A documentary about the sexual exploitation of youth aims to pull back the curtain on VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 dirty secret.

Principal photography has started for B次元官网网址淭ug of War,B次元官网网址� an independent film that explores in disturbing detail the impact sexual exploitation of youth has on victims and their families in the region and beyond.

Empress Avenue Media, the production company behind the project, follows the filmB次元官网网址檚 director, Mia Golden, and other members of the Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST) as they tackle the complex challenges facing vulnerable youth.

B次元官网网址淧redators have quickly come to realize that being online allows for easy access to youth,B次元官网网址� said Golden, a child, youth and family counsellor with Pacific Centre Family Services Association and co-ordinator of Crime Reduction and Exploitation Diversion (CRED). B次元官网网址淭he explosion of social media, easy access to the internet and pornography and the normalization of highly sexualized and often violent content are all issues that contribute to the exploitation of young people.B次元官网网址�

MYST, which is comprised of two counsellors and a police officer, has seen a significant increase in caseload the past few years. B次元官网网址淭he impact of social media and the opioid crisis play significant roles in this disturbing trend,B次元官网网址� Golden said.

READ ALSO: Recent arrests skim surface of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 human trafficking problem

When CRED and the police-based MYST joined forces in 2014, the team consisted of Golden and Oak Bay Police Const. Jennifer Gibbs. In 2019, they hired another counsellor, Julia Leggett, and Central Saanich Police Corp. Pat Bryant currently serves with the team.

Police officers, counsellors, street nurses, social workers and policymakers struggle to keep up with the demand to support those in need, Golden added. B次元官网网址淓xploitation is taking place in every community and every neighbourhood and is not limited by class or background. No one is immune, and everyone is a potential target.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭ug of WarB次元官网网址� examines the issues through interviews with past survivors, front line workers and parents fighting to keep their children out of harmB次元官网网址檚 way, Golden said. B次元官网网址淚t will provide insight into the realities of whatB次元官网网址檚 taking place and what we can do to reduce the risks to protect children from these predators. We need to break the silence.B次元官网网址�

In addition to her work as a counsellor, Golden has been writing, producing and directing films for about eight years and has worked with Empress Avenue Media, based in Cobble Hill, since its inception two years ago.

The concept for B次元官网网址淭ug of WarB次元官网网址� came about as the result of candid discussions with those working in the field about ways to try and reduce the trauma and scope of the sexual exploitation of youth. A casual conversation with the film production team at Empress Avenue Media led to the idea of highlighting in documentary form what an average week looked like for those who work on the front lines.

READ ALSO: Undercover operation exposes prominent human trafficking problem in Greater Victoria

B次元官网网址淚 am extremely passionate about this documentary because I see the impact of exploitation every day,B次元官网网址� Golden said.

B次元官网网址淚f others knew what I know then maybe there would be a bigger outcry as to whatB次元官网网址檚 happening to our children and youth. So many people think this is an issue thatB次元官网网址檚 happening elsewhere, but nothing could be further from the truth. Most parents have no idea that their kids are being exploited online when they think theyB次元官网网址檙e in their rooms doing homework. It seems to go unnoticed until it directly impacts them. ItB次元官网网址檚 a battle that most families go through silently.B次元官网网址�

Joseph Boutilier, the documentaryB次元官网网址檚 co-producer and cinematographer, said although he was familiar with the subject matter, nothing could have prepared him for the stories they have started to capture. B次元官网网址淎fter the first day of filming, everyone on the Empress Avenue team was taken aback at how emotional and gut-wrenching some of the interviews were.B次元官网网址�

The plan is to have a short version of B次元官网网址淭ug of WarB次元官网网址� completed by the end of January 2021 for distribution to schools and organizations that work with youth. That version will target middle school students and older, Golden noted, with the feature-length version to be completed later in 2021.

B次元官网网址淭hat version will hold nothing back in terms of what our team sees and the reality of what families face when fighting or their childrenB次元官网网址檚 safety,B次元官网网址� Golden stressed. B次元官网网址淎t times IB次元官网网址檝e felt utterly helpless, but working on this film gives me hope that we can raise awareness of how vast this issue is in our city and the rest of the country.B次元官网网址�

Funding for the film was provided in part by the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Crime Prevention Branch through civil forfeiture grants.

For more on the projectB次元官网网址檚 progress, visit empressave.com.

rick.stiebel@goldstreamgazette.com

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