Private Project

Trapped in the Trade

A cutting edge docufilm that takes the audience through Samantha’s experience of being at a new at school and making friends, that lure and coerce her into the world of sex-trafficking. The film highlights this insidious realm that is unimaginable to most: Children recruiting other children into the sex trade. The do this for financial gain, survival or sport right here in America, in our schools, our neighborhoods, our communities, through friendship and romance. Compelling, engaging and deeply human, Trapped in the Trade, is a story about the reality of unknown danger in relationships and the allure of being part of the ‘in’ crowd. It also offers hope by encouraging teens to trust themselves and empowers the audience to take action.

  • Jan Edwards
    Director
  • Joshua C Pies
    Director
    Project Snofighter
  • Jan Edwards
    Writer
  • Jan Edwards
    Producer
  • Joshua C Pies
    Producer
    Crooked and Narrow, Project Snofighter
  • Madison Rosa
    Key Cast
    Musical Hearts, Clue - currently filming
  • Ashley Sperrazza
    Key Cast
    Legend of Kate Keningston, Dolphin Tale 2
  • David Christiano
    Key Cast
    Painted Black, Post Production
  • Thia Marie Sandefur
    Key Cast
    5 Doctors, Dolphin Tale 2
  • Will Goodman
    Key Cast
  • David Mackey
    Key Cast
    My Fair Lindy, The Reacher - filming
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 5, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    11,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Private Screening
    New York
    United States
    May 17, 2016
  • Medgar Evers College
    Brooklyn
    United States
    May 18, 2016
Director Biography - Jan Edwards, Joshua C Pies

Jan Edwards is a creative hidden in an executives body for most of her adult life honing her craft in marketing, advertising and media in the cable industry. She's also a human right advocate which as instilled in her by her mom who insisted she give back to the community. Jan's been been actively perusing that since she was 14 and that earned her the Silver Medal Award for community service and creative ability from the Advertising Federation in 2006.

Jan's previous work mainly consisted of commercials, short form video along with narrative writing. She began developing promotional videos along with print for her clients as she branched out on her own after leaving corporate America in 2009. She has won several Silver Awards for her creative work.

Trapped in the Trade is her first film.

Trapped in the Trade Feature Film is currently under development along with a series she hopes to developed.

Jan has a degree from Northern Arizona University (BS in Management) and a PhD in life. She lives Orlando, Florida with her daughter Sarah

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I’ve been in the advertising and media industry most of my adult life, making commercials for clients in Phoenix, AZ that were cutting edge for the cable industry and actually won a couple of honorable mentions. A friend who worked at MTV asked me if I wanted to go to LA to write, produce and direct music videos. I weighted it out – make money in sales or be creative…typical life choice – starving artist vs. highly paid corp executive.

At the time it was a no brainer – I knew I was creative but that was going to have to wait. Making money and living ‘the good life’ seemed to be the right path.

Twenty years later, as I matured, like most adults, I began to understand that things are exactly that, things and did not fill the hole in my soul – don’t get me wrong, I like nice things, however, they no longer drive me. I left corporate America and went out on my own. In 2013, I was invited to the UN GetHealth Summit. There I learned about child soldiers and sex trafficking. I was horrified and realized that I’d somehow lived inside the perfect bubble of life, while others around the world suffered.

From attending that summit, I was invited to go to Ethiopia on a medical mission and wow were my eyes opened! The level of poverty was unimaginable and where I learned that Ethiopia was the number one source of human trafficking into the Middle East. I came home, did some research and discovered that hundreds of thousands of children, right here in the US, were being lured into trafficking! After talking with local law enforcement and survivors of trafficking, they what is missing was awareness.

Awareness – that was something I could impact. I wrote Trapped in The Trade to raise awareness and empower people to take action. After doing script testing with the target audience, they were left wanting more – like what happens to Samantha and who’s Mr. B? I was clear that the film was going to make a difference in educating and empowering people and prevent them children from becoming victims.

Trapped in The Trade, takes the audience through the seamless and intentional recruitment of Samantha, a new girl at high school. She’s befriended and romanced into the dark underworld of trafficking. There are moments in the film where she knows something’s not right and yet she allows herself to be swept away in the moment by the attention of James, the handsome basketball star, and the quickly established friendship with Delaney. Trapped in The Trade is a short story of how insidious this life is and how relationships are not always what they seem.

Now that the short is done, there is a feature film in development along with a series. We will finish the story of Samantha, share backstories and show that human resilience and determination can inspire others to make a difference!