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Arts & Culture

'Chelsea's Light: A Brother's Journey' Premieres In San Diego

Brent (left) and Kelly King (center left), the parents of Chelsea King; filmmaker Bruce Caulk (center right) and Tyler King pose for a photo at the "Chelsea's Light: A Brother's Journey" documentary film premiere on Sept. 23, 2014.
10News
Brent (left) and Kelly King (center left), the parents of Chelsea King; filmmaker Bruce Caulk (center right) and Tyler King pose for a photo at the "Chelsea's Light: A Brother's Journey" documentary film premiere on Sept. 23, 2014.

The line wrapped around the block to see the documentary film produced by the brother of slain Poway teen Chelsea King.

"Chelsea's Light: A Brother's Journey" held its world premiere at Reading Cinemas in San Diego Tuesday, a day before the San Diego Film Festival. It was a pre-festival screening.

"I couldn't ask for a better way to come out of my tragedy," said 18-year-old Tyler King on the red carpet.

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King, who was 13 years old when his sister was raped and killed by a known sexual predator, said helping write and produce the film helped him come to terms with the violent way his sister was ripped from the family.

"I really had to look at it right in the face. So, I wasn't afraid of it, and I wasn't running anymore," King said.

King worked with award-winning filmmaker Bruce Caulk to produce the half-hour documentary which sheds light on the pain inflicted by repeat sexual predators and the grieving and recovery process for victims and their families.

"The hardest part for me was talking to the brothers and sisters of victims. I talked to people who just the month before this happened to their brother or sister, so I was looking at a face of what I was four years ago," said King, who plans to major in both journalism and documentary filmmaking in college.

"He's strong. He's brave. And he's really found his true passion in filmmaking through this project," said his mother, Kelly King, who admitted she could not be more proud of her son.

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King knows his sister would also be proud.

"Not because I'm making films, but because this is going to hopefully save children and make a difference in the world," he said.

People left the theater feeling moved.

"What can you say about a kid who was just a boy … and now he's transcending into a young man and look where he's channeling that energy … it's phenomenal," said Kelly Jones, who attended the film's screening.

"I think it was really wonderful to see the brother's perspective, to be reassured that the family is surviving and doing well and good things are happening as a result of the pain and agony," said Rebecca Wardlow.

The King family hopes the documentary will prompt every state to pass Chelsea's Law, which calls for imprisoning for life those who commit certain violent sexual crimes against children.

"This happens way too often and if people aren't able to respond and relate to it, they’re not going to do anything about it," said Kelly King. "I do think this documentary will hit a nerve with people and encourage them to not be complacent. Get up and do something."

10News reports on the premiere of "Chelsea's Light: A Brother's Journey."