Private Project

Arise Sweet Sarah

Through a dramatic story and presentation based on true events, Arise Sweet Sarah shares a message of the value and importance of human life, as well as a message of healing and wholeness in the midst of silent grief in the wake of "choice". One in three women will have an abortion by age 45, and these statistics are not exempt in faith-based settings. Furthermore, a large percentage of women believe abortion is their only choice when in crisis pregnancy. Others are coerced. One abortion affects 40 to 50 people in a lifetime. After abortion, 65 percent of women experience post traumatic stress disorder and are six times more likely to commit suicide than women who gave birth. Post traumatic stress disorder after abortion may include the following: flashbacks or nightmares; compulsive thoughts and feelings that started after the abortion; suicidal thoughts or feelings; depression or anxiety; lack of attachment to your children; self-hatred; shame; social isolation; relationship difficulties; and compulsive or addictive behaviors that started after abortion. Studies have also shown that abortion increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer and also a high risk of preterm deliveries of subsequent pregnancies. The vision for our work is to bring hope, healing and forgiveness to people who have suffered after choice and not to bring shame. Many women silently suffer and we hope to break the silence with our unique work. We share our stories so others are educated of the potential risks and negative effects of abortion. Arise Sweet Sarah is based on the personal experiences of film writer, director and producer Sandy Arena and the uncountable stories of others who have suffered after abortion. The story is gently written and shared in the form of a letter to our character "Sarah's" unborn children that is brought alive in film through a powerful combination of personal narration, symbolism, acting, original score and a combination of modern dance, ballet, scenery and costuming. Presented by Sandy Arena and Verb Records.

  • Sandy Arena
    Director
    Live, Dance Theatre Productions including The Life Ballet; 5869 Isaiah Street; Amanda Rose; and Savior.
  • Alexis Gaetano, Assistant Director and Director of Choreography
    Director
    Live, Dance Theatre Productions and Ballet Adaptations from her ballet studio Mossa Dance including Creation, Diamonds, The Tale of Three Trees, Snow White, The Christmas Shoes, Wizard of Oz, The Grinch and What Cancer Cannot Do (www.mossadance.com)
  • Michelle Pauly, Assistant Director of Choreography
    Director
  • Sandy Arena
    Writer
    www.sandyarena.com
  • Sandy Arena
    Producer
  • Sam Arena
    Producer
  • Corey Brooks
    Producer
    Verb Records/Spoken For Band
  • TK King
    Producer
    Verb Records/Spoken For Band
  • Ami Preble
    Producer
  • Alexis Gaetano
    Key Cast
  • Annaliese Arena
    Key Cast
  • Michelle Pauly
    Key Cast
  • Rachel Urban
    Key Cast
  • Ron Finstuen
    Key Cast
  • Tristen Barnes
    Key Cast
  • Arianna Kellogg
    Key Cast
  • Emmanuel Bradley
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Feature, Music Video
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 29 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 24, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Private Showing and Invitation Celebration Release by Filmmakers
    Dryden Theater - George Eastman House
    September 12, 2015
Director Biography - Sandy Arena, Alexis Gaetano, Assistant Director and Director of Choreography, Michelle Pauly, Assistant Director of Choreography

Sandy Arena is a portrait, movement and event photographer, a writer, and the founder and director of an organization called Worth More Nation that empowers youth and young adults impacted by foster care and trauma to know their worth through pageantry, fashion and giving initiatives. She is wife to Sam Arena and mom to three beautiful children - Alexis, Caleb and Annaliese - and son-in-law John. Sandy is a runner having completed a f​ull and half marathon in her lifetime. She was a former fitness instructor, as well as a newspaper journalist and editor, and food and restaurant publicist. She is the author of the book Yahweh Ballet: Learning to Dance by Faith and filmmaker to the feature length film Arise Sweet Sarah. She previously traveled with her live show The Life Ballet (after which the film version Arise Sweet Sarah was created) throughout the United States and into Canada, and has been a featured speaker at events and colleges, and on radio and television. She was named one of the 175 Empowered Women by the Rochester Genesee Valley Club for the city's 175 anniversaries. In all her endeavors, Sandy is passionate about sharing the joys of motherhood & family, as well as proclaiming her faith in Jesus. A former homeschool teacher, she is an advocate for this educational model and has consulted with many families as such, as well as written about their family's journey in a published online magazine.

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Director Statement

We dedicate Arise Sweet Sarah to the children who never danced, and to the countless hearts broken in the aftermath.