If you are a filmmaker, video/motion graphics professional or simply a film enthusiast, International Justice Mission (IJM) wants you to be a part of the At the End of Slavery movement today!

At the End of Slavery is a powerful 30-minute documentary that takes viewers into the dark and dangerous underworld of human trafficking, bringing into the light some of the world’s 27 million slaves. IJM is looking for talented film professionals to participate in a trailer contest that will help us spread the word about the film and start a modern-day abolitionist movement.

Interested individuals should complete the free contest registration online at www.AtTheEndOfSlavery.com and receive a toolkit that includes official rules and guidelines, a digital, high-resolution version of ATEOS, and a series of design files, video clips and audio files to be used with their trailer entry as they see fit.

Guest judges include:
• Phil Cooke, a filmmaker, producer, media specialist and consultant whose work focuses on creating personal and organizational (with a specialty in non-profit and faith-based) cultures where real change happens.
• Craig Detweiler, director of the new Center for Entertainment, Media and Culture at Pepperdine University in Malibu. His documentary, “Purple State of Mind”, won Best Spiritual Film at the 2008 Breckenridge Festival of Film and the Audience Award at the 2009 Tallahassee Film Festival.
• Brent Gudgel, film director who co-directed and award-winning documentary “Dear Francis” about the most HIV-infected nation in the world, which has aired on Showtime, and been used by universities and churches around the world. The latest project from him is DEIDOX
• Gregg Helvey, who directed and produced “Kavi,” the winning film of the 2009 Student Academy Award gold medal, about a young boy who is a modern-day slave in a brick kiln in India.
• Dave Mahanes, a partner in the production company Chronicle Project, who has overseen the production of documentaries, promotional videos and film shorts, including “Dear Francis.” The latest project from him is DEIDOX.

The trailer contest officially ends Friday, September 18, 2009 and entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET to be eligible for judges and audience voting.

Here’s the current trailer

At The End Of Slavery – Extended Trailer from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.

Grand Prize is:

• A trip for 2 to Washington DC’s Premiere Event on September 30th
• A public viewing of your trailer before the event and recognition.
• The winning trailer becomes the trailer seen by thousands across the country as THE trailer for the film.

Don’t miss out on this chance to play a part in starting a modern-day abolitionist movement! Send in your trailer contest entries, and be a part of the At the End of Slavery movement today!

Sign Up Today

What got me started – some back story
In a few weeks I’ll be attending the ASHA Forum at Fuller Seminary, this years theme is “Beyond Awareness: Empowering a Response”. Which is a great thing because so many are now aware of the issue through a slew of non-profits across the country, and world. If you’re going to be there let me know – it’s always great to meet new people. This forum features:

* Rob Morris, Co-founder and President of Love 146
* Dr. Sharon Cooper, Specialist in the hyper-sexualization of children
* Lisa Thompson, Liaison for the Abolition of Sexual Trafficking of the Salvation Army
* Beth Grant, Director of Project Rescue

But the big question is: How do we make it change in the next week, month or year? In my past working with a non-profit on the sex trafficking issue I had one consistent question:
What product/industry will you substitute for the people trade?

There’s too much money changing hands and whether is a woman running a brothel/bar in third world country or a guy shipping people in containers, or a corporation that holds women in a sub basement of their hotel for their high paying clients – it would seem there needs to be more of a reason than the law of the land.

The other thing I know is that the demand side of the issue is HUGE and a multi-fronted, coordinated attack from many agencies will make things much better – but I think that’s for the pros to figure out what that looks like.

Also with Freedom Day coming up this weekend it got me thinking about Charles Lee. A few months back he had this fantastic idea for having shelters specifically designed for trafficked victims that catered to their unique scenario. I love the idea and it seems to make so much sense.

Where the rubber hits the road
So what happens today if the LAPD breaks up a trafficking ring? What happens to the underage kids? Where do they go? Are they put into the system as if The Department of Children & Family Services removed them from a home for abuse? Like I said, I’m no expert on this but there’s no way that blending these kids with general population and putting them through the system in the same manner as everybody else is a good idea.

In the name of healthy conjecture – here’s a scenario:
Your local police department found 10 kids in the middle of a sex trafficking ring. These boys and girls range in age from 6-14. What needs to happen? What’s the process?

Leave me a comment, write on my facebook wall, or send me a DM on Twitter. I think we can figure this out, the agencies are there, the experts are willing… lets do this.