Black & Brown Stories Matter

Black & Brown Stories Matter 

 Jhene’ Productions was founded on the understanding that black & brown stories matter. For years, we have been marginalized and silenced. The silence is now broken because Jhene Productions has been birthed. We are a team of minority women and men who are creating documentaries that highlight and give voice to the unheard black and brown voices.  Our first film, Life After Loss shares the several intimate stories of black women and their journey to motherhood. We highlight specifically the black maternal health crisis in the United States of America and its impact of black & brown women. 

 Started in the streets of New York City, filmmaker Theresa Mitchell saw a need to tell these stories because of her own journey to motherhood. After losing 3 children before her rainbow baby Jhene was born, Theresa knows firsthand the pain of not being heard, seen, and validated by healthcare professionals. 

Jhene productions is on a mission to shine the light on the issues that are impacting our black and brown communities across the globe. Her upcoming film, The Forgotten: Unheard Stories of Black Sexual Assault Survivors shines the light on how black and brown women are impacted by sexual assault. This film will touch on survivor stories as well as the true injustice of the backlog of untested rape kits. 

We need your help to raise $10,000 to cover our travel & production to acquire the materials to complete an hour-long documentary. 

The Problem

 In the United States, African American women are at disproportionate risk of sexual violence. 

• For every black woman who reports rape, at least 15 black women do not report.
• One in four black girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18.
• One in five black women are survivors of rape.
• Thirty-five percent of black women experienced some form of contact sexual violence during their lifetime.
• Forty to sixty percent of black women report being subjected to coercive sexual contact by age 18.
• Seventeen percent of black women experienced sexual violence other than rape by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

Our Solution

  This documentary investigates the racial disparities that are impacting the black and brown communities when it comes to sexual assault. Its focus is to debunk misconceptions and myths about sexual assault in the black and brown communities. It will also focus on the backlog of untested rape kits in the United States of America. It will provide stories of survivors as well as interviews from legislators and other organizations to shine the light on the SAKI initiative. 

Story Arc/Structure 

                                                        Running Time: 60 minutes

History of Sexual Assault in the United States: the exposure of racial disparities in black and brown communities when treating survivors of sexual assault. (10 minutes)

Survivor Voices: stories of sexual assault survivors & thrivers to hear the impact of sexual assault on them, family, and their lives. (30 minutes)

Political Impact: Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), Funding for rape resources, backlog of untested rape kits, and other legislative endeavors. (10 minutes)

Future and hopes to end sexual violence: how we can collectively end sexual violence for the generations to come. (10 minutes) 

  Crowdfunding Budget 

• Development & Production: $2000
• Producing Staff: $2000 
• Rights, Music, & Talent: $1500
• Crew: $2000
• Accommodations: $500
• Production: $500
• Distribution: $1500

Total: $10,000

 The Team

Director & Founder: Theresa Mitchell

Writer & Producer: Leah M. Forney

Camera Crew: Christian Morales

Sound Guy: Andrew Golden

Editor: Jacob Mourodian

Photographer: Carlton Jackson Sr. 

                              With Your Help, 

We can do our part in shining the light on the forgotten in our black and brown women and men who are impacted by sexual assault.