An Open Secret
 | This article contains promotional content. (January 2016) |
| An Open Secret | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Amy J. Berg |
| Starring | Michael Egan III[1] Corey Feldman[1] Todd Bridges[1] Joey Coleman[1] Mark Ryan |
Release date | June 2015 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
An Open Secret is an American documentary directed by Amy J. Berg.[2][3] Berg decided to make the documentary after she was approached by Matthew Valentinas in 2011. Valentinas and Gabe Hoffman wanted to make a film about victims of sexual exploitation. Valentinas said, "We chose Amy because we didn't want it to be exploitative or tabloid. We wanted it to be empowering for the victims."[4]
Overview
The film is a look into the issue of underage sexual abuse in the Hollywood-entertainment industry.[1]
Synopsis
A feature documentary from Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg follows the stories of five former child actors whose lives were turned upside down by multiple predators, including the convicted sex offenders who owned and operated the now infamous Digital Entertainment Network (DEN).
Reception
The Hollywood Reporter says that the film offered a "sober look at accusations that lend themselves to sensationalism, Amy Berg's An Open Secret looks at the sexual exploitation of teenage boys in the entertainment industry by older men...."[5]
Flavorwire claims, "The film feels less shocking as a cult-of-celebrity document and more just quietly horrifying, as it details the trauma and the abuse of power inflicted on young men with stars in their eyes. In some ways, it’s as if Egan's lawsuit has taken some of the air out of An Open Secret, at least on the level that we're delving into it and the salacious tales that it contains; they don't look the same, seen this way." [6]
Finally, Variety proposed, "... if Berg can find a distrib willing to brave the forces that have silenced this open secret for decades, the documentary should find avid auds worldwide [calling on Variety's favorite abbreviations for distributor and audiences]." [7]
Indiewire described the documentary as "an incisive and utterly unflinching look at a subject too rarely scrutinized."[8]
It has a score of 66 on Metacritic.[9]
Recent Developments
An Open Secret ran briefly in June and July 2015 in Seattle, Denver, New York, and Los Angeles. Following the announcement that Michael Egan had dropped his lawsuit against director Bryan Singer (also alleged by the film to have involvement with DEN), producers recut the film.
References
- ^ a b c d e Witheridge, Annette (15 November 2014). "Bombshell documentary about Hollywood pedophile ring preying on child actors that's been linked to X-Men director Bryan Singer premieres in New York". Daily Mail.
- ^ Setoodeh, Ramin (April 18, 2014). "Bryan Singer Allegations Part of Upcoming Sex Abuse Documentary". Variety.
- ^ DeFore, John (November 14, 2014). "'An Open Secret': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (November 12, 2014). "Hollywood Sex Abuse Film Revealed: Explosive Claims, New Figures Named (Exclusive)". Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ DeFore, John. "'An Open Secret': Film Review Amy Berg turns from molestation in the priesthood to Hollywood sex abuse". Hollywoodreporter. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ Donnelly, Elisabeth. "'An Open Secret' Examines Hollywood Sex Abuse Allegations, Beyond the Tabloid Sensationalism". Flavorwire. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ^ Scheib, Ronnie. "Film Review: 'An Open Secret'". Variety. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ^ Cwik, Greg. "DOC NYC Review: Amy Berg's 'An Open Secret' Is a Devastating Exposé of Hollywood's Sexual Abuse Problem". Indiewire. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ http://www.metacritic.com/movie/an-open-secret