{"id":101049,"date":"2024-05-30T15:07:13","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T15:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/30\/7m-tiktok-cult-filmmakers-say-miranda-wilking-knew-about-doc\/"},"modified":"2024-05-30T15:07:13","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T15:07:13","slug":"7m-tiktok-cult-filmmakers-say-miranda-wilking-knew-about-doc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/30\/7m-tiktok-cult-filmmakers-say-miranda-wilking-knew-about-doc\/","title":{"rendered":"7M TikTok Cult Filmmakers Say Miranda Wilking Knew About Doc"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Even director Derek Doneen <\/strong>and producer Jessica Acevedo<\/strong> didn\u2019t know exactly what they were getting into by taking on 7M Films and the Shekinah church for Netflix\u2019s new docuseries Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI think every project comes with some nerves. You\u2019re entering into a two-year commitment and this one, especially, the nerves I think double as excitement because it was an ongoing situation. We were thrust into something,\u201d Doneen told Us Weekly<\/em> in an exclusive interview with Acevedo ahead of the Wednesday, May 29, release, noting it\u2019s \u201crare\u201d to be able to \u201ccapture the action\u201d as it was unfolding.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the cult sort of genre, it\u2019s generally retrospective or looks back. We had this opportunity to sort of shift the perspective [and] to immerse ourselves in these families\u2019 lives and say, \u2018What does it feel like to be someone who desperately wants to get your son or daughter or sister, brother out?\u2019 and to tell the story from that perspective. And then as we started shooting, members started leaving, dancers started leaving,\u201d Doneen continued. \u201cWhen we started the project, the dancers that you see in the show we\u2019re still in. Priscylla was still in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout three episodes, cameras follow several dancers and their families, namely the parents of Miranda<\/strong> and Melanie Wilking<\/strong>, as they search for answers about pastor Robert Shinn<\/strong> and his TikTok dance management company. In recordings from his church services, Shinn is heard influencing members to cut ties with their family members who do not belong to the organization. He is also accused of taking financial advantage of the social media stars, mandating in some cases that they donate up to 70 percent of their earnings to Shinn and Shekinah.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think most leaders of highly controlled groups like this have a very similar playbook,\u201d Doneen said after Us<\/em> noted potential similarities to the Church of Scientology<\/a>. \u201cThe tactics that Robert uses are not unique to him. I think everybody has their own spin on how to do it, but it generally comes down to, \u2018I have this singular message that only I can provide. I can lead you to salvation and only me.\u2019 And the tactics of sort of separating you from your family and friends and isolating you within the group, creating a climate of fear that if you sort of disobey that someone else within the group might tell on you, that you will be rebuked or you will be withheld favor within the group. Financial control is always a part of it. In this case, unfortunately, there\u2019s a sexual component as well, you see that a lot with these male leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n (L-R) Melanie Wilking and Miranda Derrick in Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult.<\/span> Courtesy of Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to the dancers telling their stories of feeling manipulated emotionally and financially by 7M, sisters Priscylla <\/strong>and Melanie Lee<\/strong> come forward in the film to share their experiences with Shinn that began before he started working with the TikTok dancers. The Lee sisters detail allegations of sexual abuse and financial fraud, with Priscylla claiming she was given just $80 every two weeks out of her paycheck.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs they started coming out, the perspective of the film changed,\u201d Doneen told Us<\/em>. \u201cIt sort of became what does feel like a sort of complimentary piece to the family story. What does it feel like to get out from a situation like this and try and reconnect with your family, try and rebuild your life, sort of deprogram the brainwashing that has taken place over the years? [We\u2019re] really stoked that Netflix took the risk on that. I think you see that less and less in today\u2019s world. In today\u2019s market to say, \u2018We don\u2019t know what the ending\u2019s gonna be, but we trust you. We love the story and we\u2019ll support that vision.\u2019 That was huge for them and really exciting for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Acevedo learned about Shekinah through a director and dancer studio owner in L.A. after the Wilking family went live on Instagram in 2022, looking for help to get through to Miranda. (Miranda and Melanie Wilking were gaining traction through their joint social media account when Miranda met now-husband James Derrick,<\/strong> known as BDash, who introduced her to 7M.)<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>7M Dancers Miranda Wilking and James Derrick’s Relationship Timeline<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tMiranda Wilking\u2019s life with husband James Derrick looks picture-perfect based on her social media presence, but her family members claim there\u2019s more to the story. Miranda\u2019s parents and sister, Melanie Wilking, took to Instagram Live in February 2022 to claim that Miranda had been indoctrinated into a cult that targets dancers. The concerned family said [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI watched the Live and was like, \u2018Wait, what is this?\u2019 I ended up getting on the phone with the Wilkings later that evening and we ended up talking for three hours and kickstarted that investigation deeper,\u201d Acevedo explained. (7M denied the claims at the time of the Live, telling the Daily Mail<\/em> in a statement that read in part: \u201cIt is pathetic and contemptible to try to turn her private family matters into a tawdry public scandal for clicks and clout. While the recent portrayals of Dr. Robert Shinn and 7M Films have been wildly offensive and riddled with inaccuracies, those false claims will not deter 7M from supporting Miranda in whichever endeavors she chooses to pursue next.\u201d)<\/p>\n

The series includes footage of the Wilking family trying to get in contact with Miranda in any way that they could, including visiting the streets in L.A. where 7M dancers appeared to film their TikToks. \u201cA lot of that footage was already shot from them. That was their footage from before that they shared with us,\u201d Acevedo explained.<\/p>\n

The family would identify where to go by the background of the videos, tracking down the water towers or street signs. \u201cThey started recording because they were doing outreach to Miranda [and] they weren\u2019t able to get through to her. And they weren\u2019t sure what was being communicated and what wasn\u2019t,\u201d Acevedo said. \u201cAnd so they wanted proof that they were putting in the effort that they were trying everything that they could, including driving around town and finding water towers. It was all real.\u201d<\/p>\n