A call for community mobilization
6 October 2008 - CALL+RESPONSE, a feature documentary on human exploitation, with undercover footage, artist performances and celebrity interviews, premieres on 10 October in cinema's throughout the United States.
The documentary features prominent political and cultural celebrities such as Cornel West, Madeleine Albright, Daryl Hannah, Julia Ormond, Ashley Judd, Nicholas Kristof and many others speaking out against the different forms of human trafficking.
It also includes performances from Grammy-winning and critically acclaimed artists who want to help raise awareness on the issue including Moby, Natasha Bedingfield, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Imogen Heap, Talib Kweli, Five For Fighting, Switchfoot, members of Nickel Creek and Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, and Rocco Deluca.
The film exposes viewers to some of the world's most terrifying secrets. "I wanted the audience's reaction to be one of self-reflection, for people to ask themselves what am I going to do to stop this?" says film originator and director, Justin Dillon.
Dillon is as green to activism as he is to film making. A musician all his life, he came across human trafficking while touring in Russia where he met scores of girls whose hope of travelling to the west was preyed upon by traffickers. Dillon vowed to do something about the issue as soon as he returned home.
"I immediately started hosting benefit concerts for organizations that work against this crime but have few resources to do so," he says. "I was determined to support and spread their work." An initial idea to raise awareness through music developed into producing a documentary.
Yet CALL+RESPONSE is more than just a film. It is a movement that appeals for community participation to end human exploitation. Through the platform of a website - www.callandresponse.com - Dillon urges individuals around the world to actively take part in raising awareness on human exploitation and to do whatever they can to help put an end to it.
"All individuals can join the fight against human slavery through their own unique talents, interests and networks," notes Dillon. "We are closing the loop by allowing viewers to become participants in the solution."
CALL+RESPONSE was previewed during UN.GIFT's Vienna Forum earlier in February this year, where Dillon participated together with other artists to help mobilize awareness around the issue.
The documentary was funded entirely through donations. All proceeds will go to support anti-trafficking projects in the field.