Producer Abigail Disney discusses the independant film Playground

For my readers that recall my interviews at the Tribeca Film Festival, you will note that I had to cut my interview with producer Abigail Disney short. We were discussing Pray The Devil Back To Hell and Playground, but most of our time was spent on Pray The Devil Back To Hell (which documented the incredible success of the women of Liberia in creating peace in that nation).

As I mentioned, I have a follow-up interview with Abigail that delves into the independant film Playground. This interview was conducted via email, but is as interesting as when we spoke in person.


Michael Vass : When last we had the chance to speak the Tribeca Film Festival was still underway and one of the films you had at the festival was Playground. We didn’t have a chance to speak more about the film at the time. I’m sure many of my readers would like to know what the documentary is about, and how it did at the festival?

Abigail Disney : Playground is about the dark and lesser known world of child sex trafficking in America, which is the number one tourist destination in the world for travelers looking for sex with children. The film found very appreciative audiences at Tribeca, which was gratifying, since it’s a difficult topic.


Michael Vass : The subject of children forced to have sex and being sold as property is a difficult one for many to explore. But your film delves into the fact that this is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. Have you gotten any feedback for politicians anywhere?

Abigail Disney : Both activists and politicians have shown lots of interest in the film, and we are hoping to have an impact on policy by illuminating the human impact of some of our more counter productive policies around children and sexuality.


Michael Vass : I know you and the director of the film had a great deal of difficulty, and potential threats on your life, making this film. What was that experience like?

Abigail Disney : Well, I can’t say as I’ve had threats on my life directly, but I know that Libby Spears, the director has. She is an incredibly tenacious and dedicated woman, who is so passionately devoted to raising awareness of these kids that she was willing to face up to those threats to get the film done. She was going to get this film done no matter what the consequences for her personally. She is an incredibly brave human being.


Michael Vass : Of the women you were able to speak with about this subject, what did they have to say?

Abigail Disney : If you listen to the women in this film, the women who grew up in the world, you just want to curl up and cry. Or stand up and shout. I mean, the idea that prostitution is a “victimless crime” has got to be gotten rid of once and for all, regardless of the age of the prostitute. When you consider the percentage of women in the field who were sexually abused as kids, it is difficult to imagine that that experience did not have everything to do with their situations as adults.


Michael Vass : Are there any organizations that are working on this issue, any Governments that are actively trying to end this?

Abigail Disney : The government of Costa Rica has made admirable progress in confronting not only the sex-tourism trade, but also the corruption that so often goes with it. Cambodia is notably at the opposite end of the spectrum, and the numbers of girls getting sucked into the sex trade there and the ferocity of the people protecting that business are overwhelming. NGO’s and the UN are working hard to confront the sex trade, and particularly the trade in children, but frankly I believe we won’t make substantive progress until we significantly change our attitudes about gender and sexuality.


Michael Vass : Your film highlights that this is not just a problem in other parts of the world, but also here in America. Since the film was shown at Tribeca have you seen more attention on this issue here?

Abigail Disney : There has been definite movement among politicians interested in making strides on this front. Really, the film makes us look deeply stupid as a country on this issue!


Michael Vass : Are the conditions that the women and children go through as bad as what is in the film, or are those the best conditions and the others so severe you could not get them on film or past censors?

Abigail Disney : Libby concentrated on particular human stories, and so the film is not really a survey of conditions around the country. The conditions do vary depending on local laws and customs, and can get incredibly hideous in the hands of some people. The photos you see of small children in the sex trade give you a taste of how hellish their lives must be.


Michael Vass : For those that want to be more involved in this issue, or any of the issues you champion, where can they go for more information? What events do you have planned?

Abigail Disney : I would send people to two places. Playground has a website that has lots of information at www.playgroundproject.com and there is a section on resources to learn about how to help. Also the Center for Missing and Exploited Children is a remarkable organization that does great advocacy on these issues and they are a great NGO to support.


Michael Vass : Considering that you tend to produce movies on some of the more interesting and less discussed issues of our day, what is the next project you are working on?

Abigail Disney : Well, thanks for asking! Gini Reticker, who made Pray the Devil Back to Hell with me, and I are developing a series on Women, War & Peace for WNET/Wide Angle, the premier international affairs documentary series on American Public Television. We are incredibly excited about the opportunity. Not only have women always been WAY more affected by war than our culture has ever cared to admit, but their role in wars has changed in last 50 years in ways we would do well to attend to. They are not only more overtly and sadistically being targeted, particularly in the proliferation of ethnic and civil wars around the globe, but they are also stepping up more and more as activists, politicians, international figures of peace and even as soldiers and generals. Their participation in all aspects of war has subtly changed this eternal fact of human history, perhaps irrevocably.


Michael Vass : For those not able to see this film in smaller localities or who missed its initial run, when do you expect the DVD to be released, and how might they purchase it?

Abigail Disney : We are planning a limited release this fall and will be updating our website, www.playgroundproject.com, with details.

I want to thank Abigail Disney for our first and this follow-up interview, and apologize for running over time at the Tribeca Film Festival in the first place.

I also recommend to all my readers both films that Abigail has produced. I found them to be powerful and engaging films. They are well worth the time at a theater, and/or as a DVD purchase for your home.

Plus I am looking forward to Women, War & Peace which will be on American Public Television and WNET. Given the quality of the independant films mentioned above, I have no doubt this television program will be equally of high quality and importance.