Hi ,
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One seven minute film brought together so many different aspects of my identity. After turning a poem into a film, some don't understand why it can't just be that- an animated short. Well, the truth is, I know too much as a teaching artist about childhood development.
When I first imagined Lil Red, I wasn’t thinking about awards or algorithms. I was thinking about the real children
I’d met working at the Boys and Girls Clubs as a Drama Matters instructor in Florida, (check out this Flashback pic and shoutout to Ms. Lawthorn Fowler, who still asks me to talk to her offspring.)
A few faces from when I was a substitute teacher and professor in California crossed my mind and even my own nieces and nephews in Ohio influenced this narrative.
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I know too many kids who are still told to be polite or stay silent about the rudest and most insecure moments of their lives. They didn't have an OG grand-mother like mine, who often said, "Closed mouths don't get fed." Did yours say that too?
That’s why I created Lil Red. It's not just a film. It's a shield for the polite but unprotected.
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?? Did you know a child is abused every 40 seconds? That’s not a metaphor. It’s a heartbreaking fact.
And it’s why even one brave story told with care can interrupt cycles and restore something sacred: trust.
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?? Episode 1 has now reached over 10,000 viewers—parents, teachers, and youth advocates who saw themselves and their communities on screen.
And we’re just getting started.
I'm excited about preventing danger online with Episode 2--yet, we need a few good people to help bring it to life. Are you one of them?
?? Add your name to the Red Circle Waitlist.
We're still finalizing the revamp. Meanwhile, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Lil Red's conversation cards. Did you get your free download? Don't miss out on this valuable gift.
What question did you love the most and why? What do we need to be asking as it pertains to child safety?
Just reply— with your thoughts. I’ll be reading your comments.
Best wishes always,
Venus