Windsor resident Ben Hess’s “Maggie” portrays human trafficking in real looking gentle

The term “human trafficking” – also known as sex trafficking, sexual exploitation or prostitution – recalls situations that are reminiscent of the Liam Neeson film “Taken”, in which young white women are caught by Russian mobs while visiting abroad and sold to the rich Men.

While parts of it may be true, much of the human trafficking is right here in the US and, surprisingly, in northern Colorado.

According to an article by Greeley Tribune reporter Anne Delaney in February 2020, Greeley traded 272 people in 2019, according to data from the Avery Center for Research and Services. The National Institute of Justice estimates that there are five victims for every human trafficker. That corresponds to about 54 human traffickers in Greeley.

The new short film “Maggie” portrays an impressive story of human trafficking in a realistic light.

Based on true stories from sex trafficking survivors, the film was written, directed, and edited by Windsor-based Ben Hess and shot in the greater Denver, Loveland and Greeley area. Loveland filmmaker RW Perkins produced the film.

“Maggie” plays Calista Masters as Maggie, Marc Brown as Daddy and Luz Lescano as Amber.

“It’s common in Greeley, Fort Collins, Loveland, along the I-25 corridor, it’s definitely not as obvious as driving to Colfax. The typical truckload of kidnapped girls, do we see that up here? No, at least not that we know about, ”said Hess. “But there is a lot of it in very non-stereotypical, non-traditional ways, like the runaway girl who has sex with people for a place to stay. Technically, that falls into the same area. “

Ben Hess, who lives in Windsor, recently wrote, directed and produced a short film about human trafficking. (Courtesy photo of Ben Hess)

The film follows a young woman named Maggie who is introduced into the world of sex trafficking by her boyfriend Daddy. Viewers watch as Maggie grapples with the emotional, verbal, and physical abuses often associated with human trafficking as she tries to escape her boyfriend / pimp. Amber, a fellow victim of Daddy’s sex trafficking, befriends Maggie.

“It (human trafficking) is rampant in Greeley, Fort Collins, Loveland, and along the I-25 corridor. The typical truckload of kidnapped girls, do we see that up here? No, at least not that we know about, ”said Hess. “But there is a lot of it in very non-stereotypical, non-traditional ways, like the runaway girl who has sex with people for a place to stay. Technically, that falls into the same area. “

Hess has partnered with the Avery Center in Greeley for input and advice on the film. The center supports those at risk who are currently or previously experiencing commercial sexual exploitation.

“I knew I wanted to make sure it was realistic,” said Hess. “I worked with these guys to make sure I was staying true to some things that could happen in real life.”

The center also allowed Hess to use his home for filming, and Angie Henderson, senior data analyst and training coordinator, and Megan Lundstrom, research director for the center, helped with the casting.

“I cry every time I see it because it’s such a good act and I know it comes from a place where it is shaped by real life experiences,” commented Lundstrom. “It’s so closely related to the Avery Center that it’s very meaningful.”

One thing Lundstrom really appreciates about the film is that it touches on human trafficking in the LatinX community, with Maggie being of Latin American descent.

“This is a community that is not talked about at all in human trafficking,” she said. “It was groundbreaking for me to see this last piece. This story is not particularly told in films or documentaries. “

While short films are usually defined as 40 minutes or less in length, including all credits, Hess packs a lot of drama and emotion into the 22:13 minute film.

“I don’t know if I could tell a story in 20 minutes and it hits every point in this girl’s life experience,” said Lundstrom. “You also understand the arc, but you want to understand the characters better.

“We told Ben he had to make a full-length movie about it,” she added.

Since he had never produced a short film, Hess was nervous that the film would be too long or not narrative sense.

“I feel like I was able to put it together so that it made sense for the most part,” he explained. “Of course, if I could go back and do certain things all over again, I would definitely do that. But I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out. “

His efforts have definitely paid off as the film has won multiple awards including the 2020 San Francisco Indie Shorts Fest for Best US Drama, Best Colorado Short Film at the 2020 Horsetooth International Film Festival, and Best US Director, Actor and Actress at the Venice Shorts Fest in October 2020. The film was also nominated for the best drama short film at the IndieX Fest and for the best production design for the Indie Short Festival 2020.

Hess is currently working on some music videos and has other short films in the works as well as plans for a full-length feature film.

“I have to do things one by one because I really have to be careful to combine my full-time job and my private life,” says Hess with a laugh. “Of course that takes a lot of time.”

To see a free demonstration of “Maggie” go to https://bit.ly/35tr0kp.

For more information about the Avery Center and its programs, visit www.theaverycenter.org.