Backlog
The true story of a college student who tried for three years to get authorities to test her shelved rape kit, before being selected as the key witness in the senate hearings to end the rape kit backlogs. Can she trust the system that betrayed her?
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made this film because I want to make a difference for sexual assault survivors, on a support, judicial and societal level.
I want to bring a new bill to the Senate - and am trying to collect signatures: https://www.change.org/p/backlog-a-petition-to-reform-our-judicial-system-s-approach-to-sexual-assault-survivors
As I re-watch this film amongst our audiences, I hear them gasp at the end of the statistics and am constantly greeted by people asking me if the staggering numbers of untested rape kits in our country are true. The fact that this film is reaching people and raising awareness makes me incredibly proud that I had the opportunity to make it. I'm thankful for the platform and there are more questions than answers inspired by the true ending of this film, and I think that it is good to start asking these questions. Why do we have a government system set up to refute and disbelieve rape and assault survivors? How do we treat our own people like human beings?
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This film is incredibly important to watch because it is inspired by true events. And the women, men, and people affected by sexual assault - 1 in 3 people in the world - are not receiving the help they need.
This film is meant to inspire empathy, because the woman it's based on, Valerie Neumann, is one of the strongest people I know. It is impossible to watch her incredible courage as a human being and not root for her to come up on top and change this system.
When making this film, I had two options - to sugarcoat the truth or accurately show the emotional, societal, and debasing effects of being assaulted. As a director, and woman who went through this, I'm proud of myself for sticking to my goal of painting an accurate picture. It's already changing people's perspectives - and as a filmmaker that is my job.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Everyone who read my script had a personal story related to assault - "my sister was assaulted" "when my mother was in college" "when I was a kid"...the list went on.
It made me realize how prevalent assault is in our society and simultaneously how programmed we are to stay silent about it for fear of becoming stigmatized as a social outcast when coming forward. Almost 2,000 survivors have reached out to me - through personal notes in the casting process, through watching our film, and even those closest to me. It has reconfirmed my realization that paving a way for survivors to feel safe coming forward is essential, as well as the need to create an environment in which District Attorneys are willing to take more assault cases to trial, holding the crimes to their true level of severity.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The short film script was written in a USC Grad thesis class, where my mentor James Coyne alongside a group of six peers helped craft the script.
The feature-length script, based on the short film is currently in development and seeking production companies and investors. Unlike the short film, the feature portrays Valerie's relentless will to fight the system from start to finish, and shines with her eternal optimism to change the law and end the rape kit backlog, even if on paper her efforts seemed unsuccessful. I feel immense respect for anyone willing to shine a light on injustice by sharing their own personal journey on a public platform. It has not been easy for me, but Valerie has led the way for me. And I believe her story needs to be told on a global level.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We've received that we are ready to make this into a feature and that we have to get the short film to Capitol Hill and D.C.
I would love nothing more.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was often surprised that people insisted I make this into a longer project before they even saw the short.
I am constantly surprised by the support we get from the most unexpected sources in regard to this film. I want to help however I can. I want to get this film out to the people who need it.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I'm not sure - I'm just grateful for the opportunity - to reach journalists, someone in DC who can help get our petition out, and also reaching a producer or production company for the feature would all be helpful.
Here's our petition: https://www.change.org/p/backlog-a-petition-to-reform-our-judicial-system-s-approach-to-sexual-assault-survivors
I just want any opportunity I can get to get the story out there.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
JOURNALISTS, Distributors, Film Festival directors, Buyers
Producers for the Feature Film
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want to change the laws. I would like it to go all the way to DC but also I would like to go full steam ahead in developing the Feature because I think features have the capability of screening all over the world.
This cannot be a strictly American problem. My friend in Iran told me how horrible this problem is there. So horrible I can't even write about it.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why are we ignoring that America's justice system is blatantly downplaying the severity of rape?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Jacqueline is developing the Feature film of Backlog. Additionally, she is developing a Feature film entitled Gaslight, a surrealist feminist psychological horror about a newlywed couple quarantining together through the pandemic, but a series of lies reveals that her husband is not who he seems. Jacqueline and her writing partner, Dasha Pimenov, are also developing a biopic about Rachel Carson, the mother of ecology and inspiration for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Interview: June 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, 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
Backlog
The true story of a college student who tried for three years to get authorities to test her shelved rape kit, before being selected as the key witness in the senate hearings to end the rape kit backlogs. Can she trust the system that betrayed her?
Length: 18:06
Director: Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal
Producer: Robin Wang, Josh Powell, and Marian Cook
Writer: Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal
About the writer, director and producer:
JACQUELINE ELYSE ROSENTHAL is a Student Emmy-winning editor, writer and director. She holds an MFA degree in Film Production from the University of Southern California, where she was awarded the John Huston Award for Outstanding Directing. Three days after graduation, she was in Cannes promoting her official selection grad thesis film Backlog, screening in the American Pavilion's Emerging Filmmaker Showcase. Jacqueline's nine short films, notably Til We Meet Again (distributed on Omeleto) and Backlog, have globally reached millions and screened at over 70 film festivals. Backlog was awarded the best student film award at the Oscar-Qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival and has two upcoming Oscar-Qualifying festivals. Jacqueline is also a College TV award-winning editor and won the editing Faculty award for her work on Provenance at USC's First Look. She has two features currently in development.
ZHONGYU (ROBIN) WANG is a Student Emmy-winning director, producer, and screenwriter. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Duke University and an MFA degree in Film Production from the University of Southern California. As a director and producer, Wang has brought his works to over a hundred international film festivals worldwide. In particular, Wei-Lai, the USC Thesis film he directed in the Fall of 2021, won the Best Comedy Series at the 42nd College Television Awards and was distributed on Omeleto. The short films he directed have been official selections of Oscar-qualifying film festivals such as LA Outfest, Urbanworld, deadCenter, and Bronzelens. Wang is the Jack Oakie Scholar in Comedy Directing and the Irvin Kershner Scholar in Documentary Filmmaking.
Key cast: Jill Renner (Mallory Newell), Avis Murphy (Amy Newell), Bailey Humiston (Kim Sanders), Bradley Layne Beachum (Christopher), Beth Frasier (Melinda), Gary Daniel Mosher (Officer Williams), Ivan Ellis (Officer Daniels), Natalie Woodard (Deja), Madeline Rae Heyman (Lacey), Dave Adams (Honorary Scott), Tamarah Castaneda (Honorary Conyers Jr.), Michael Rosenthal (Honorary Jones), Coby Lawrence (Danny), Madeleine Masson (Heather), Roma Scarano (Alana), Isabella di Rienzo (Jessica)
Looking for: distributors, journalists, film festival directors, buyers, producers
Instagram: @backlogfilm
Hashtags used: #backlogfilm #endthebacklog #sasurvivor #sexualassault #rapekitbacklog #rapekit #support
Website: backlogfilm.org
Other: IMDb
Funders: Crowdfunded, Stowe Story Labs (Fiscal Sponsors), Bank of America Charitable Fund, Fox Fellowship, National Giving Fund
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Nevada Womens Film Festival/Las Vegas - June 22-25
Hot Springs Women's Film Festival - June 30-July 2
LA Shorts (Oscar Qualifier) - July 19-27