[upbeat music] NARRATOR: While much research has focused on domestic abuse in adult relationships relatively little has addressed intimate partner violence among teens.

Girls and LGBT youth in particular report higher levels of dating violence and bullying.

Should the Me Too movement do more to address harassment of LGBT teens and girls?

Coming up on Our Time, Rebecca St. John and Dee Contreras tell painful and personal stories of violence and bullying in their films, "Rock Bottom" and "Breaking Silence".

And they recount the hard steps they each faced to heal and find healthier relationships.

Then stay tuned afterwards for interviews with the filmmakers.

[upbeat music] BOY: Why don't people understand me?

BOY: I'm tired of running so fast.

GIRL: I wanna be heard.

BOY: Why are people afraid?

I'm ready for change.

I hear you.

I see you.

GIRL: My time.

BOY: My time.

Our time is now.

Major funding for this program is provided by: The Russell Grinnell Memorial Trust Steve and Mary Anne Walldorf and Betsy and Warren Dean.

Additional funding is provided by: The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation The Brenden Mann Foundation The Loo Family The Moniker Foundation The Buck Foundation The CALM Foundation Half the Sky Giving Circle, in honor of Chris Beyer And Will Stoller-Lee A complete list is available online.

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ Happy birthday dear... ♪ [mellow music] [mellow music] You were very bubbly and extroverted and you loved to sing.

You sang everywhere, you know, walking down the street.

And you were just confident, and you were just Becca.

what?

[laughs] You were always happy, always like in a good mood.

[laughing] I love Mom; she's great.

I love Becca, she's awesome.

There's a special glow and thing about you, that everyone just wanted to be with you.

I really noticed the ex-boyfriend coming into your life in middle school.

You automatically, like, went after him.

Like he was new, and you just fell in love right away.

You were really happy 'cause you were in a new relationship and all that.

I felt like it was a good thing for you, at first.

♪ She was just 13 ♪ ♪ When she fell in love with the boy of her dreams ♪ ♪ Nothing seemed to matter without him ♪ ♪ All her friends didn't care for him ♪ ♪ But he was everything to her ♪ He seemed very, like a very strong personality.

Somebody who kinda demanded attention of the room.

And he, wasn't afraid to kinda state his opinions.

And I know that caused a lot of tension.

You could tell he was kind of controlling, just the way he acted and like, just the way he treated his friends as well.

You could just tell there was something, not quite right with him.

[soft music] REBECCA: He and I dated in middle school.

And then we reconnected in high school.

I knew he'd be a problem, the first time we met him.

And the first time you dated him.

And then when he came back, I was just like, oh no, this is not gonna be good.

This is gonna be really, really bad.

But I had no idea how bad it would get.

We were going to lunch one day and you said that, you didn't want me to post any pictures on Facebook.

Cause you didn't want him to see 'em.

And I didn't exactly understand until you told me that you didn't, he didn't want you to go to lunch with me anymore.

I know he didn't like us talking and that was a big reason why we didn't talk.

And that bugged me quite a lot, 'cause control is one of those first warning signs in an unhealthy relationship.

[tense music] During that time, you became pretty distant, you were never at home.

That was one big difference.

You were just gone.

It felt like there was a ghost in our house.

We'd see her for five minutes, grab some stuff and then go.

What I found is that I started, having to ask you more questions.

Rather, and drawing you out.

Rather than you just sharing information on your own.

Like I couldn't ever reach you.

Like I would always try texting you and calling you, and he would answer for you, he would text me back.

Each time I tried talking to him, he always came off as like you need to stay away from her.

And just leave her alone.

And he was trying to make you break up, with every friend you had.

He wanted your attention solely on him and no one else.

He was isolating you.

You started skipping school like a lot.

To the point where you started, having issues staying caught up.

You were the kind of girl, who wore makeup every day.

And always did your hair, and picked out a really cute outfit.

And then all of a sudden you started wearing sweatpants and really baggy clothing.

REBECCA: No wearing open-toed shoes, no wearing anything tight at all.

No hugging or holding hands with any friends.

No deleting any text messages.

He had to go through my contacts and delete anyone I wasn't allowed to talk to.

He pushed me into walls.

And would grab my wrist so tightly that it'd leave marks.

He would push me to try new things sexually When I wasn't ready.

He kept pressuring you, and it just sent you into a downward spiral after that.

I think I realized it was a domestic violence relationship when I would catch you in a lie.

And you would keep lying to get out of that lie.

'cause I think you were covering up for him.

You know and I remember you just were so anxious.

I had never been around somebody who was so anxious.

You could tell that you, were getting more depressed because you were thinking about, hurting yourself like self-harm.

And you got into a really dark stage and depressed stage for a while.

That it seemed like no one could pull you out of it.

[dynamic music] I think that was really kinda the point.

Especially when you thought you were pregnant.

REBECCA: He had a plan, to get me pregnant sophomore year.

So that I'd be tied to him for the rest of my life.

He told me that, if you were pregnant That was his baby.

And you were gonna go be with him.

And that's just how it was gonna be.

And he would have all of this say in the matter.

And we wouldn't have any say.

He was going to swoop in, and take you away.

And nobody would get in his way.

He had been a fire-setter in the past.

He had made statements about killing your parents.

I think this potentially is a very dangerous young man.

Very potentially dangerous.

To watch you being so young, and seeing you so vulnerable.

You just didn't understand the severity of the situation of what you had gotten yourself into.

You were so low that day.

I had never seen you so dark in all my life.

And, as a collective group, we had no choice.

It was the, zero dark hour.

And you had to go get help.

[gentle music] I remember driving you up there at night.

and you just...

Were so frozen.

It was the most depressed I've ever seen you.

Leaving you that night there, was the hardest thing in the world.

It was a scary place.

I mean, leaving your baby sister in a mental hospital isn't exactly, you know, a fairy tale ending.

♪ She gives me everything ♪ ♪ And tenderly ♪ ♪ The kiss my lover brings ♪ ♪ She'll bring to me ♪ ♪ And I love her ♪ ♪ Better than stars that shine ♪ ♪ Dark as the sky ♪ ♪ I know this love of mine ♪ ♪ Will never die ♪ You didn't sing the whole time when you were with him.

And I remember like the first time when I heard you sing again I knew, Becca's back.

Say it, Grammy.

Say it, what, say what?

Let me take a selfie.

Let me take a selfie.

[laughing] I would like to think you missed your family, because you came back to us.

And you seemed pretty happy that you did.

We sure are.

I took the phone, and I said "hello".

And all I hear is "Hi, Corey."

I was going on a run.

And we were running down the hill and you were volunteering there.

Seeing you again, it was, like, such a huge relief.

I smiled so big because I knew you were okay, and that you were safe.

Paige was a big part of it too.

Reconnecting with her when you did.

She really, she helped you.

I first started getting feelings for you in middle school.

I'd fall for you a little bit.

But I was really shy to tell you too 'cause I was kinda confused myself about it.

Seeing you again, like, so abruptly, it was like, it was amazing.

My heart like just like dropped I think those feelings returned.

[laughing] [whispering] [laughing] [upbeat music] NARRATOR: The Youth Documentary Academy empowers young filmmakers to identify and craft their own stories.

Through intensive training and mentorship in the art of documentary film.

[soft music] When I see your baby pictures I just remember how little you used to be, and cute you was.

DEE: Was?

DEE'S MOM: And still are.

Okay, thank you.

Overall I was just a happy kid wanting to go outside and play.

I was all a girly girl and, [sighs] [laughing] I was in skirts.

I was in pigtails.

And it's just amazing to see how much I've changed.

Me and my grandma, we had a really special connection.

That woman was my best friend.

She was a cook for like 52 years or something like that.

But when you made her mad, oh my goodness she went to go get the wooden spoon.

And, believe me, you would have to run and I think that's why I'm a good athlete now.

Because of my Grandma.

Your childhood was good, compared to mine and your dad's.

I grew up around parties, and having to clean up after the parties.

Seeing a lot of fights.

You girls got to go and do a lot more things, that I did when I was younger too.

You did cheerleading when you were little.

In your kindergarten, it was the PV Cheerleading.

[children cheering] It was so cute.

You did basketball, soccer.

And then, as you got older, basketball again, wrestling.

Yeah, you're an active kid.

[mumbles] I mostly got bullied for being gay.

I was in the 5th grade when I came out.

I remember just being pushed in the lockers and just being called a fag.

And just, I used to get threats.

Like writing on notes, and someday I just don't wanna live anymore.

You know, I just wanna just stop breathing.

And just stop with this pain and just hurting and stuff.

There's still just those days where I just wanna lock myself in my room and just cut.

And just let everything just come out.

I got into a relationship and we were happy for a while.

And then one day I was walking her to cheerleading practice.

She ended up pushing me against the lockers and beating me.

She kept punching my ribs really hard.

To where the point where I was on the floor.

I couldn't move, it felt like my chest had collapsed.

[dynamic music] All I want for you girls is, to be open and honest with me.

Come to me.

Just find someone, Elizabeth, that you can open up to.

I did.

And?

She's gone.

DEE'S MOM: Grandma?

[soft music] You know, she was there for me my entire life.

When I was in trouble, or I needed someone to talk to.

Or just to have a hug from her.

Just to feel that comfort.

And that's when I felt like I hit rock bottom.

[heart beating] I think it was two times I tried hanging myself.

The third time I tried drowning myself.

The last time that's when I was cutting really bad.

And I kept cutting really really deep.

But every time I tried; I thought about my family and how it would affect them.

And you know I'm still here today.

Over the years, I've bottled up a lot of things, you know.

It just builds up.

Just everything over the years.

Like it builds up.

I've had an ex beat the (expletive) out of me.

Push me up against lockers and beat the (expletive) out of me.

Do you know how many nights I've cried myself to sleep because I was so sick and tired of living?

You hold a pillow over your head, and you push that in really tight.

And it's like a silent cry.

That's why I bottled a lot of things up.

Because I didn't wanna go to anyone in the family.

You and your sister, you guys have my heart and my soul.

There's not one thing I will not try to do for you girls.

I said you girls are my world.

And it hurts to know that, you're willing to take your life because, what's going on with you.

I couldn't handle it.

KAYLA: Today.

[happy music] MAN: Happy, pick up your passport.

Please have them ready for check.

If you are VIP please go to the left side of the entry gate.

[cheering] KAYLA: Woo, rainbow puppies.

Me and Kayla have been together almost a year.

She's just all-around an amazing girlfriend.

And I'm like, I'm so happy to have her.

I love you.

The most amazing thing about her is her smile.

We formed this relationship, and I gotta say it was the best one I've ever been in.

Because, not only did she open up to me, but finally I opened up to someone in life.

I trust her.

Do you like my make-up?

DEE: Yes, it's really beautiful.

She knew me better than anyone.

Just like my grandma.

She showed me that I don't have to be scared no more.

To open up and talk about my feelings.

[upbeat music] Some advice that I would give to someone, who's wanting to commit suicide or cut, is there is just so much that we can accomplish in life.

We can find true love and have kids and have a family.

Suicide is something that we don't wanna talk about.

But bringing this to people's attention I hope it does make a change.

Because, your life is worth it.

[cheerful music] [soft guitar music] These are conversations not a lot of people are willing to have, you know.

People are so scared to talk about, you know, coming out.

Being suicidal, being depressed, or anything.

I was still very quiet and controlled.

Even though that relationship was over I still felt like I was under his rules.

You know, I want the youth and, all the generations to know that there are people out there, that are, you know, willing to help.

I know I would definitely be one of those people just because I love hearing people's stories.

I love hearing, you know, what they've been through.

And, you know, being able to be there for someone.

When I made this film, and when I was able to talk to my peers about it, that's when I realized I'm a powerful person.

And I'm a powerful woman with a voice.

And no one can control me.

You know, being in a Hispanic family, opening up my family's mind to this.

It took years, and I mean years.

But it's so worth it.

That fight for something.

What I love and who I love.

That's my fight, you know.

That's what I want, that's who I am.

It's a hard film to watch, but I wanted it to be that way.

Because I wanted to show that, yes these situations are incredibly challenging and incredibly scary.

But, victims can rise above.

And they can find an escape.

And become strong and take care of themselves, like everyone deserves.

[upbeat music] Mainstream media has always played outsized role in how young people define themselves.

From body image, to gender roles, to career choices... popular culture often dictates adherence to strict norms.

Coming up on Our Time, filmmakers Makayla De La Cruz, Casey Foshee-Gurtler, and Marley Kaiser challenge the social expectations that have led to self-policing in their own lives.

And in doing so, They imagine new ways of living and loving, outside of the box.

Major funding for this program is provided by: The Russell Grinnell Memorial Trust Steve and Mary Anne Walldorf and Betsy and Warren Dean.

Additional funding is provided by: The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation The Brenden Mann Foundation The Loo Family The Moniker Foundation The Buck Foundation The CALM Foundation Half the Sky Giving Circle, in honor of Chris Beyer And Will Stoller-Lee A complete list is available online.