Female Magician Bound & Beaten In Provocative PSA Against Domestic Violence, You Can Escape!

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 14, 2013 - PRLog -- A woman is beaten in the United States every 15 seconds – and those are just the ones we know about.  Domestic violence is a serious and rampant issue (more than one in four people will experience it in their lifetime), but many victims of abuse never report their injuries.  They are often isolated by their abusers and suffer in silence, terrified of reaching out for help because they feel alone and embarrassed, fear they won’t be believed, or worse … suffer violent consequences.  They feel hopeless, helpless, abandoned and that they have nowhere to turn.

Magician/actor Misty Lee wants to change that.  An abuse survivor herself, she knows firsthand how controlling fear is, and understands that bravely setting out to escape an abusive relationship is risky, terrifying and ultimately worth it.

In an effort to raise awareness for the Domestic Violence Hotline, a resource for victims of abuse, Lee wrote and created an 87-second PSA likening the choice to escaping from a straitjacket.  The video depicts Lee being battered by an unseen abuser (played by her husband, TV writer Paul Dini). He calls her names, viciously beats her and knocks her to the ground, telling her to “Just stay down.”

Lee responds like she’s hoping more victims will:  By standing tall, and saying, “No.”

She then dislocates her shoulder and painfully and methodically escapes the confines of the jacket.  The metaphor is poignant, articulating both the resolve and difficulty involved with getting out safely.

View the PSA at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bINtFT_04us



“Most abusive situations are based on control,” Lee says.  “A victim can’t just say ‘no’ and leave, because there’s a genuine chance he or she could be killed in the process.  There has to be a plan in place to ensure the safety of all escapees – children, pets, etc. – and an unwavering resolve to make the choice final. The video is step one, making victims aware the Domestic Violence Hotline exists and assuring them that they’re not alone.  The hotline reps get victims started on a plan, gather resources and then implement the steps they need to take to get away.”

When asked why she felt compelled to make the video, Lee replied, “I wrote it as a love letter to my mother, who overcame the abuse she suffered and found the strength to thrive. The abuse we endured was primarily verbal,” Lee continued, but the effects are just as debilitating and haunting.  These victims need to know they’re not alone, and that they CAN escape.  It isn’t easy, but it CAN be done.”

If you are or know a victim of domestic violence, help is available to you.  Please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE (7233) or TTY 1−800−787−3224.

Learn more about domestic violence and how you can help by visiting www.TheHotline.org

Learn more about Lee at: www.MistyLee.com

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Contacts:

Greenleaf & Associates — 323-660-5800

Vicki Greenleaf — vicki@greenleafandassociates.com

Kelly Williams — kelly@greenleafandassociates.com