Sit Down With StacyK

+ Why am I filming my story?

Before you reach out to StacyK to film your story it is crucial to establish why you are telling your story. Perhaps you want to highlight your organization, ministry, or business. Maybe you are seeking donations, members, or publicizing a fundraiser or would like to bring awareness to an event. Or you are trying to reach out to others in an informative way, with no intention at all, but merely hoping something you say inspires them. The objective is up to you, but the heart of your story is important, so determine your goals before the cameras roll. That way, Stacy knows what to focus on and can best help you get your story out so you can inspire others with your success.

+ The creative stuff everyone wants to know.

The best part of interviewing with Stacy is that you are speaking with a survivor who understands your journey. The questions she asks you will bring the story you want to tell to life. Once you have established the ‘Who am I?’ you can Sit Down with StacyK and start to get the creative juices flowing! Here are some key points to have in mind when you first film:

• The time frame. After your video is taped you can expect up to six months before it goes live. If you know the film is for an event, it’s best to schedule your interview months ahead of time.

• The audience. Your video will be shown on the justuslove.org website and our YouTube® channel and other social media sites.

• What to wear. Do wear dark colors. Don’t wear busy prints or florescent colors.

• Trust. Stacy has twenty-five years’ experience interviewing people and the creative know-how of bringing stories out in people. Trust that she is working with you to produce the greatest amount of inspiration you can share and ensure that your story has the potential to reach and impact other survivors. On the day we film, you will have nothing to worry about because Stacy will ask the right questions and keep you on track.

+ Pre-Production

After finalizing the date of your interview, you will receive a copy of the model release and location release forms below. This stage of the process involves all the planning required for the shooting of the project to begin. We will make sure to maintain communication via e-mail so the production team knows that everyone is on the same page when it comes to making decisions. We will let you know exactly where everyone needs to be and when they need to be there. This way we can have a precise schedule for the shoot day and work out exactly what equipment we will need.

+ The Shoot

One or two camera people will film and record your story. Depending on the location of the project, you can expect there to be up to three cameras on site with lights and mics during the shoot. The day of your shoot can take up to three hours, so be prepared, as it can involve changes of lighting and camera setups. If you choose to bring a friend, make sure that person knows what your day will look like. Capturing the moment is a process because your story is very personal, and we want to make sure Stacy has time to ask you about all the important parts of your story, so when we edit, everything we need is there. Of course, we never know what Stacy will ask someone, but we have gathered together some of our favorite questions she’s often used in past interviews.

Let's go back to the beginning. Where did you grow up? How old were you when the sexual abuse started? Did you ever tell anyone? What were the family dynamics in your home? (i.e., did you get along with your mom, dad, siblings?) What were your teenage years like? Did you suppress the sexual abuse? Did you find yourself sabotaging healthy relationships, or were you always in unhealthy relationships, so you were focused on the needs of others rather than your own? How did the suppression of sexual abuse affect you? (i.e., drug or alcohol abuse, over-the- counter medication abuse, low self-esteem, eating disorders, self-harm, porn addiction?) Do you love yourself now? What have you learned from being sexually abused and/or sexually suppressed? How do you encourage other victims to rebuild, seek support, or speak out? What do you believe are the differences between a survivor and a victim of sexual abuse and/or sexual abuse suppression? Do you feel the world accepts survivors now in this century, or do they still victimize people because of the social stigma associated with sexual abuse? If you could say one thing to the accused, what would you want them to know about you and who you turned out to be? Complete this sentence: “I am …” What have you learned from being sexually abused and/or sexually suppressed?

+ Post Production

After your interview has been shot, the animation and other effects, such as graphics, logos, and website addresses will be assembled and edited all together. During this process you will not be able to view a rough cut of the video. The benefit to this is the ability StacyK has when it comes to editing. Once our team is happy with the film and it is complete and meets our expectations, it will be uploaded to YouTube® and/or the Justuslove.org website, at which time you can share it with your friends.