Gina Kim produced a sold out show for MISS KIM in the NYC International Fringe 2010. In 2011, she produced 2 short films, one of which was accepted into 4 festivals receiving honorable mention for one. Her commitment to the arts is to inspire courage in others who may have given up or in search of their purpose and voice.

What Gina Kim has to say and what’s her pledge:

My name is Gina Kim and I’m a survivor of sexual abuse, which led to confusion, suicidal depression and eventual transformation. I co-wrote, co-starred and produced a play about my life experiences to a sold-out audience last summer during the New York International Fringe Festival. Miss Kim was listed as one of the top 10 hottest shows of the festival. With help from a previous Kickstarter campaign, I exposed my experiences to the public, shedding light on topics that are often kept quiet – especially in the Korean culture where incidences of sexual abuse are higher than normal. Now, Miss Kim the play is back and needs your pledge!

Miss Kim the play is about falling to pieces and rebuilding with what’s left. It’s also about me. I am Miss Kim, Gina Kim, Kim McSweeney or Gina – depending on the period of my life and who’s asking. When I was 8 years old, my life changed when my uncle began to sexually abuse me. Miss Kim the play swiftly carries the audience through my life experiences, touching upon the 6 months of sexual abuse at the hands of my uncle followed by years of bad relationships, beauty pageants, therapist roulette, rape (both date & knife-to-throat types), stand-up comedy and an eventual breakthrough. Miss Kim’s uplifting end makes it clear that despite everything I’ve been through, I’m going to make it. In fact, producing this play is proof that anything is possible. The cast is comprised of 6 actors (myself included) playing multiple roles. Our approach is upfront and often humorous, but done tastefully as to not trivialize the issue of sexual abuse. Shortly after curtain call last year, audience members approached the stage to break a lifetime’s worth of silence on their own experiences with sexual abuse, leading me to revive ARIA.

ARIA (Awareness of Rape and Incest through Art) is an organization I started in 2004. Seeing Miss Kim the play encourage individuals to share experiences of sexual abuse reopened my eyes to the possibility of healing through artistic expression. Through ARIA, I plan on creating more original programming. No matter the medium (stage, television, film, etc), I’m reaching out to the world, striving to unite the hidden survivors of sexual abuse with those of us already speaking out.

My goal using Kickstarter is to raise $16,500. This year, I will produce Miss Kim the play on my own, increasing costs all-around. Also, the play calls for a more intimate setting, so a change in venue is required. All funding will go toward venue space, actors, crew, director, programs, rehearsal space, advertising, public relations, postcards, lighting and minimal set design. Any amount you pledge will not only make Miss Kim the play a reality once again, but furthers ARIA and its reach.

For more information to see how you can support and help Gina Kim: http://www.kickstarter.com/project