The Man Outside

How many women will be murdered before we make stalking a crime in Aotearoa? 

Directed by Liv McClymont and produced by Jessica Todd, The Man Outside follows a terrifying, true experience of stalking in Aotearoa.

We need your support to make The Man Outside, a documentary, as part of Loading Docs: Season 10.

THE FILM

After a number of disturbing incidents, a young woman realises that her ex-boyfriend is stalking her. As the encounters escalate, she asks the police for help. But when they are unable to, due to the lack of stalking laws in Aotearoa, she and her flatmates become the protagonists of a real-life thriller.

The Man Outside exposes the dangerous gaps in New Zealand's justice system, asking: Will women ever truly be safe in Aotearoa?

THE FACTS

It may surprise you to find that in Aotearoa stalking is not a criminal offence.

This is despite stalking being a known precursor to murder and reports of criminal harassment (a charge commonly used in instances of stalking in NZ) having more than doubled in the last five years.

Last year, a Kiwi woman was stabbed to death by her stalker. She had notified the police numerous times earlier with proof of his threats, asking for help. They failed to protect her - even after he threatened to throw acid in her face a week prior.

Meanwhile, countries like the UK, the US and Australia have made it a criminal offence to stalk someone. 

"NZ's lack of stalking laws is dangerous and outdated" - Leonie Morris, Auckland Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children

WHY WE’RE MAKING THIS

Both Liv and Jess have friends who have been stalked and witnessed the huge toll their experiences had on their lives. 

“I watched my friend become small, shying away from the world and becoming isolated from her community.” “She was terrified, and she didn’t feel safe anywhere.”

“We were shocked at how little the police and justice system did to protect or support our friends. No one should have to go through that. Anti-stalking legislation is desperately needed in Aotearoa.”

We believe in the transformative power of film to drive positive societal change.

Our aim with The Man Outside is to immerse viewers in the terrifying reality of stalking and inspire a united call for change.

THE TEAM

Liv McClymont is a vibrant, feminine director who uses film to create societal change. Above all, her aim as a filmmaker is to make audiences feel something—and not always warm fuzzies.

Jessica Todd is an emerging writer and producer who’s worked in the media industry in both Aotearoa and the UK. She’s a creative at heart and thrives on the challenge of getting important stories in front of an audience. 

In 2023, Jess and Liv made I Stand For Consent, a documentary that explores the importance of consent education - a tool that protects and empowers young people.  Within the first month of release, the film had amassed over 300k views, and Liv was interviewed by RNZ’s Kim Hill, Breakfast, Stuff, RE: News. 

Luke Stockman is a versatile cinematographer, who specialises in capturing unique moments. Drawing on over a decade of global experience, Luke infuses his shots with intentional emotion and dynamic camera movements, collaborating closely with directors to enrich narratives.

OUR TARGET

As part of the Loading Docs initiative, we need to raise a minimum of $5,000 through Boosted. Once we reach our minimum target, it will unlock additional funding from Loading Docs. 

This is an all-or-nothing campaign. If we don’t reach our target, we get nothing! That’s why we need your help.

Please donate, share our posts and join us on our filmmaking journey.

Loading Docs is funded by NZ On Air with support from the New Zealand Film Commission and Te Māngai Pāho.

Thank you for your support.