Playing with Fire

Directed By Deborah Attoinese

Unscripted Feature Documentary

A former rodeo queen, U.S. Forest Service Battalion Chief and mother takes on the male-dominated-world of fire after being sexually assaulted while on assignment in Colorado.

ABOUT
BIO

They repel out of helicopters into burning hell to protect our forests, our wildlife, our future. But who protects them? This is the story of Abby Bolt, a former Rodeo Queen and single mom who climbed the ranks to Battalion Chief of an elite team of firefighters for the U.S. Forest Service. In 2012, this incredibly brave 22-year-veteran was sexually assaulted by a fellow firefighter but the assault didn’t stop there. She subsequently filed a police report and found she was now a pariah within her own ranks. Unsupported. Unappreciated. And unsafe. "Playing With Fire" is the story of this one woman's battle against a monolithic foe. It begins to reveal the drastic dysfunction and gender discrimination that exists within the U.S. Forest Service, an organization whose firefighting members must rely on teamwork, support, and unconditional dependability to survive. To females in the U.S. Forest Service, the fight doesn’t end with the fire.

Deborah Attoinese is an award winning director, producer and writer. Her work has been shown on Netflix, CineMax and Showtime and includes: Hollywood Pictures, Tri-Star Pictures, Curb Entertainment among others. Originally from New York Deborah began her career has a self-taught fashion photographer. Her signature style has appeared in the pages of Conde Nast Publications, The Sunday NY Times, Details Magazine and more. Her first short film garnered the attention of Propaganda Films and was selected by BackStage as one of NYC's photographer's to watch as they transitioned into directing. Deborah relocated to Los Angeles where she co-wrote and directed her first feature film ZOE, which screened throughout the USA and abroad including, AFI, Palm Springs etc. ON DIRECTING, Deborah's full length documentary and labor of love features iconic directors Agnes Varda, Wim Wenders, Roland Joffe and Bille August and is available on Fandor.com. Deborah wrote, directed and produced her next two award winning short films; SNAIL a whimsical romantic comedy and GIRL KNIGHT, an LGBTQ coming of film about two teenage misfits finding the courage to let their guard down. Deborah then directed and produced her award winning documentary PLAYING WITH FIRE currently on AMAZON which takes on sexual harassment and discrimination of female wildland firefighters in the male-dominated world of the U.S. Forest Service.

Deborah is currently developing WELCOME TO CONCRETE a limited series for television.

Playing with Fire

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