J. Gary Mitchell launches new animated sexual abuse prevention film, "The Professor"

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- There are an estimated 39 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the US alone. Most will never tell a soul. Like most, filmmaker J. Gary Mitchell did not tell a soul. What he did was wait about 30 years and then started trying to tell the world.

"As a child, I didn't know what to do," said Mitchell. "But as an adult, I knew I had to do something.  And that something has been creating educational films to let children know that, if they need to, there IS something they can do about sexual abuse."

Mitchell started the J. Gary Mitchell Film Company (empowerkids.com) around 1970. He has written and produced seven child sexual abuse prevention films and more than 65 other contemporary social issue films over the past 40 years. His films have won numerous awards including an Academy Award Nominee for Best Short Subject Documentary.

Mitchell's film What Tadoo, a sexual abuse prevention film that uses the help of two puppet frogs, What and Tadoo, to teach Thaddeus how to protect himself from strangers - has been extremely popular since its release in 1985. But since puppets no longer seem to entice kids and many current users have requested an update, he is creating a new fully animated sexual abuse prevention film for K-2 called The Professor. Mitchell is partnering with Dr. Eliana Gil who specializes in working with abused children and their families to bring his message into the 21st century.

"I have the great honor of lending my voice to one of Gary's new animated characters called The Professor, or La Profesora!" said Dr. Eliana Gil. "I will speak in both my first and second languages (English and Spanish) and will fulfill a life-long dream of becoming one with a cartoon character."

To help aid in the creation of this film, Mitchell has recently launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise the $50,000 necessary to bring this important film to fruition. The campaign runs until December 17, 2014. Supporters receive numerous perks for their donation including a significant discount off the new film as well as Producer titles in the credits.

"I know that what I am doing here is simply producing a tool," said Mitchell. "The professionals working with our youth are the ones who are doing the heavy lifting. I just want to lighten the load."

As with all of Mitchell's films on Sexual Abuse Prevention, The Professor, has been designed to introduce difficult concepts while allowing the counselor (presenter) plenty of room to expand. All films include a study guide and many films are available in English and Spanish.

Learn more or donate now at igg.me/at/empowerkids.

Photos:
http://www.prlog.org/12397608

SOURCE J. Gary Mitchell Film Company

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