THE RABBIT HOLE, is a dramatic short film centering around two sisters, Mia (13) and Bella (8). At the beginning of the film, we witness the sisters playing a game where they try to guess the next country they want to escape to, Hawaii. We see their strong sisterly bond and see how much Bella looks up to Mia. We sense some underlying tension between them and their Aunt, whom we just know as Aunty. Mia dreams of supporting herself and Bella, but through traumatic imagery, we see the world of sexual exploitation and abuse that Mia is wrapped up in. Although never stated, it’s heavily implied. The film concludes with a disturbing realization that this dark world has seeped into Bella’s life, threatening to shatter her innocent dreams and childhood.

SITUATION

Having done strictly documentary work, the client wanted to branch into narrative storytelling to increase reach with their production company partner. The production company needed to source a director with the proper experience and skills to accomplish this.

BRIEF

The production company approached the directors directly to create a short film highlighting the world of child sex trafficking. The directors were tasked with extensive research into the world of sexual exploitation and abuse. They were then tasked with writing an emotionally compelling short script that accurately portrayed and reflected this world.

OBJECTIVES

Create an accurate depiction of the cycle of child sexual exploitation and abuse in Latin America while simultaneously building empathy with the characters and a strong emotional connection with the viewers. Establish how grooming, exploitation, and abuse function in a web of poverty and trauma, fueled by capitalism.

WE OPEN ON A SERIES OF QUICK CUTS. MACRO SHOTS OF --

- Shhhhtk! A CAMERA LENS attached to a camera body

- The clickety-clack of the shutter dial turning.

- HANDS turn the focus ring.

- The CAMERA LENS dilates.

- POP! Of a camera flash now --

Ends our sequence of images as we see a SLO-MO shot of --

MIA, 13, hair down, back against her bedroom wall, squints and readjusts her eyes.

INT. MIA BEDROOM - DAY

CLOSE ON: A TURTLE, chin up. In front of A SPINNING GLOBE.

BELLA, 8, palms the turtle in front of the blur of blue. Waiting. Waiting. MIA, 13, holds the globe. Screams --

MIA (O.S.)

Now!

Bella's stabs the globe with her turtle. The world stops. China. Bella spins the globe to Florida.

BELLA

Miami!

MIA

You're cheating!

Bella faces the turtle to herself. Screams at it.

BELLA

We're going to Miami!

MIA

(laughing)

You're cheating! You're cheating!

Mia chases Bella and her turtle around the room. They laugh.

INT. BATHROOM - MORNING

CLOSE ON: A Purple TOENAIL.

WE PUSH IN on Mia painting her cuticle. Beside her, Bella. Watching. Studying her big sister. Her loving hands, soft shoulders, blonde hair. Her idol.

BELLA

What are palm trees?

MIA

Big, big trees that sway.

BELLA

On the beach?

MIA

On the beach.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Mia straightens her hair. Bella swivels in a chair, watching her. She holds a STUFFED WHITE BUNNY.

BELLA

How are we going to get there?

MIA (O.S.)

Am I going to be a hard worker?

BELLA

Yes.

MIA (O.S.)

Am I going to take care of you?

BELLA

Always.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

CLOSE ON: a GLASS JAR. "MAYAMI" being scribbled on the side.

Bella lays on the floor inking their dream on the glass. Her toes curled in the air. Mia kisses her forehead. Exits.

MIA

Our secret. Don't tell, Aunty.

AUNTY (O.S.)

Mia! Faster! Don't be late!

INT. LIVING ROOM - AFTERNOON

CLOSE ON: WHISPS OF SMOKE curling from a CIGARETTE BUTT. Scratched LOTTO TICKETS. An OLD CAMERA.

Aunty, on the phone in the kitchen. Pacing. Takes a drag.

ALICE (O.S.)

Oh my. What a peculiar place to have a party. You know, Dinah, we really shouldn't --

The WHITE BUNNY sits on the ground next to Bella's feet.

Bella, on her stomach, watches TV in the middle of the room.

ON THE TV: Alice in Wonderland. Alice chases Mr. Rabbit into a dark hole. She falls down the hole to Wonderland.

As Bella watches, RED LIGHT spills onto her shoulder from the kitchen door. As she faces the door, the lights DIM around her. We ZOOM IN on her face. Her EYES. Going down the rabbit hole with Alice...

CUT to a CYCLE OF IMAGES:

- A DOOR creaking open. RED LIGHT seeping through the cracks.

- Mia's PURPLE LIPS. Smacking together.

- A PHONE buzzes on a table.

- Mia SCRUBS her bloody underwear in the sink. Violent. Hard.

- Mia's UNDERWEAR hangs in the bathroom. 3 different ones.

- A FISH flaps on the floor. Gasping for air.

- The STUFFED BUNNY covered in a plastic vacuum sealer. The air gets SUCKED OUT of it.

Now -- Mia holds back tears, grasping onto Bella. She rocks back and forth on the bed. Crying.

MIA/BELLA (O.S.)

(whispering)

Our money. Our dreams. Our money. Our dreams. Our money. Our dreams.

And now -- another SET OF IMAGES -- sporadic sound design

- A SLO-MO shot of THE GLASS JAR SHATTERING on the floor.

- CU of MIA, Makeup smeared, laying on the bed, staring right past camera. A MAN'S HAND gently strokes her hair in frame.

- Black mold SPREADING over bathroom tiles.

- MIA standing in the center hallway of a dark brothel.

Stares directly into camera. Gets PULLED AWAY as the lights dim all around her. She screams.

- The blue blur of a WORLD GLOBE. Spinning. On FIRE.

- QUICK FLASHES of MIA in a brothel room: putting on makeup, getting dressed, doing her hair. 2x with a different outfit.

- Bella on the floor. Curled like an infant.

- Bella, back towards us, is seated at the vanity table. She slowly turns and looks into camera.

CUT TO BLACK.

Fzzz! A camera turns on. From THE CAMERA'S POV:

HOLD ON: BELLA. Alone, in a HOTEL ROOM. She fixes her hair. Clutches her bunny. Purple lipstick smearing her lips.

MAN (O.S.)

And what's her name?

AUNTY (O.S.)

Bella.

BELLA

(looking around)

Aunty?

AUNTY (O.S.)

It's OK. Look into the camera, Bella.

MAN (O.S.)

(To Aunty)

Does she have a special name?

AUNTY (O.S.)

Yes, yes. Bella, your special name.

BELLA

My special name?

AUNTY (O.S.)

Yes. Your special one. Remember?

Bella thinks. Kisses her bunny. Stains its forehead purple.

BELLA

Bunny. Bella bunny.

MAN (O.S.)

Ah, how cute. I love that. You can kiss your bunny. I love that, look at that.

(beat)

So, Bella Bunny. You said you want to go to Florida?

BELLA

(nods; English)

Miami.

MAN (O.S.)

Miami. Miami. Takes a lot of work to get to Miami, right?

Another nod. Camera ZOOMS IN slightly. Bella smiles.

CUT TO BLACK.

SUPER: Help stop the cycle.

SUPER: SOS logo, CTA, and website

Sex tourism is a global phenomenon, and Latin America is a trending destination for tourists looking to exploit young girls. In a region riddled with teenage, single-parent households, Latin America is a perfect breeding ground for traffickers. The younger a girl is, the more a client will pay. Traffickers target and begin grooming early. As is true all over the world, poverty is a powerful force fueling human trafficking. Traffickers target girls who have needs they can’t meet on their own. They promise them help, and in bait and switch, hand them a life of slavery. When a single teen mom has no way to pay for food, diapers, or a home for her child, traffickers step in. This short film was made with these components in mind and this cultural context influences the audience whether they are aware of the full implications of it or not.