Shatter the Silence
"Grassroots change starts at the community level and while the film focuses on the Dallas, TX. area, the message is universal. The use of archival footage including suffragettes, Anita Hill, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson, JFK and more helps support the modern day voices of women and men as the film weaves together a story of the ongoing fight for gender equality dating back 100+ years. Inspired by the national reckoning that occurred for women in the Fall of 2017, the film highlights prominent ministers, politicians, teachers, students, social workers and more as they discuss the #metoo movement, rape culture, the role of the church and initiatives taking place within the community and State to bring-forth change."
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Cheryl AllisonDirectorHiding in Daylight, Far From The Tree, No Letting Go
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Cheryl AllisonWriter
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Cheryl AllisonProducer
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Carina RushProducerNo Letting Go, Hiding in Daylight, Far From The Tree
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Natalie MurrayProducer
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Alison SmithExecutive ProducerHiding in Daylight
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Cheryl AllisonEditor
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Senator Wendy DavisKey Cast"Herself"Good Morning America, The Daily Show, Real Time with Bill Mahr
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Rep. Victoria NeaveKey Cast"Herself"
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Rev. Dr. George MasonKey Cast"Himself"
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Rev. Yvette Blair-LavallaisKey Cast"Herself"
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Wendy WattsKey Cast"Herself"
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Mary DornKey Cast"Herself"
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Denise LeeKey Cast"Herself"Queen of the South, The Inspectors, Dallas
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Wendy WelchKey Cast"Herself"Upstream Color, Barney
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Tami Dooley-NeffKey Cast"Herself"
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Calihan NeffKey Cast"Herself"
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Dr. Robert NeffKey Cast"Himself"
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Ernest McMillanKey Cast"Himself"
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Project Type:Documentary
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Runtime:56 minutes 38 seconds
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Completion Date:February 1, 2019
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Production Budget:10,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Canon Digital HD
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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USA Film FestivalDallas
United States
April 28, 2019
Texas
Honorable Mention -
Julien Dubuque International Film FestivalDubuque, IA
United States
Iowa
Official Selection -
RIFFA: The Regina International Film Festival & AwardsRegina
Canada
August 13, 2019
Canadian -
Gold Movie AwardsLondon
United Kingdom
March 22, 2019
Semi-Finalist -
A Show For A Change Film FestivalMarina Del Ray
United States
February 28, 2019
Storytelling Award -
Women Behind Television & Film - Cincinnati Film SocietyCincinnati
United States
October 3, 2019 -
Independent Talents International Film FestivalBloomington
United States
February 28, 2019
Cheryl is an award-winning actress who has performed in Broadway, Regional Theatre and Film/TV for over 25 years. She is best known for her starring role in the feature film NO LETTING GO (2016) opposite Kathy Najimy, Richard Burgi, and Alysia Reiner. Her performance in the film garnered her 3 Best Actress Awards.
She is the Founder/Producer of WOW FILMS, a production company that strives to create thought provoking stories that deepen our understanding of the human experience. WOW FILMS recently produced short film FAR FROM THE TREE (2017) has received 26 awards in over 22 film festivals worldwide, including 6 Best Short Film awards. Cheryl recently made her directorial debut with the narrative short film HIDING IN DAYLIGHT (2019) which is currently in the film festival circuit and had its World Premiere at the Oxford Film Festival. Current directorial projects include the documentary feature SHATTER THE SILENCE (2019), featuring former Texas State Senator and Women's Rights Activist Wendy Davis.
Cheryl, a Regional Emmy Nominee, is also the recipient of both the Silver and Bronze Telly Award for a PSA she produced and directed called "This is Cole" for the 5P Minus Society. The spot is currently running on local stations throughout Texas.
One community speaks out. Will other communities listen? If you're looking to make a change from the ground up...start at the grassroots.
My grandmother was born in 1919 the year women were given the right to vote. She died recently at the age of 99 years old and she is my shero. What she has lived through, what she has seen in her lifetime, the inventions in technology, WWII, the Great Depression, is hard for me to imagine and relate to. In November of 2017, in the midst of women sharing their #metoo stories of sexual harassment and assault, I found myself talking to my grandmother. Although 46 years of life experience separated us, there was one thing we shared...navigating the waters of sexual harassment. My grandmother told me stories of being a young widow at 29 and suddenly being responsible for providing for her two young children. She told me of taking a job as a secretary at a bank. Working long hours and weekends but she didn't complain. She didn't just want to keep her job, she needed to keep her job. Then she told me of a female co-worker who casually warned her to avoid the conference room when a certain patron of the bank was in there. She told her to stay clear of him. To avoid him. Keep her distance. It was 1948 and the "whisper network" among women was strong yet silent.
Shortly after my conversation with my grandmother, an article appeared in a Dallas theatre news website revealing pervasive sexual harassment and assault claims against a well known local director. It also revealed there had been a "whisper network" among theatre women about him as it was widely known of his sexual harassment and assault. I learned of a local minister in my community that was pervasively harassed in her church by a congregant and was told by the church to remain silent. I found myself struggling with this rapid boil that was rising to the surface inside me. It's been 70 years since my grandmother began working at the bank and since then a lot has changed in her life. She lived in a senior facility, she was twice widowed, she had 3 children, she had 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. So much had changed except for the "whisper network." Hearing her story was a reminder to me that women navigating treacherous waters has been going on since the beginning of time. That's what happens when you live in a patriarchal society.
Although an important national reckoning is happening and much needed, if we can't begin to change the dynamics and behavior in our own communities, families, churches, schools, social circles, local government and state legislature, if we can't stop whispering will a reconditioning ever occur? In an attempt to focus my anger into constructive fury, I called on my local community of Dallas, TX to speak up, to listen, to engage in conversation. They stepped up to the call. It is my hope that audience members will not only watch this film but they will truly listen...and join the conversation.
One community...many voices.