SAN MARCOS, CA — It was already the most successful documentary produced by Palomar College Television (PCTV), and now “Shattered Dreams: Sex Trafficking in America” is coming to small screens everywhere—millions of them, thanks to a distribution partnership with the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA).
The film’s public television debut occurred with a Sunday night airing on Las Vegas’ KLVX on Jan. 12, and demand has only increased since then, with dozens of stations picking up “Shattered Dreams” for their audiences to view.
“We are incredibly proud of our PCTV team and the work they’ve done to bring awareness to this topic,” said Dr. Jack Kahn, Acting Superintendent/President of Palomar College.
“Their work is going to help Americans far beyond our district make sense of this brutal industry that affects so many young women.”
Bill Wisneski, the PCTV producer who directed the project, attributes the film’s success to its unique approach: “We focused on the psychology of why women are trapped in this situation and can’t get out—they call it the ‘mental handcuffs.’ And then we focused on the buyers more than most other films. Until recently, the women were focused on, they were considered the problem. But without the demand, you’re not going to have the problem.”
“Shattered Dreams” premiered on April 4, 2019 at Palomar’s Howard Brubeck Theatre, and then commenced with a tour of film festivals from coast to coast. In June, the film won four Emmy Awards from the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, including “Best Documentary,” directing, writing and editing.
According to a 2016 study by the University of San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene University, human trafficking is San Diego’s second-largest underground economy after the drug trade, with an estimated $810 million in annual revenue. The study found approximately 110 street gangs involved in human trafficking in the region, many using social media and female recruiters.
