Jasmine de Fina discusses her experience as a human trafficking victim and how she is using her past experiences to help other survivors move forward.
To put it bluntly, human trafficking is modern-day slavery. The government of Canada defines it as "...the recruitment, transportation, harbouring and/or exercising control, direction or influence over the movements of a person in order to exploit that person, typically through sexual exploitation or forced labour." Unfortunately, Canada is a hotspot for human trafficking, with 3,996 human trafficking incidents reported between 2012-2022.
Hidden in Plain Sight takes a look at this particular issue within Ontario and how one woman is making a difference. Maggie Beattie has been helping victims of human trafficking for 36 years- she works as a counsellor at Safe Hope House, a halfway house for victims of human trafficking- in Ajax, Ontario.
Check out our Instagram here for more information, behind-the-scenes photos, and updates on the film!
You can check out SafeHope Home as well as donate here
Hidden in Plain Sight takes a look at this particular issue within Ontario and how one woman is making a difference. Maggie Beattie has been helping victims of human trafficking for 36 years- she works as a counsellor at Safe Hope House, a halfway house for victims of human trafficking- in Ajax, Ontario.
Check out our Instagram here for more information, behind-the-scenes photos, and updates on the film!
You can check out SafeHope Home as well as donate here
Artwork made by survivors at the SafeHope Home as a thank you to the counsellors
The Team
My name is Molly Ruby and I am the director of "Hidden in Plain Sight". I am incredibly passionate about women's rights and freedoms. Human trafficking survivors deserve proper coverage on this very current and pressing global issue. A short doc is a small stepping stone in the international process of demolishing human trafficking and bringing survivors home.
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My name is Devony House, I am 20 years old and I am the producer of Hidden in Plain Sight. This documentary features a subject that far too many women can relate to. I am honoured to be a part of this project as I hope to help educate women on human trafficking and support victims of it. Knowledge is power, and we hope to empower as many women as possible with our documentary.
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I am Jaden Pinto and I am the DOP for Hidden in Plain Sight. As soon as I heard the pitch for this project I knew I wanted to be apart of it. I think that spreading awareness for human trafficking and helping the survivors is extremely important. I am extremely grateful for the team I got to work with. I hope that this doc will help not only survivors but anyone who has or is currently being impacted by human trafficking.
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I'm El, Hidden In Plain Sight’s production sound mixer. I think shared experience can be a powerful tool for outreach and change, especially when you're contending with societal stigma and misconceptions surrounding some of the film's subjects’ experiences - I’m grateful they trusted us with their voices and stories!
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I'm Will Mowat, the editor for "Hidden in Plain Sight." As the editor on this project my goal is to help elevate this important story and amplify the voices of those affected. Human trafficking is a crime that can often go unnoticed, and through this documentary I hope to make people more aware of what it can look like.
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I'm Matthew Donkers, assistant editor. When Molly first pitched this project to me, I was eager to help bring this critical story to life. Human trafficking has unfortunately become an increasingly prevalent issue, and Southern Ontario, with its extensive highway network, proximity to the U.S. border, and dense population, has emerged as a significant hub for this horrific crime. Knowing this, I felt a strong responsibility to contribute to a project that sheds light on such a dark reality. I hope that this film is able to give a voice to survivors, raise awareness, and advocate for change in the fight against human trafficking.
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I'm Tate Gripton, the colourist for this project: Human trafficking is a hidden but pervasive crime, affecting countless lives. I’m honoured to contribute to this project by enhancing its visual tone, supporting a story that raises awareness and amplifies survivors’ voices in the fight against this urgent issue.
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I'm Ian Willcock, Transmedia Producer for "Hidden in Plain Sight". I believe human trafficking is a horrible crime that isn't talked about enough and am excited to do my part to bring it to light so that more people become aware of it.
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I'm Patrick Wittingham. As both an aspiring soundie and filmmaker, I have been beyond grateful to work on a documentary like Unshakeable, which tackles the incredibly serious and prevalent issue of human trafficking. As someone who feels strongly about the power and importance of activist documentary filmmaking, contributing to a project that amplifies the voices of survivors and raises awareness about this global crisis has been profoundly meaningful. Collaborating with such a dedicated team on this vital storytelling effort has reinforced my commitment to using film as a tool for not just education but also change.
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Cara Gibbon- As a composer, musician, and a musical producer, I have been excited and more than grateful to work on this documentary about the social issues of human trafficking in this world. As a woman myself, I understand how scary and challenging it can be to know when you're safe or not when going out in public. Even now as a young adult, I am still given precautions and warnings. I hope that my music for this documentary really enhances the message, and the documentary film. Wanting to give the audience an experiencing feeling as if they were experiencing this in the film itself.
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