By Len Sousa

“I can tell you that before I became the victim of domestic abuse, if you had told me that I would have tolerated something like that, I would have been very sure that was not the case,” says an emphatic Chloe McFeters. “But there are so many factors as to why someone stays in a situation like that.”

McFeters is locally-based writer/director currently at work on her first feature-length documentary, tentatively titled You Look A Lot Like Me. In it, the director explores the often-unexamined world of domestic violence.

“It’s something that’s happening constantly around us and yet it continues to be somewhat of an invisible crime,” she says. “So the film wants to explore why that is and create a social discourse around the issue.”

The project is the second major feature for Catzilla Productions, an independent film company founded by local filmmaker Dennis Stevens. It was Stevens who approached McFeters and asked if he could direct a screenplay she had written. McFeters describes the feature-length script as “…loosely based on my four-year marriage to a gentleman who nearly killed me.” That film, titled Searching For Grace, is currently in production.

Stevens then suggested McFeters shoot small promotional piece on domestic violence to accompany Searching For Grace and help in the fundraising process. “However,” says McFeters, “once I started putting out feelers in the area I got a huge response. It quickly became evident that it would have to be a feature-length film.”

So for the past year and a half, McFeters and her dedicated crew at Catzilla have labored over You Look A Lot Like Me, capturing testimony on film from both victims and even perpetrators of domestic abuse.

“It’s a fine line,” the filmmaker admits. “You don’t want to exploit people. I think that’s been the most challenging thing. How to find that balance. Survivors are usually very willing to open up if you create a safe environment for them. And I certainly talk very openly about my story to show them that I’m not asking them to do anything I wouldn’t do for them.”

She adds, “Abusers are obviously more hesitant [to speak on camera], but we do offer them anonymity.”

As part of the process, McFeters has been reaching out to groups in the Worcester area, hoping to elicit their interest in contributing to the film. As of this writing, she has been in early talks with AIDS Project Worcester, Daybreak Resources (of the YWCA), as well as Abby’s House, an emergency shelter for battered women and children.

“From what I understand, Worcester has an incredible model to work off of,” relates McFeters. “Numerous organizations become involved and there’s a high level of communication. That’s something where there’s often a large disconnect in many parts of the country when you’re trying to seek social services. So it’s great to see that Worcester is ahead of the game in that regard.”

In tackling an issue as emotional and widespread as domestic abuse, McFeters confesses that editing the film into its final form will be heartbreaking. “I could probably create fifteen different films based on the stories I have. Everyone’s story is so unique.” But with her project still in production for at least the next few months, McFeters hopes to do some shooting in the Worcester area before moving on to post-production work. “But a lot of that depends on funding, which we’re still actively seeking.”

A passionate spokesperson on the issue of domestic violence, McFeters hopes her film will shatter many stereotypes surrounding domestic abuse and enlighten audiences on the often-untold stories. Especially, she explains, those dealing with the gay, lesbian, and transgender communities as well as undocumented immigrants ~ all of whom suffer from a shameful lack of protective laws. But it’s her personal connection to the topic and her firm belief in its ability to raise social discourse that makes her film one of the more highly anticipated of the coming year.

www.catzillaproductions.com