallyonthesetwostoriesandtheresearchIconductedinOhiowhenIwasteachingatOhioUniversity’sSchoolofFilm,IwroteTheTurnOutin2014.SetinSouthernAppalachia,thefilmexaminesdomestictraffickingattruckstopsinruralAmericathroughthestoryofatruckernamedCrowbarwhocomestotheexcruciatingrealizationthathehasbecomeanactivepartofasextraffickingringwhenheengageswithanunderagevictim.Thefilmexploresthechoiceshemakesonceheisawareofhersituation.WhileTheTurnOutisinspiredbythestoryofatruckerwhodidnotpurchasesexbutmadeaphonecallatatruckstopthatsavedthelivesoftwovictims,thefictionalizedversionthetruckerisaless-than-heroiceverymanwhoactuallyengagesinthesextrade.Tohim,aquick,inexpensiverendezvouswithaprostituteisaninnocuousrespite.TheTurnOutchallengessimplisticunderstandingsofbystander,perpetrator,andvictim.Bytheendofthefilm,Crowbarcomestorealizethatheis,infact,culpableandcouldplayanessentialroleinprevention.Toinformthenarrative,Iinterviewedsurvivorsoftrafficking,truckers,andlegislatorsandincorporatedtheirvoicesintothenarrative.Thedocumentaryelementsofthefilmalsoinformedthecasting.Forexample,atruckerfortheUnitedStatesPostOfficeplaysCrowbar,asurvivorof25yearsofbeingtraffickedonthestreetsofColumbus,Ohio,istheadvocatewhoworkswiththeunderagevictim.Neveah(“Heavenspelledbackwards”)isplayedbyayoungwomanwho,herself,wassubjectedtochildendangermentduetostruggleswithaddictioninChauncey,oneofthefivepoorestcountiesinOhio.Shesharedherownstoryabouthowshehadmanagedtoescapeherheroine-addictedmotherwhenshewastradedfordrugstoadealer.Stayingtruetotheregionalityoftheissue,thefilmissetattheagingLibertyTruckStopinWestVirginia,andGlouster,alsooneofthepoorestcountiesinSouthernOhio.

Asanadditionalnoteonthestorytelling,mygrandmother,asurvivorofAuschwitz,oftensaidtome:“Idon’tknowwhytheykeepmakingthosefilmsontheHolocaust,killingusoverandoveronscreen.”Itookhersentimentstoheartandforthisreason,IdecidednottoshowtheactualsexualabuseinTheTurnOutonscreen.Thefilmfocusesonabystanderwhocanchallengeourproverbialblindnessandencouragetheviewerstoseewhatisotherwisehiddenbutdirectlyonourdoorsteps.Thisfilmraisesquestionsofwomen’sagencyandvictimizationandcountersthemisconceptionthattraffickingpredominantlyinvolvesgirlsandwomenwhocomefromoutsidetheUnitedStates.Thisfilmhighlightsthatamajorityofthewomencommittinga“crime”ofsolicitationareactuallyforcedintoit.Forexample,StateRepresentativeTeresaFedor,aconsultantonthefilm,hasmadethisherbipartisanlifeworkandafteralongstruggle,finallypassedtheEndDemandActinOhioinJune2014.Frommyresearch,itisclearthataddiction,poverty,andlackofopportunitiesaresomeoftheleadingcausesofdomesticinner-familysextrafficking.BRIEFPERSONALSTATEMENT:Insomeways,itshouldcomeasnosurprisethatItookupfilmtotellstories,thecameraalwaysapresenceinmyfamilyhistory,myHasidicfatherbehindthesuper-8.But,whereI’mfrom,it'snotthenormtowatchmovies,letalonecreatethem,becauseitisdiversionfromalifeofpiety,devotion,andmodesty.Hence,theparadoxofmycinematicproject:ontheonehand,filmhasinformedmyearlylife,ontheotherhand,itwasentirelyforbidden.ThesilentwitnessofthecameraandtheinherentchallengeofitsdocumentaryvoicecontinuetoinspirehowIengagewithstoriesthatmovemetoaction.In2010,Idatedatruckerwhichledtotripsover-the-roadinhisrig.Atthesametime,IlearnedaboutTruckersAgainstTraffickingwhichgalvanizestruckerstonoticeandreportsignsofhumantrafficking.Becausetheyareontheroad,andbecauseofthedemandforsexworkerson“PeterbiltAlley”(thelinesofparkedtrucksattruckstops),truckersaredeemedthe“eyesandearsofAmerica,”thepotentialwitnessestothecrime.ThisawarenessinspiredmetowriteTheTurnOut.Mygoalwastoblendmydocumentaryresearchwiththedramaticpossibilitiesofafictionalscript.Myfirstdocumentaryproject,Divan(2004),informsthisprocesssincethefilmisanautobiographicalarcheologyofmyownHasidicnarrative.Workingwithdocumentariesinspiredmetoincorporatereallifeexperiencesintofiction.Thisprovedtobetrueinmyfirstnarrativeproject,WhereIsJoelBaum(2012),wheremyactors’lifeexperienceswereintegratedintothestory.OurworktogetherearnedoneoftheactorsaBestActorawardattheStarzDenverFilmFestivalandaleadingroleinFelixandMeira(2015),Canadas2015submissionfortheAcademyAwards.

CREWBIOS:

PearlGluckDIRECTOR,PRODUCER,WRITERIMDbPAGE»PearlGluck’sworkhasbeendevelopedattheSundanceLabandplayedattheCannesFilmFestival,TribecaFilmFestival,andPBS.Herfirstdocumentaryfeaturefilm,Divan(2004)wasaSundanceInstituteproject,isdistributedbyZeitgeistFilms,openedtheatricallyatFilmForuminNYC,wasbroadcastontheSundanceChannel,andplayedacrossthecountryandinternationallyatfestivals.Pearl’sfirstnarrativeshort,WhereIsJoelBaum(2012),wonprizessuchasBestActorattheStarzDenverFilmFestivalandBestFilmattheTorontoFemaleEyeFilmFestival.TheTurnOutisherfirstfictionnarrativeendeavor.Hershortfilm,Junior,isinpost-production,whichdealswithawomanstrugglingwithanewnormalafterhersonwasshotbyanoff-dutypoliceofficer.Shecontinuestomakebothdocumentaryandnarrativefilmsthatexplorethemesofclass,gender,andfaith.PearlteachesScreenwritingandDirectingatPennStateUniversityandiscurrentlydevelopingadocumentaryprojectbasedonherresearchforTheTurnOutexploringspecialtycourtsthatofferanalternative,treatment-orientedapproachforvictimsofsextrafficking.Inadditiontomakingfilms,PearlteachesScreenwritingandDirectingatPennStateUniversity.

StephenBlahutCINEMATOGRAPHER/DPIMDbPAGE»StephenBlahutisanarrativeanddocumentarycinematographercurrentlylivinginNewYorkCity.Hehasservedasdirectorofphotographyonovertwentyfilmprojectssince2010rangingfromfeature,documentary,musicvideo,andcommercialwork.SomeofhisworkasDPincludes:Mother(2015byIrynaZhygaliuk)whichplayedatmanyfestivalsincludingtheFemaleEyeFilmFestival,theShortFilmCorneratCannes,theWexnerArtsCenter,theMunichUndergroundFilmFestival.HisotherfilmsincludeGoodBad,NotEvil(2014bySarahLeibman)whichplayedatfestivalssuchastheNewOrleansInternationalFilmFestivaland

L.A.StudentInternationalFilmFestival,BirdsofParadise(2013byMladanJurkovic)whichplayedatfestivalssuchastheCannesShortFilmCornerandValenciaFilmFestivalinSpain,andBeautifulEyes(2012byRaniDeigheCrowe)whichplayedatfestivalssuchasSWANFestivalandOhioShortsattheWexnerArtsCenter.PriortofilmmakingStephenparticipatedintheatrewherehereceivedanAmericanCollegeTheatreFestivalNationalTitleinDramaturgyandaPlaywrightCenterFellowshipinMinneapolis,Minnesota.

KristanSpragueEDITORIMDbPAGE»KristanSpraguewasnominatedfora2015IndependentSpiritAwardforEditingonhissecondfeaturefilm,ManosSucias(2014),directedbyJosefWladyka.ThefilmalsowonBestNewNarrativeDirectoratthe2014TribecaFilmFestival.Spragueeditedtheshortfilm,Mulignans(2015),directedbyShakaKing,whichpremieredattheSundanceFilmFestival.Hisfirstfeaturefilmasleadeditor,entitledNewlyweeds(2013),alsopremieredatSundance,andwontheSomeonetoWatchAwardatthe2014IndependentSpiritAwards.Kristanlearnedhowtoeditbyhandsplicing16mmfilmwhileanundergradatVassarCollege,whereheeditedashortdocumentarycalledStolenMomentsthatwentontowin2ndPlaceforDocumentaryinboththeLosAngelesBlackFilmFestivalandtheCineNoirFilmFestinNorthCarolina.

TomHambletonSOUNDEDITORIMDbPAGE»TomHambletonofUndertoneMusicisequalpartscomposer,sounddesigner,andre-recordingmixerwithover20yearsexperiencewithindependentfilmandanimationaswellascommercial,TV,documentary,andmusiconly-projects.FilmsthathavereceivedhissonictouchfeatureperformancesbyTomHanks(CAPTAINPHILLIPS),TerryGilliam,FrankVincent,KatherineNarducci,LaurenceFishburne,TomWilkenson,MatthewModine,andmanyothergreattalents.Helovestofindorganicandsurprisingmetaphoricconnectionsbetweenthevisualandauditoryworlds.Creatinglusciouslystoriedsoundscapesthatintegrateandenhancethe

pictureishisspecialty.HisworkwithartistssuchasRosto(SPLINTERTIME,MONSTEROFNIX,andJONA/TOMBERRY),DavidRusso(IAMNOTVANGOGHandTHEIMMACULATECONCEPTIONOFLITTLEDIZZLE),BeverlyRidgePictures(CHICAGOOVERCOATandTHESMALLASSASSIN),andAndrewChesworth(MONKEYTOWNandTHEBRAVELOCOMOTIVE)havegeneratedmanychallengingsoundtracksandgarneredmanytopprizesfromCannestoMelbournetoTheHamptonstoNewDehlitoBlackMaria.TheseandotherfilmshavescreenedattopfestivalssuchasCannes,Sundance,Tribecca,Claremont-Ferrand,SilverDocs,FirstFrame,andmanyothersaswellasincommercialtheatresworldwide.Inthefallof2007hegavemasterclassesandtalksinsoundandmusicforfilmattheImagoFestivalinPortugal,andFantoche,inSwitzerland.TomrunsUndertoneMusicinMinneapolis,MNwhichfeaturestheMidwe…Seemore

BarbaraFreemanADVOCATEANDTRAFFICKINGSURVIVOR(SUPPORTINGACTOR)BarbaraFreemansurvived25yearsofbeingtraffickedonthestreetsofColumbus,OH.In2003throughCatchCourtshewassavedfromhertraffickers.Sincethen,shehasstartedaprogramcalledTheFreemanProjectthathelpsprostitutesinColumbusOhiobecomeawareoftheiroptionsanddecipherwhethertheyarebeingtrafficked.Shewashonoredin2013astheColumbusYWCAWomanofAchievement.HerroleinTheTurnOutisherfirst"acting"role.

JenniferKemptonCONSULTANTSURVIVOROFTRAFFICKING(SUPPORTINGACTOR)IMDbPAGE»JenniferKemptonwasasurvivorofhumantraffickingwhousedherexperiencetopromoteawarenessandadvocateforsocialchange.Duringherhorrifictimeonthestreetsshewasbrandedandsoldbyherabusers.Afterobtainingherfreedom,thesemarksbecameconstantremindersofherabuseuntilshewasgivenagiftofatattoocover-up.TheliberationsheexperiencedthroughcoveringherbrandsinspiredhertofoundSurvivor’sInk.Survivor'sInkexiststoraiseawarenessandtoempowerhumantraffickingvictimsbybreakingthepsychologicalchainsofenslavementthroughbeautifying,removingorcoveringtheirphysicalscars,markingsand

brandingsthatareconstantremindersofaviolentpast.FoundedbyKempton,Survivor'sInkoffersfullscholarshipstosurvivorsofhumantraffickingandsexualexploitationtohavetheirbrandingtattoo'scoveredorremoved.Formoreinformation:www.survivorsink.org

PhillisBibbieHERSELFASTRUCKSTOPOWNER(SUPPORTINGACTOR)PhillisBibbiewasatruckerfor20+yearsandnowmanagesatruckstop.SheallowedustosetTheTurnOutatherlocalLibertyTruckStopinMineralWells,WestVirginia.Shehasbeenanactivistagainsttraffickingandsolicitationathertruckstopandpridesherselfin"cleaningup"Liberty.PhillisplaysherselfinTheTurnOutadvisingthetrucker'scharacter,Crowbar.

Rep.TeresaFedorLEGISLATIVECONSULTANT(SUPPORTINGACTOR)TeresaFedor(bornMay26,1956)isaDemocraticmemberoftheOhioHouseofRepresentativeswhohasrepresentedthe45thDistrictsince2013.Shehadpreviouslyrepresentedthe47thdistrictfrom2011untilredistrictinginthe2012election.[1]Shehadalsorepresentedthe52nddistrictfrom2001to2002,andwasamemberoftheOhioSenatefrom2003to2010.StateRepresentativeTeresaFedor,aconsultantonTheTurnOut,hasmadefightingsextraffickingherbipartisanlifeworkandafteralongstruggle,finallypassedthe2014“EndDemandAct”inOhio.