Director Prays Anti-Trafficking Movie Will ‘Save Teenagers’
By Movieguide® Contributor
British filmmaker Julia Verdin is getting ready to release her sophomore feature, a picture intended to raise awareness about the human trafficking industry and its catastrophic effects on those trapped in it.
Her new movie, MAYA, depicts the lengthy grooming process by which the title character, played by young actress Isabella Feliciana, is deceived into sexual slavery and her escape and tumultuous recovery process.
“I think film has a unique way of being able to educate through the audience emotionally engaging with the characters and caring about what happens,” Verdin told Movieguide®. “Film is such a powerful way to emotionally resonate with people.”
For Verdin, her fight against human trafficking and MAYA are bigger than herself:
“I always have faith that if it’s God’s will, the project will come together. I always look on God as my partner in all that I do and pray to meet the right people and resources to make it happen.”
She began every day of MAYA’s breakneck fifteen-day production by leading the cast and crew in prayer.
Verdin wrote, directed and produced the movie under the auspices of her fledgling nonprofit organization, Artists for Change, which has “a mission to create high impact film, television, and multimedia projects to inspire individuals, organizations, and communities to bring about positive social change.”
The organization produces narrative media projects, collaborates with other nonprofits and hosts educational events to draw attention to pressing social and humanitarian issues.
“Human trafficking is an important issue right now as it is one of the fastest growing criminal activities in the United States and is a billion dollar business.” Verdin adds, “I hope that [MAYA] will help to save teenagers from falling prey to predators, encourage them to keep an eye out for each other and understand the severity of this issue.”
Verdin says that viewers of many ages can benefit from watching her movie, and she ensured that the film did not include foul language or explicit sex and that drug use or other vices were clearly depicted as wrong in the context of the story.
MAYA is aiming for a small theatrical release in January 2024 during Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
