Hornet Director Natalie Labarre directed this powerfully moving film in collaboration with the 'me too' movement and the Deutsch agency. The film was one of four PSAs released by the #MeToo movement, created by Tarana Burke in 2006 to support survivors and end sexual violence. Narrated by the actual survivors, the piece that Natalie created was Daniela Contreras' painful and courageous story, brought to life through animation that illustrates the emotional journey from pain to healing to ultimately finding a purpose. The PSAs debuted privately at the “The Inn House" in partnership with HBO at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
Through the message “We hear you. We see you. We believe you.” the PSAs aim to rally survivors and supporters together in the fight to end sexual violence through testimonies from Terry Crews, Emily Waters, Daniela Contreras, and an anonymous survivor.
Complementing the raw emotions of the film's voiceover is a visual narrative that's equally powerful. With masterful symbolism, the story of a woman confronting the tramautic memory of sexual violence unfolds. The images are beautiful but haunting: a young girl is trapped in the silhouette of a man, then toyed with like a powerless ant in the hands of a man, then sinking into the dark waters of years-long silence. But then the images turn hopeful. There's light and justice in the form of a ladder that takes her above the opressive silence to speak out. Because her voice, and the voices of others, are weapons against sexual violence.
The PSAs made waves in the press, appearing in Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Huffington Post, NBC News, and Campaign.
