Slavery is alive and well in America. Your daughter and her friends need to know what’s happening…
“A Dance for Bethany.”

Imagine 27 million current slaves worldwide.

That is the number of human trafficked slaves on our planet according to FSU center for the Advancement of Human Rights. With the latest figures around 30 million, this figure is comprised of everything from child labor, forced domestic labor, to sex slavery — the most inhumane of them all.


There will be
800,000 new victims this coming year. Nearly 20,000 of these victims
will be trafficked into the United States for the soul purpose of
making money for their perpetrators. These victims face numerous
physical and health risks which include, but are not limited to: Broken
bones, traumatic brain injury (TBI), drug and alcohol addiction, TB,
hepatitis, malaria, and pneumonia.

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Leading the list of inflicted traumas’ are; sexually transmitted
diseases, (e.g., HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, UTI’s, pubic lice);
sterility, miscarriages, and forced or coerced abortions. Victims may
also suffer from traumatic bonding — a form of coercive control in
which the perpetrator instills in the victim fear, as well as gratitude
for being allowed to live.

Bringing this current social issue (human sex trafficking) to the
national forefront is “A Dance for Bethany”. Produced by Asheville
filmmakers Marion and Yvonne Williams, the film portrays a fictional
story that depicts the struggle between idealism and materialism,
between money and personal self-worth. “A Dance for Bethany” will touch
the hearts of all ages.

After a private screening of the film, we asked the Williams’ about
their motivation to produce such a compelling film. Screenwriter and
author of the book Yvonne Williams immediately took up the question. “I
wanted to create characters that the audience could relate to,
especially youth ages 12 and 13. To produce a movie our youth can view
with a ‘General Audience’ rating. These, our children, are the prime
targets for sex traffickers.”

“If we had created an R rated film, the audience that most needs to see
the film would have been left out completely. Teenage youth runaways
are the prime targets in America, and they need to be educated on these
issues. The main objective [of the movie], is to makes a simple
statement: We are worth more as human beings,” said Marion Williams,
producer of the film.

The film was completely produced on location in Asheville — you may
recognize the Asheville Citizen Times, the Drhumor Building, Asheville
Arts Center, Broadway Arts, and the Asheville Regional Airport. Lead
actors include: Robyn Lively (Young Indiana Jones, Karate Kid III, the
recent Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board, and was featured in Strong
Medicine and Crossing Jordan); William McNamara (NYPD Blue, Law and
Order), Loribeth Edgeman (Warm Springs, 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story and
the Lifetime premier of Army Wives); Frank Hoyt Taylor (The List,
Talladega Nights, Walk the Line, Dreamer, June Bug) and Ann Mahoney
(Big Momma’s House II, Frankenstein and Snow Wonder).

The all SAG (Screen Actors Guild) cast of 23 were exceptional in the portrayal of their characters.

Assistance for Victims of Sex Trafficking

When victims of trafficking are identified, the U.S. government can
help them adjust their immigration status, and obtain support and
assistance in rebuilding their lives in the United States through
various programs. By certifying victims of trafficking, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) enables trafficking
victims who are non-U.S. citizens to receive Federally funded benefits
and services to the same extent as a refugee. Victims of trafficking
who are U.S. citizens do not need to be certified to receive benefits.
As U.S. citizens, they may already be eligible for many benefits.

If you
think you have come in contact with a victim of human trafficking, call
the Trafficking Information and Referral Hotline at 1-888-3737-888.

Raise
The Bar Productions, Inc. has recently changed their S Corp to a 501c3,
something quite unique in the film industry, in order to return a
portion of the revenues to organizations that garner social awareness
related to the story lines of their films. BSCC of San Diego, CA;
Soroptomist of Philadelphia, PA and the New York Coalition against Sex
Trafficking are just three organizations that the Williams are working
with to promote “A Dance For Bethany,” and help those organizations who
work with rescue and restoration of the victims.

Magnificent and tastefully done, the Williams’ have the unique vision
and ability of creating a story and characters that make this film
entertaining while touching you to the very core of your being. The ‘in
your face’ style of this films tend to leave the viewer with a sense of
relating to the main character as if it’s your best friend, or next
door neighbor. You want to do something about it!