TEXAS — The Psychiatry Advisor reports that during the first weeks following school closures and stay-at-home orders in March of last year, municipal law enforcement agencies in Texas reported an 18% increase in arrests or calls related to domestic violence compared with previous periods.

One Central Texas woman found a way to promote prevention of domestic violence, even when isolation proves to be a barrier.

It started with her book that turned into a stage play. Now that stage play is a film.

Kerry-Ann Zamore sits flipping through the pages of her book, “Restored.” The book shares the domestic violence story she says began when she married her college sweetheart.

“It was only during a fight that I thought could’ve killed me and my children that I decided to break free, and breaking free was the best decision I ever made,” Zamore said.

The licensed clinical social worker and certified counselor eventually turned excerpts from the book into a stage play called “Shattered Pieces.” The stage play is now a film.

She says she decided to write a film about a professional who experienced domestic violence, in an effort to eliminate the stigma, fear and the shame that domestic violence victims often feel.

“I thought it was very important to tell a story that was relevant to a lot of issues today,” said Zamore. “And we know that during the pandemic we saw a rise in domestic violence. Although this was shot prior to the pandemic, this is a true story.”

Zamore uses her survival story to encourage others to leave dangerous situations.

Since releasing “Shattered Pieces,” Zamore has been accepted into around a dozen different film festivals, giving her the opportunity to expand her audience and reach more survivors.

“During the pandemic, we were able to submit more to different festivals because everyone was essentially at home, right? And so people were able to view more,” Zamore said. “A lot of festivals were actually virtual.”

She recently visited So Natural Catering to meet with Luvina Sabree. Sabree is the director of the Killeen Black Art & Film Festival.

“Shattered Pieces” was recently featured in the film fest.

Sabree says she organized the in-person and virtual event to give filmmakers like Zamore a platform to share their stories.

“Kerry-Ann’s film ‘Shattered Pieces.’ Wow,” said Sabree. “I think that it gives the survivors the courage to stay survivors and I also think that it will help those that are in those situations.”

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