KEEP THIS BETWEEN US
Executive Producer/Creator Cheryl Nichols and Ari Basile
Produced by Vox Media Studios and The Front
on Freeform
Directed by Jenna Rosher, Amy Berg and Kristi Jacobson
Cinematography by Nausheen Dadabhoy, Jenna Rosher, Wolfgang Held, Curren Sheldon
Keep This Between Us is a four-part series that follows one woman’s journey as she reexamines her past relationship with a trusted teacher. The series exposes an epidemic of widespread grooming in U.S. high schools.
The documentary is a deeply personal story that takes place over the course of several years as I investigate the sexual abuse I experienced in high school. What started off as a self-shot journey with my creative partner Ari Basile, and snowballed into a four-part series produced by VOX Media and Freeform.
After the initial Harvey Weinstein reporting, as the #metoo movement progressed, as Trump accusers came forward, as Brett Kavanaugh, under oath, tried to appear innocent in his misunderstanding of “Devil’s Triangle”, I was often transported back to my experience in High School, where I was groomed and abused by a teacher. For many years, I was so ashamed of what happened to me, believing I was at fault; a homewrecker, a whore, a teacher’s pet, an attention seeker. That was the narrative. When I moved to LA to start a new life, I tried to put it behind me. I didn’t want to be perceived as a victim. I saw victims as weak and refused to relinquish my power. However, during the early #metoo days, I began to see the “relationship” with my teacher and mentor in a new light, prompting me to reevaluate my experience.
When I decided to make this documentary, it was important that I be as curious and forthcoming about what happened to me as possible. I believe there is value in watching a person process through trauma, as it allows the viewer to experience some relief in witnessing the mistakes made by another in pursuit of growth. I wondered if putting a face, a feeling, a consequence to the old “she knew what she was doing” could change minds. This series was an attempt to retrace my steps. We used some unorthodox methods. Some worked, some didn’t. I thought stumbling through the events of my past in real time, imperfectly, chaotically would give others permission to speak up without feeling the pressure to be the perfect victim. The complexity of the show’s subject matter takes an open mind to unpack, and the ability to re-frame the social constructs that have shaped our understanding of consent. The goal of the documentary was to begin a conversation; something I believe my team and I achieved. Since the premiere, I have received thousands of messages from women, most of which were stories just like mine.
Premiered August 29, 2022 on Freeform and Hulu
SALON: "I'm still unraveling it": "Keep This Between Us" filmmaker on being groomed as a child
THE DALLAS OBSERVER: Filmmaker Cheryl Nichols Isn't Afraid To Tackle Tough Subjects
TEEN VOGUE: New Freeform Docuseries Keep This Between Us Exposes Grooming in High Schools Across America
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: Inside Freeform’s Expansion Into Nonfiction
