New York, September 19, 2007 - Conversation was understandably grim at the premiere of “Trade”, a movie about human trafficking in the sex trade. 

Mira Sorvino: “We [the U.S.] are one of the host countries for slave labor.  We are one of the ten greatest landing places for slave labor in the world.” Screenwriter Jose Rivera (Motorcycle Diaries): “The girls that get caught up in this life tend not to survive.”  Gloria Steinem: “[the movie] really exposes the way sexual slavery happens.  In fact, there’s a larger percentage of enslaved people now than there were in the 1800s.” Even perennial party girl Bijou Phillips got serious: “I’m on the board of Outreach, which is a program that helps women and children that are sold into sex trafficking.  Last year there were 10,000 women and children in New York City that were rescued.”

Only Rufus Wainwright was able to make us laugh when we caught up with him at the after party in the U.N. Delegates’ dining room.  On the deck overlooking the East River, Wainwright told us how one of his songs ended up in the movie.  “Apparently the director loved the song so much that he made all the actors listen to it.  The song was there before the film, so basically, it’s because of the song that the movie was made”, he said.  “Just kidding!” he added, after a pause.