“Nefarious is one of the most powerful, compelling and transformational documentaries ever.”
-Dr. Ted Baehr, MovieGuide
Viewer discretion advised • 2011
1h 36m
CC
Nefarious: Merchant of Souls is a hard-hitting documentary that exposes the disturbing trends of modern-day slavery.
Meet the
Filmmakers
Benjamin Nolot
Director, Producer, Writer
Benjamin Nolot is an American film producer, director, and writer. He was born in 1976 in Huntington Beach, California. He started his career as a filmmaker at Saddleback College. He is known for his feature films Nefarious: Merchant of Souls (2011) and Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution (2017). He is married to Lauren Nolot and together they have three children.
Matthew Dickey
Director of Re-enactments, Associate Producer, Editor, Cinematographer
Matthew Dickey is the founder of Empyrean Films, producer of the highly acclaimed short film, 22 Weeks. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design’s Motion Graphics and Animation school, Matthew is a prolific filmmaker skilled in editing, animation, and cinematography. He combines technical skill with creative vision to bring his projects to life in unique style and powerful cinematic qualities.
Steve Willis
Photographer, Cinematographer
Steve Willis is the founder of Underpin Photography, a portrait photography company based in Kansas City. While a portrait photographer by trade, Steve expresses his passion for social reformation through his photojournalism work. His images are used extensively by international anti-trafficking organization, Exodus Cry.
John Samuel Hanson
Composer
John Samuel Hanson is a cinematic composer whose ambition is to develop unique and relevant sound canvases in all his work. He owns a company in Los Angeles called Confidential Music which focuses on developing scores for trailer campaigns (work includes Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel, and DC). Between this and setting up a media studio in Japan, John considers it a great privilege to be a part of telling stories that allow people to look into things they may be unaware of.
Kenny Miracle
Editor
Kenny Miracle is a video editor and producer based in Austin, Texas, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. He started making videos at his Southeast Missouri high school, but it wasn't until he edited the award - winning documentary Nefarious: Merchant of Souls that he learned the power of combining filmmaking and activism. Since then, he has been helping independent filmmakers make documentaries about various social issues, and hopes to one day make his own film.
Jesse Koepke
Editor
A native Montanan born in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, Jesse Koepke graduated from the University of Montana with degrees in English Literature and Digital Filmmaking. A video editor and filmmaker for almost ten years, he has worked on projects ranging from short films to live concert DVDs to documentaries.
Associate Producers
- Amy Loren
- Matthew Dickey
- Bret Mavrich
- Peter Herder
- Christopher Lakkees
- Jonathan Hall
Executive Producers
- Michael Beer
- Timothy Aughinbaugh
Nefarious: Merchant of Souls
Nefarious: Merchant of Souls
Viewer discretion advised • 2011
1h 36m
CC
Nefarious: Merchant of Souls is a hard-hitting documentary that exposes the disturbing trends of modern-day slavery. It offers an in-depth look at this industry, showing where slaves are sold, where they work, and where they're confined. Nefarious exposes the nightmare experienced by millions daily, and captures the gripping and triumphant testimonies of survivors in order to galvanize hope.