A Series on Surviving

Writer's Note

A Series on Surviving began as poems in a journal. They began not meant to be seen or heard. Only to be reread by myself . They began to get something out of me as though writing it down would make it go away. They are a form of escape and a way to try to make sense of what happened to me and how I felt. They began as a way to express the torture that was going on inside and in a way to stop me moving past the hurt and shame.

These poems, and the short films they have become are not perfect. They do not depict a happy ending. They are hard and messy and not entirely optimistic. They were not meant to be. They are honest and raw. What I am saying is that they are not going to tell you that you forget what happened and everything is rosy again. They are not saying it gets so much better or that you stop feeling the things you feel. They are about the struggle. They are about the pain and they are about hope. These poems are not everyone's experience, they are not everyone's feelings they are mine.

Putting them out into the world is hard. It is being vulnerable in a way I try hard to avoid and yet I could not stop myself from doing it. Because I have hidden that this happened to me for too long and this felt like the right way to start to move forward, I am creative by nature, I had an outlet and so I ma using it. I do not want anyone to feel the way I have felt and feel. No one is alone in this.

I have been so lucky in the support I have received for this project. The team who have made this project come to life are so special to me and always will be. They took something and made it their own. They allowed me to see these poems as something other than something to be ashamed of and they gave me life in that again. Thank you.

The Team

Broghanne Jessamine

Actor, Writer, Director

Broghanne Jessamine is a Co-Founder of Elemental Women Productions and a survivor. Originally from Scotland Broghanne has worked in Theatre (#metoo plays, Te Left and Right Plays), Voice over (Panda and Krash) and Film since emigrating to the United States of America. Prior to moving to New York, Broghanne participated in numerous performing arts cultural festivals throughout Scotland and in Germany to bring theatre and performance that explores social issues to a wider audience.

www.broghannejessamine.com

@broghannej

Sabrina Schlegel-Mejia

Actor

Sabrina Schlegel-Mejia, a Colombian/Swiss actor based in New York, is beyond grateful and super happy to be a part of A Series on Surviving with Elemental Women Productions. Since graduating from AADA's conservatory program, Sabrina has appeared as Isabella in Measure for Measure and Antigone in People Vs. Antigone as well as Farris in award-winning short film GIRL FRIEND. Other projects include We Are Not Content!, JOJI, 22, We're Just Here To Swim, Cloud 9, Macbeth, Vessel of The Beast, Ledze and Lore, The Innocent, Albanian Gangster Part II, and The Uncounted.

Yuki Soga

Cinematographer

Yuki Soga is an award-winning filmmaker based out of Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from NYU Film School with minors in Cinema Studies and Philosophy, he produced and directed the feature film We Are Not Content!. He currently runs the video department of an advertising agency in Manhattan and enjoys spending time with cats.

Yasmin Harvey

Actor

Yasmin Harvey is a British New York based Actor. Yasmin studied a Circle in the Square Theatre School and spent two years honing her technique as an intern at the Actors Studio. She has performed in plays and musicals in both the UK and US and her play " Belief" was chosen as part of the Manhattan Rep's Short Play Season. Yasmin is passionate about female led work and work centered around women and social justice.

Elizabeth Shew

Production Assistant

A lover of storytelling, Elizabeth performs as a dancer/singer/actress when not working behind the scenes or writing her own work. After graduating summa cum laude from The Ailey School and Fordham University with double degrees in Dance and English, Elizabeth danced for a contemporary company, collaborating in the creation of three evening-length works and touring the Hamptons, Chicago, and the tri-state area. Now trained as a vocalist, she pursues a career in musical theater while freelancing as a copywriter, PA, and scriptwriter.

Ali Zagame

Composer

Singer-songwriter and novelist, is currently based in NYC. She first discovered her love of songwriting while attending Berklee College of Music for Vocal Performance and released her first EP, Speak Up Speak Out, before graduation in March of 2016.

She is now signed to Wampus Multimedia for her first full-length album, Brutally Honest, released May of 2018. Her newest album, Peachy Keen, was recently released in November 2019. Both albums are available through spotify, and music videos for her albums have been released on youtube.
Ali creates her music to inspire and empower others. Many of her songs, such as 43720, have personal meanings about challenges she has faced.

Resources Available

RAINN

RAINN is the largest anti-sexual assault organization for the US.

NSVRC

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center addresses the causes and impact of sexual violence through collaboration, prevention, and resources according to their website.

The Survivor's Trust UK

The Survivors Trust is a national umbrella agency for over 125 specialist voluntary sector agencies throughout the UK and Ireland providing a range of counselling, therapeutic and support services working with women, men and children who are victims/survivors of rape, sexual violence and sexual abuse. (according to wikipedia)

WAVAW

British Columbia's Largest Rape Crisis Centre.

Elemental Women Productions