By Cheryl Wicker
From Friends Media, a ministry of Friends Church in Yorba Linda, California, comes a film that aims to open the eyes of millions of viewers on the plight of the outcast Dalit people in India and the country’s thriving sex trade. “Not Today,” a faith-based film that will zero in on human trafficking and sex slavery, will hit U.S. theaters on April 12.
Cody Longo of the “Hollywood Heights,” “Fame,” and “Make It or Break It” leads the film’s cast. Other members of the cast include John Schneider (October Baby, Smallville, The Dukes of Hazzard), Shari Rigby (October Baby, The Bold and the Beautiful) and Cassie Scerbo (Make It or Break It, Hot in Cleveland). The film also stars Walid Amini and Persis Karen.
In “Not Today,” Caden Welles (Longo) is a happy-go-lucky son who exploits the wealth of his father by living an extravagant life. The film’s twist starts when Caden, who is on a party spree at India’s Hyderabad, refused to help Kiran (Amini) and his little girl Annika (Karen). Bothered by his conscience, Caden attempted to right his wrong only to discover that Kiran has been forced to sell his own daughter. Realizing the thriving human trafficking trade as he draws into the world of the outcast Dalits in India, Caden, spurred by his life’s new purpose, chooses to help Kiran to find his daughter and save her from the world of sex slavery.
“Not Today” is the directorial and writing debut of Jon Van Dyke, who has been in the film and television industry for over two decades. Mathew Cork, the Executive Producer of "Not Today," is the lead pastor of Friends Church of Yorba Linda. The 100-year-old congregation, in partnership with the Dalit Freedom Network, has committed to build 200 schools, worth about $20 million, to educate the Dalit children in India.
"Not Today" has been a recipient of various awards in 2012 including Best Picture in the Dixie Film Festival, Best Narrative Feature in the Pan Pacific Film Festival, Redemptive Storyteller in the Redemptive Film Festival while Persis Karen, the child who plays the role of Annika, was adjudged Best Performance by an Actress at the Monaco Charity Film Festival.
Aside from being prone to human trafficking and sex slavery, Cork says the outcast Dalits in India has been used and abused and gets neither education nor protection from law enforcement and justice. “For centuries Dalits, the ‘lowest of the low,’ have grown up believing they are less than animals,” says Cork.
"Gripping," "Informative," "Heartbreaking," and "Informative" were just among the typical audience responses to "Not Today" during the film’s advance screening held at the 2012 Urbana Student Missions Conference in St. Louis. The movie is expected to conquer the hearts of moviegoers and inspire them to do their share to shun sex slavery. “Not Today” will be shown in 20 major cities across United States such as in Los Angeles, Houston, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose, San Francisco, among many others
Read more at http://www.examiner.com/article/not-today-digs-deeper-on-india-s-human-trafficking-sex
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