Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - Forever ‘B’
A little girl is abducted by the family's best friend and neighbor. Twice.
Interview with Director/Producer Skye Borgman
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The main reason that I was drawn to this story is because I couldn’t understand how something like this could happen. I read the book that the Broberg’s wrote (Stolen Innocence) and had so many questions. I needed to find the answers. The film became much more of an investigative journey than I had originally expected. We acquired FBI documents, court transcripts and audio recordings from the 70’s that really helped me understand how something like this could happen to a family.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Forever ‘B’ is the twisting turning story of The Broberg’s. A naïve church going, Idaho family whose daughter Jan is kidnapped by the families best friend and neighbor. Twice. My hope is that this film starts the conversation. Child abuse is a very hard topic to talk about and if we feel more able to share our experiences then we might be able to help break the deafening silence. My hope is that our film can save a child’s life. It’s really the reason I make documentaries - to institute change. I hope that this film can do that.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The personal themes that resonate in the film are really to trust your instincts. If you see something, say something and if you get that funny feeling that something is wrong, then it probably is. Trust that feeling. Of course, it’s not that easy…and that’s another aspect of the film that is important. There is no black and white. It’s a very complicated film, that challenges our sense of right and wrong, good and bad. I think that the biggest universal themes that come into play are themes of forgiveness and love. My own understanding of those two words, have changed dramatically during the course of making this film. I have a deeper respect for the power of love in healing and a harder time with forgiveness. So it has really challenged me on a personal level in profound ways.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Since the film is a documentary, the film was in a constant state of evolution. We were continually learning new elements of the story with every interview that we did and every transcript that we read. Editing the film was a year-long process and James Cude, my editor, and I worked tirelessly on trying to produce a balanced and thoughtful film. It can be a little tricky at times because we are telling a story that is 40 years old, so memory plays a part that telling. When interviewing the Broberg’s, there were times that they remembered things differently or not at all. It was such an important element of our research to be able to reference the court transcripts. We would often read them back to the Broberg’s during an interview to help them remember and they were even surprised sometimes.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Audiences feel so many different ways when they watch our film. They are angry and sad and confused and mad and sorrowful and scared. Some people have a lot of sympathy, while others don't. We have been traveling with the film to festivals across the United States and have been able to have a Q&A after the film. This is truly my favorite part, because I feel like we are able to do what we set out to do: Start the conversation. And it is electric in the theater when the film finishes. People have so many questions and are shouting them out at us. It is so satisfying, as a film maker, to inspire a lively and heated conversation.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
We have created a balanced, deep and challenging film, and the process has definitely changed me as a filmmaker. It has made me more accepting. It has made me more thankful. It has made me more committed to creating evocative documentaries.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would like to get this film out to the public in as far and as wide a way as possible, even if it challenges people. It is important to see how this family dealt with a tragic and impossible situation.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are currently working with Amanda Lebow at CAA as a sales agent and our hope it to get the film seen by as many people as possible in the coming years. We would also love to increase our outreach by partnering with child abuse and advocacy groups, so that we could bring the film and Jan to speak at forums on child abuse and give her perspective as a survivor.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would love if people could watch the move with openness. I know that the film infuriates people, and that’s ok, but I would really like for people to try and understand how this could happen to family an dhow that family survived. Manipulation is such a big part of this story and part of being manipulated is that you don’t realize that it’s happening. I hope this film could shed some light on how it happens and help make us more aware.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why/How does child abuse keep happening?
Would you like to add anything else?
This film has been a film made largely by women. When I think back to when we first met the Broberg’s, we were 3 women who played with grand kids, made dinner together, did the dishes – and I think that’s a big reason why the family trusted us to tell their story. I really admire the Broberg’s for being so open and startlingly honest about the mistakes that they made and I think part of why they told us their story is because they trusted the 3 women who walked through their front door.
What other projects are you developing or working on now?
I am co-owner of a small production company and we are committed to making thought provoking content. Top Knot Films is currently developing a true crime series that will look at how a series of crimes, spread out over 35 years affected a community.
Interview: February 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Forever ‘B’
A little girl is abducted by the family's best friend and neighbor. Twice.
Length: 91 minutes
Director: Skye Borgman
Producer: Skye Borgman, Stephanie Tobey, Emily Kincaid
Editor: James Cude
Production Company: Top Knot Films (www.topknotfilms.com)
About the writer, director and producer:
Skye Borgman – Director/Producer/Cinematographer
Skye Borgman is a director and cinematographer who films all over the world. She has worked as a professional cinematographer for over 15 years and also teaches cinematography at the USC.
.Stephanie Tobey – Producer
Forever ‘B’ is Stephanie’s first documentary. She also produced and starred "Killer Party", a horror/comedy about a group of friends that get trapped at a baby shower.
Emily Kincaid - Producer
Emily recently produced a Film-Noir inspired film called 'Black, White, Read'. She works freelance with Disney and Andre Balazs Properties, The Today Show, Inside Edition and KTLA.
James Cude – Editor
James Cude is an award-winning editor with over 15 years of experience and has edited projects in 3 different languages (English, Spanish and ASL).
Key cast: Jan Broberg, Mary Ann Broberg, Bob Broberg, Pete Welsh
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): journalists, film festival directors, producers, Child Abuse organizations to partner with to host screenings.
Social media handles
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/foreverbdoc
https://www.facebook.com/topknotfilms/
Top Knot Films - Home | Facebook
Top Knot Films, Los Angeles, California. 186 likes. Top Knot Films is an award winning production company creating extraordinary film, television,...
https://www.facebook.com/skye.borgman
Twitter:
Film: https://twitter.com/foreverbdoc
@ForeverBdocumentary (@ForeverBdoc) | Twitter
The latest Tweets from @ForeverBdocumentary (@ForeverBdoc). In 1974, 12-year-old Jan Broberg was kidnapped, brainwashed, drugged and abused. This film explores how a ...
Director: https://twitter.com/skyeborgman
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/foreverbdoc/
https://www.instagram.com/skyeborgman/
Skye Borgman (@skyeborgman) • Instagram photos and videos
https://www.pinterest.com/skyester/
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
We are still on the festival circuit, with screenings coming up in Cleveland, Phoenix, North Hollywood, Denver, Newport Beach, and Paris. Look for a wide release late 2018/2019.