Boys and Men Healing from childhood sexual abuse documentary produced by Big Voice Pictures utilizes aspects of classic filmmaking model of the hero's journey. The men featured in the film illustrate the healing process as embarking on a hero's journey.

1. Presentation byPresentation by
Big Voice PicturesBig Voice Pictures
BOYS AND MEN HEALINGBOYS AND MEN HEALING
from child sexual abusefrom child sexual abuse
www.bigvoicepictures.comwww.bigvoicepictures.com

2. Big Voice PicturesBig Voice Pictures’’ mission:mission:
Producing films that motivate dialog
about challenging social issues, and
organizing outreach efforts to affect
change in communities for the well-being
of children, families and communities.

3. Big Voice Pictures:Big Voice Pictures:
Advocacy FilmmakingAdvocacy Filmmaking
 In advocacy storytelling goals are designed to initiate
change and raise awareness, rather than just telling a story.
 Advocacy storytelling effectively communicates a message
to the audience, inspires and encourages the viewer to act.
 A good advocacy filmmaker turns things over to the
audience, creating a village of leaders working together for
change.
 Filmmakers create a meaningful partnership with the
people they film throughout the entire life cycle, and
involve them in outreach.

4. Boys and Men Healing FilmBoys and Men Healing Film::
Goals for Education and OutreachGoals for Education and Outreach
 Offer hope, tools and resources for healing for
survivors, advocates and service providers.
 Illustrate that healing is possible and essential for
the well-being of male survivors and society.
 Illustrate the facts about the devastating impact of
boyhood sexual abuse that effects all of us.
 Dispel myths about male survivors of child sexual
abuse.

5. The HeroThe Hero’’s Journeys Journey

6. The Male Survivor as a HeroThe Male Survivor as a Hero
1. From victim to survivor to hero.
Boys and Men Healing film features heroes;
interview process uncovers the hero.
2. Creating spaces for men to tell their stories.
3. Challenging masculinity stereotypes of
what it means to be a hero.
4. What it means to be “helpers” in their journey.

7. The Call to Adventure:The Call to Adventure:
*The Call to Adventure:
men wanting to heal
*Supernatural Aid
*A guardian brings them over
threshold to a new world
*A helper arrives, transformation
begins

8. Over the ThresholdOver the Threshold
*Helper shephards them into
‘unconscious/underworld.
*Mentor, counselor, support
group, book, website etc.
*Challenges and temptations to
quit. PTSD, pain, anger,
depression.
*Another Mentor/Helper comes.
*Abyss. Despair. Death. Rebirth.

9. Transformation, Atonement, Return
*Revelation begins transformation.
Example: ‘The shame belongs to
the perpetrator.’
*Atonement. Breaking Silence.
Confrontation, forgiveness.
*Back to the ‘known’ world,
reclaiming life, work, intimacy.
*Back home to self and wholeness.

10. Helpers: Allowing men to tell theirHelpers: Allowing men to tell their
stories, trust, guidance, hope.stories, trust, guidance, hope.
1. Help men to tell their stories, provide safe space to
tell them.
2. Help break down masculinity and hero
stereotypes and busting myths about male
survivors.
3. Listen and trust. What men want most.
5. Begin viewing male survivors as and heroes.

11. Notes on The HeroNotes on The Hero’’s Journeys Journey
* Each step is essential for the Hero. Overcoming
conflicts and problems are key components of the
hero’s journey. Darkness and pain is ahead, but
shining the light of hope is, too.
* In a survivor/hero’s journey, and in Boys and Men
Healing film, we never portray the world through
rose-colored glasses. We need to name the abuse
as it is. Sometimes “rape” is an appropriate word
to use for some men sexually abused as boys.

12. Helpers, mentors, advocates:Helpers, mentors, advocates:
*Begin by helping survivors know they are on a
hero’s journey and reminding them along the way.
*Taking the journey with them. Create ongoing and
sustainable support systems.
*Big Voice Pictures’ advocacy and journey with
male survivors--from pre-production through
years ahead of outreach.

13. Continuing the Journey: Big VoiceContinuing the Journey: Big Voice
Pictures' Advocacy and OutreachPictures' Advocacy and Outreach
* Boys and Men Healing film outreach shares the
hero’s journey with ongoing awareness raising
and advocating for change.
*Viewers become educated about the issue, and can
become helpers in the journey and messengers of
hope.
*Viewers participate by offering film screenings
and discussions, and creating resources and
support for men to share their stories.

14. Outreach messages:Outreach messages:
 1. Reaffirming that men want to tell their stories,
they just need the space to tell them.
 2. Ongoing education, training leaders, and
creating sustainable support systems and resources
for male survivors are needed and necessary.
 3. Masculinity stereotypes and myths about male
survivors must be continually challenged.
 4. Education about the link between unhealed
child sexual abuse and the cycle of violence, and
mental health and substance abuse issues is a must.

15. Outreach Vision forOutreach Vision for Boys andBoys and
Men Healing filmMen Healing film
1. Collaborating with like-minded organizations:
*Hosting screenings and discussion panels-
BIG VOICE SCREENING KIT
*Encouraging education and prevention strategies.
*Utilizing the film and viewing guide for training
leaders
*Advocacy and legislation
*Encouraging implementation of sustainable
resources and support services
*Encourage facilitated male survivor groups

16. 2. Relationship building with leaders:
*State coalitions, crisis centers, military
*Youth organizations
*Corrections and judicial systems
*Foster care and Child advocacy
*University social work/psychology
programs and the military
*Media: radio, television, print, internet
*Women’s organizations
*International and Spanish speaking
populations
*Organizations focusing on the well-being of
men and boys.

17. Male Sexual VictimizationMale Sexual Victimization
Myths and Facts:Myths and Facts:
Myth #1 - Boys and men can't be victims.
Myth #2 - Most sexual abuse of boys is
perpetrated by homosexual males.
Myth #3 - If a boy experiences sexual arousal or
orgasm from abuse, this means he was a willing
participant or enjoyed it.
Myth #4 - Boys are less traumatized by the abuse
experience than girls.

18. Myth #5 - Boys abused by males are or will
become homosexual.
Myth #6 - The "Vampire Syndrome” that is, boys
who are sexually abused, like the victims of Count
Dracula, go on to "bite" or sexually abuse others.
Myth #7 - If the perpetrator is female, the boy or
adolescent should consider himself fortunate to
have been initiated into heterosexual activity.
For any male who has been sexually abused,
becoming free of these myths is an essential part
of the recovery process.
Source www.MaleSurvivor.org

19. **Explore roadblocks in supporting maleExplore roadblocks in supporting male
survivors, in your organization, andsurvivors, in your organization, and
personally.personally.
*Discuss ways you can make changes in your*Discuss ways you can make changes in your
* What are some ideas of how you can utilize* What are some ideas of how you can utilize
the film and viewing guide in your work,the film and viewing guide in your work,
agency or community?agency or community?
*Commitment this year.*Commitment this year.

20. Ways to becomeWays to become ““HelpersHelpers””::
*Educate yourself and community about boyhood
child sexual abuse, it’s impact, and prevention for
boys.
*Add resources like 1in6.org and
MaleSurvivor.org to your website.
* Challenge and help educate about myths and
stereotypes.
*Make spaces available for men.
*Train leaders.

21. RESOURCESRESOURCES
 Big
Voice
Pictures
offers
several
resources
including
websites
and
books.
www.bigvoicepictures.com/boys-­‐and-­‐men-­‐resources/
 1
in
6
-­‐
The
mission
of
1in
6
is
to
help
men
who
have
had
unwanted
or
abusive
sexual
experiences
in
childhood
live
healthier,
happier
lives.
Their
mission
also
includes
serving
partners,
family
members
and
friends
by
providing
informaAon
and
support
resources
on
the
web.
A
wealth
of
resources,
including
a
new
secAon
for
Spanish
speaking
individuals.
www.1in6.org
 MaleSurvivor
-­‐
A
leading
organizaAon
commiEed
to
prevenAng,
healing,
and
eliminaAng
all
forms
of
sexual
vicAmizaAon
of
boys
and
men
through
support,
treatment,
research,
educaAon,
advocacy,
and
acAvism.
Wealth
of
resources
including
chat
rooms,
bookstore,
and
much
more.
MaleSurvivor’s
Weekends
of
Recovery
are
highly
regarded.
www.MaleSurvivor.org

22. Resources continuedResources continued……
 SNAP
-­‐
is
a
naAonal
self-­‐help
organizaAon
of
men
and
women
who
were
sexually
abused
by
Catholic
priests
(brothers,
nuns,
deacons,
teachers,
etc).
Members
find
healing
and
empowerment
by
joining
with
other
survivors.
www.snapnetwork.org
 Richard
Gartner,
Ph.D.
has
wriEen
books
and
arAcles
on
the
sexual
abuse
of
males
and
their
treatment
in
therapy,
and
is
past
president
of
MaleSurvivor.
His
web
site
has
many
resources,
including
wriAngs
and
tesAmony
by
him
on
a
variety
of
issues
relevant
to
males
with
histories
of
unwanted
or
abusive
sexual
experiences
in
childhood.
www.richardgartner.com
 Oprah
Winfrey’s
resource
page
based
on
her
television
shows
about
child
sexual
abuse,
including
her
programs
about
male
survivors.
www.oprah.com/packages/sexual-­‐abuse.html
 Jim
Hopper’s
Web
site
has
wealth
of
informaAon
on
the
sexual
abuse
of
males
including
staAsAcs
and
research
on
the
prevalence,
possible
lasAng
effects,
and
other
resources.
www.jimhopper.com/male-­‐ab/

23. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
www.bigvoicepictures.com
Or call 805-898-3696
simon@bigvoicepictures.com