'Not A Victim' film shines light on sex trafficking, Saturday premiere in Apple Valley
Author and film producer Jae Chanel hopes that her feature film “Not A Victim” will shine a light on the issue of human sex trafficking and abuse.
Chanel’s film is scheduled to premiere on Saturday at the AMC CLASSIC Apple Valley 14 movie theater on Bear Valley Road.
A Jae Chanel Production, the film is based on true events and is rated PG-13 for adult themes, said Chanel, who stars in the movie along with family, friends, and a group of other actors.
Chanel’s 15-year-old son, Malachi Ross, who plays troubled teen “Prancer” in the film, helped co-produce the movie with his mother, she said.
“I was motivated to produce the film because of my abusive background," Chanel told the Daily Press. "Also, from similar stories from friends who I've personally known that were abused or trafficked."
Sex trafficking is defined by a range of activities involved when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel someone to engage in a commercial sex act or causes a child to engage in a commercial sex act.
The movie features the character May’gene, a woman who was nearly trafficked by a ring of ex-affiliates of her father, Jim.
After returning home from rehabilitation, May’gene is ready to begin the healing process when she is thrown into chaos as her father tries to keep the family from falling apart.
Chanel said the film mirrors a bit of her life after she nearly escaped death in an abusive relationship.
“I decided to write and heal through my pain,” said Chanel, who attended Mt. San Antonio College, where she earned an associate’s degree in TV and film production. “I had an awakening moment and decided that I was ready to share my story.”
It was at that time that Chanel told herself, “I’m Not A Victim,”
Co-producer, the late Joel Bender
The movie was filmed at various locations throughout the High Desert and San Bernardino with help from co-producer Joel Bender and associate producer Charles B. Unger.
“Joe Bender was the heart of Hollywood, and this film was his last credited work before he died,” Chanel said. “I will be forever grateful for his work.”
The 72-year-old Bender, an editor, director, writer, and producer who directed “Karla” and “Gas Pump Girls,” died in his sleep due to natural causes in April 2021, according to Variety.
Throughout his career, Bender directed 11 independent features and numerous TV show episodes.
He edited over 20 feature films, including “Karla,” “Italian Ties,” “Bad Guys,” “Vlad,” “The Runnin’ Kind” and “The Cursed,” and TV shows such as “The Great Race,” “Survivor” and “Power Rangers.”
Sex trafficking
Examples of where sex trafficking can occur include strip clubs, massage parlors, internet chat rooms, pornography, mail-order brides, prostitution, escort agencies, and sex tourism.
It is estimated that 15,000 to 50,000 women and children are forced into sexual slavery in the U.S. every year.
One study from the Department of Health and Human Services estimated between 240,000 and 325,000.
The Bureau of Justice reported statistics on human trafficking from 2021 and 2022 as they provided details on ongoing and completed efforts to measure and analyze the nationwide incidence of human trafficking.
Highlights from the Bureau of Justice
A total of 2,198 persons were referred to U.S. Attorneys for human trafficking offenses in the fiscal year 2020, a 62% increase from the 1,360 persons referred in 2011.
The number of persons prosecuted for human trafficking increased from 729 in 2011 to 1,343 in 2020, an 84% increase.
The number of persons convicted of a federal human trafficking offense increased from 2011 (464 persons) to 2019 (837 persons) before falling in 2020 (658 persons).
Of the 1,169 defendants charged in U.S. district court with human trafficking offenses in the fiscal year 2020, 92% were male, 63% were white, 18% were black, 17% were Hispanic, 95% were U.S. citizens, and 66% had no prior convictions.
At year-end 2020, for the 47 states that reported data, 1,564 persons were in the custody of a state prison serving a sentence for a human trafficking offense.
Jae Chanel Productions
Chanel’s production company provides resources designed to empower people and produce creative theater and film projects.
Chanel's production company has allowed her to promote community-focused events, activities, and art projects that target the future generation.
The organization has also provided and funded resources for needy families such as food, clothing, and housing.
In June 2022, Chanel presented the 3rd annual “My Black is Everything” multicultural community event in Victorville for low-income families and foster care youth of all ethnicities.
Chanel has self-published books on Amazon and several other platforms.
Her book “Goal Morning: Arise and Grind” is a 31-day motivational book to help goal-oriented readers push past barriers like procrastination.
“Two urban books I co-wrote and published for inmates in connection to help them get their voices out and heard,” Chanel said. “The voices inside matter.”
“I plan to climb the highest height in the film world and tell the stories that are real, untold, and relatable,” Chanel said. “I’m here to build, plant, and empower the youth to walk unashamedly and unbiased, for they hold the master key for the future.”
Referencing Psalm 23, Chanel also shared that her motivation comes from her faith in knowing that the Lord is her shepherd, who will provide what she needs and will never forsake her.
Chanel said because of God, she will "never live a life as a victim" again because she is "a Victor."
On Saturday, meet-and-greet receptions for “Not A Victim” begin at 1:30 and 5:30 p.m., with showings at 3 and 7 p.m. at the AMC CLASSIC Apple Valley 14 theater at 22311 Bear Valley Road.
Movie tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/not-a-victim-movie-premiere-tickets-499786714517.
To report a potential human trafficking situation, call the hotline at 888-373-7888 or visit humantraffickinghotline.org.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: “Not A Victim” film shines light on sex trafficking, premieres Saturday
