Dancing for the Devil: The 7M Tiktok Cult, 2024

 Netflix’s new docuseries “Dancing For The Devil” delves into the shocking cult allegations at an LA church and talent agency.

The series focuses on the alleged cult-like atmosphere that TikTok dancers signed to 7M Films had to endure, with controversial pastor Robert Shinn at the center of the story.

Miranda Derrick, a TikTok dancer, is also a key figure in the controversy surrounding the cult, which has sparked widespread interest and discussion.

Check the Instagram Accounts below for clues.

Miranda Derrick, Melanie Wilking, James Derrick @dbash_2, Vik White @itsslavic, Aubrey Fisher @_aubreyfisher 

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TIME NEWS

The Chilling True Story Behind the Netflix Documentary Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult

The documentary series Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, now streaming on Netflix, traces the formation of the management company 7M Films by founder, Robert Shinn, who is also a Shekinah church pastor. Over three episodes, Dancing for the Devil reveals claims from multiple former 7M members about how Shinn abused and manipulated them and created a cult-like environment.

The series largely focuses on the stories of two different pairs of sisters who worked with Shinn—the influencers Melanie Wilking and Miranda Derrick (formerly Wilking) and Melanie and Priscylla Lee. The Lee sisters came to know Shinn after joining his Shekinah church in 1999 as young Korean immigrants. They integrated themselves into the church community and began living in a house with other church members. Melanie Lee eventually escaped the home and left the church, trying to bring her sister with her, but Priscylla refused to leave—causing them to be separated for a decade.

Shinn founded 7M in 2021 and the lines between his church and the talent management company have always been blurry. Melanie Wilking and her parents first brought attention to the darker side of 7M in a 40-minute Instagram Live in 2022, in which they tried to reach out to Miranda, saying they had not being in touch with her for years. The family shares tearfully in Dancing for the Devil that Miranda joined a “religious organization” in late 2019 and was told to cut them out of her life.

Dancing for the Devil explores how Shinn used his influence as a pastor to form a TikTok dance management company. The series also shows how Wilking’s Instagram Live became the catalyst for multiple publications to investigate 7M, giving former members and their families a chance to share their stories.

How Robert Shinn went from Shekinah Church to 7M Films

Robert Shinn's LA-based Shekinah church started out small, Melanie Lee explains in the series. “There were maybe 15 people, and that included his family and his sister Catherine’s family,” she says. She adds that Robert and Catherine “promised” her and Priscylla all of the love the two of them “never really experienced.” Over the years, Shinn opened several businesses, including a café, two mortgage companies, two real estate companies, and two flower shops. Lee says in the documentary that employees of these businesses were made up of members of the Shekinah church. She says the employees were paid very little (she was paid $100 a week) and worked 12-hour shifts.

Shinn’s interests shifted following a failed attempt as a Hollywood executive producer—and he began the management company 7M Films and found the dancers, including Miranda, on social media. He saw them as a new revenue stream.

Through 7M, Shinn was able to get the dancers in his management company opportunities like commercials, bookings on The Ellen Show, and dancing at the Los Angeles Clippers games. He still led the Shekinah congregation, which included many of his clients, whom he bragged about during his sermons. Dancing for the Devil details how the influencers on his roster sought out Shinn's approval by proving they would do whatever it took to get his attention.

The series also details Shinn's controversial practices as a leader. Former members have accused him of sexual, emotional, and financial abuse. Shinn, 7M, and Shekinah Church did not participate in the documentary series. He has denied sexually abusing members of the company or the church.

Why 7M members had to cut off their families

One of Shinn’s most controversial practices was telling his followers that they needed to “die to” themselves and their families. One former 7M dancer explains the concept in the first episode: “Dying to yourself means that whatever you want or whatever you need, you have to ‘die to it,’ because whenever you die to something, it’ll come back to life and resurrect.”

Another former 7M dancer adds that they were taught to “die to your family in order to save them,” referring to the chance of them “getting into heaven one day.”

We see this “dying to your family” play out with the Wilking sisters. In the series, Melanie Wilking explains that she and her sister were inseparable until Miranda joined 7M, even going so far as to get married without telling her family.

Miranda is now in contact with her family after Shinn changed his tune in July 2022, following the departure of multiple 7M dancers from the company. He suggested that it would be better for 7M congregants to be in contact with their families.

Ni una Mas, Raising Voices, 2024

Raising Voices (Spanish: Ni una más) is an Spanish teen drama television miniseries based on the novel by Miguel Sáez Carral. It stars Nicole Wallace, Clara Galle, and Aïcha Villaverde. The series premiered on 31 May 2024 on Netflix.

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The plot follows the plight of 17-year-old Alma and fellow friends Greta and Nata. Their normality is upended the day Alma hangs a banner in their high-school reading "watch out, there is a rapist hiding in there".

CAST

Nicole Wallace as Alma

Clara Galle as Greta

Aïcha Villaverde as Nata

Teresa de Mera as Berta

José Pastor as David

Gabriel Guevara as Alberto

Eloy Azorín

Ruth Díaz

Iván Massagué

Rating: 10 Stars

Old, 2021

 Old is a 2021 American body horror thriller film written, directed, and produced by M. Night Shyamalan. It is based on the French-language Swiss graphic novel Sandcastle by Pierre Oscar Lévy and Frederik Peeters. The film features an ensemble cast consisting of Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, Abbey Lee, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Ken Leung, Eliza Scanlen, Aaron Pierre, Embeth Davidtz, and Emun Elliott. The plot follows a group of people who find themselves aging rapidly on a secluded beach.

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Guy and Prisca Cappa are going through a separation. To avoid saddening their young children, Maddox and Trent, the couple take them to a tropical resort as a final family vacation. At their hotel, Guy and Prisca are given complimentary drinks, and the children befriend Idlib, the resort manager's nephew. At night, Maddox and Trent overhear their parents arguing and play a message decoding game with Idlib. During the argument, it is revealed that Prisca has a benign slow-growing ovarian tumour.

The next morning, the manager invites the family to a secluded beach where three additional parties are present: rapper Brendan "Mid-Sized Sedan" and his female companion; surgeon Charles, his elderly mother Agnes, his wife Chrystal, and their young daughter Kara; as well as Jarin and Patricia Carmichael, a close-knit husband and wife. Trent discovers the corpse of Brendan's companion. Charles grows suspicious of Brendan, who reveals that he has been experiencing nosebleeds because of his hemophilia. After the children rapidly turn into teenagers and Agnes suddenly dies, the families conclude that the beach is aging them, with the occupants undergoing the equivalent of one year of aging every 30 minutes. At least one member of each family has an underlying medical condition. They discover that trying to leave will result in them blacking out and waking up back where they left.

In a fit of rage, Charles cuts Brendan with a pocket knife, and the group watches as his injury quickly heals. Prisca's supposedly slow-growing ovarian tumour rapidly grows in size at a life-threatening rate. Charles performs a successful surgery to remove it. Brendan discovers that the body of his companion has fully decomposed in a matter of hours. Kara and Trent continue to age into their late teens, and after having sex with each other, Kara gets pregnant at a rapid pace. She gives birth, but the baby dies due to the time rapidly passing. The attempts to leave grow increasingly tense as Charles's worsening schizophrenia causes him to kill Brendan. As the day goes on, Jarin drowns, Kara falls to her death, and Patricia suffers a fatal epileptic seizure. Guy's eyesight blurs, and Prisca suffers hearing loss. Trent and Maddox discover the notebook of a previous traveller, along with indications of their being watched. At night, Charles attacks Guy and Prisca in a schizophrenic episode; Prisca runs as Charles continues to attack Guy. Chrystal's hypocalcaemia results in her bones rupturing, killing her. Prisca returns and slashes Charles with a rusted knife, instigating a fatal blood infection that kills him. An elderly Guy and Prisca make amends before dying moments apart from each other.

With only the now-middle-aged Maddox and Trent remaining by the next morning, the pair construct a sandcastle. They revisit a secret message given to them by Idlib, which Trent deduces is connected to an underwater coral passage. Believing that the passage will allow them to leave the beach without losing consciousness, he and his sister start swimming through the coral. After they seemingly fail to emerge from the water, a resort employee who is monitoring them reports that the entire group has died. He gives the news to the manager, who warns of a previous incident where a guest almost escaped from the beach. The manager then announces that trial 73 has concluded.

It is revealed that the resort is a front for a research team from the pharmaceutical company Warren & Warren that was conducting clinical trials of new medical drugs, which are administered to guests with medical conditions by spiking their drinks. Because the beach naturally accelerates the lives of the guests, the researchers have been able to complete the lifelong drug trials within a day. The researchers lure a new group to the beach, but are interrupted by Trent and Maddox, who survived their underwater swim, using the notebook as evidence that they give to vacationing police officer Greg Mitchel, who informs his boss of the researchers' crimes. The researchers are mentioned to have been arrested, with subpoenas sent to the rest of Warren & Warren, as Greg plans to reunite Trent and Maddox with their aunt.

Rating: 10 Stars

Cold Meat, 2023

Cold Meat is a 2023 thriller film directed by Sébastien Drouin. Here’s a brief overview:

David Petersen, portrayed by Allen Leech, is a psycho serial killer that killed many women in USA. One of the victims he killed while hitchhiking on a quiet road. 

While he is passing through the Colorado Rockies, during a break from driving, he saves a young diner waitress called Anna portrayed by Nina Bergman from her violent ex-husband Vincent, portrayed by Yan Tual. However, as he continues driving through a dangerous snow blizzard, he crashes and wakes up injured and trapped in a ravine. The cold weather is the least of his worries when he spots a beast prowling outside. He is with Anna in the trunk and searchs for a place to kill her. In his search he gets injured and Anna succeeds to scape. She tries to scape the place, however is a desert land covered by snow. In the end David is catched by a giant monster reindeer that fed on him. Anna survived but the film didn't show how she managed to escape.

Allen Leech last work is You can't run Forever, 2024

Nina Bergman last work is Thief of Station, 2024

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Yan Tual

Allen Leech

Nina Bergman

Rating: 10 Stars

Badland Hunters, 2024 (Another one from South Korea)

Badland Hunters (Korean: 황야) is a 2024 South Korean post-apocalyptic action film directed by Heo Myung-haeng in his directorial debut. A standalone sequel to Concrete Utopia (2023), it follows characters trying to survive in post-earthquake Seoul, now an orderless wasteland, three years after the original film's events. Producer Byun Seung-min is the only key crew member to return from the original film.

In the end when they succeeded to kill the other zombie variations that looked like serpents, God sent them Rain, to confirm that it was real. They all believed that God was there watching them and they all got emotional. 👏

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In a post-apocalyptic Seoul, Nam-san, a relentless wasteland hunter, along with his friend Choi Ji-wan and other survivors, are living a hard life in their village. Nam-san and Ji-wan navigate the desolate wastelands and scavenge for resources to sustain their community. Trouble ensues when Su-na, who is from their village, is kidnapped by a rogue scientist, Dr. Yang Gi-su, who has been illegally experimenting with making humans immortal by injecting them with a certain serum, which has led to the death of many teenagers.

Gi-su needed more supplies for the serum, and he had set up a network to bring more teenagers to his camp, in an apartment complex. Nam-san, Ji-wan, and Lee Eun-ho, a military sergeant of the camp, discover Gi-su's experiments and go to rescue Su-na. It is revealed that Gi-su had been conducting experiments to revive his daughter So-yeon, who had died around the time when Seoul became a wasteland.

Nam-san, Ji-wan, and Eun-ho arrive at the camp and fight with mutant soldiers. They manage to rescue Su-na, while Gi-su escapes with So-yeon's body in a suitcase. However, he is surrounded by a mob of people, who are prepared to beat him to death. While shooting at the crowd, he accidentally damages the suitcase, killing So-yeon. Nam-san kills Gi-su and returns to his village, along with Su-na and Ji-wan.

CAST

• Ma Dong-seok as Nam-san, a relentless wasteland hunter. He worked with Angelina Jolie in Eternals. 
• Lee Hee-joon as Yang Gi-su, a doctor who survived the catastrophe
• Lee Jun-young as Choi Ji-wan, Nam-san's trusted partner
• Roh Jeong-eui as Han Su-na, a bold girl who is kidnapped by Gi-su
• Ahn Ji-hye as Lee Eun-ho, a special forces sergeant
• Jang Young-nam as a teacher
• Lee Han-joo as Lee Joo-ye, a teenage girl kidnapped by Gi-su
• Park Hyo-jun as Tiger, a former rival of Nam-san
• Seong Byeong-suk as Su-na's grandmother

Rating: 10 Stars

Chronicle, 2012 (Leaving Soon on Netflix)

 Chronicle is a 2012 American found footage superhero thriller film directed by Josh Trank with a screenplay by Max Landis from a story they both co-wrote. It follows three Seattle high school seniors, bullied Andrew (Dane DeHaan), his cousin Matt (Alex Russell), and more popular Steve (Michael B. Jordan), who form a bond after gaining telekinetic powers from an unknown object and using them for fun, although Andrew begins going down a darker path.

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Seattle teenager Andrew Detmer is bullied at school and abused by his alcoholic father Richard, while also coping with his mother Karen's battle with cancer. His only friend is his cousin, Matt Garetty. Inspired by Matt's on-and-off girlfriend Casey, Andrew buys a camera to create a video diary about his life.

Matt invites Andrew to a party to help him mingle, but he leaves after his filming causes an altercation with another attendee. Popular student Steve Montgomery approaches Andrew and asks him to record a large hole he and Matt discovered in the woods. The three journey down the hole where they discover a glowing crystalline object. The object suddenly begins to react violently, and the camera shorts out.

A few days later, Andrew, Matt, and Steve have developed telekinetic abilities, though they suffer nosebleeds when they overexert themselves. Unable to revisit the hole after it is closed off by police, they start using their abilities to play pranks on people, but it goes too far when Andrew telekinetically pushes a rude motorist off the road into a nearby pond. Steve manages to save the man from drowning, but Matt insists they restrict the use of their powers, particularly against living beings.

After Steve discovers they have the ability of flight, they agree to fly around the world together following graduation, with Andrew in particular desiring to visit Tibet. Steve convinces Andrew to use his powers for a magic act in the school talent show, which impresses their peers. Andrew relishes his newfound popularity at a house party, but the night ends in disaster when he drunkenly vomits on a classmate he intended to have sex with, and Steve accidentally offends him while trying to lighten the mood.

Richard confronts Andrew after finding his camera. In the ensuing argument, Richard attacks Andrew, who retaliates by using his powers against Richard before fleeing the house. Andrew flies out into the middle of a lightning storm, and Steve follows to console him. Becoming increasingly frustrated as Steve refuses to leave, Andrew unintentionally uses his powers to fatally strike Steve with lightning. When questioned by Matt at Steve's funeral, Andrew denies responsibility for the incident, but later privately begs for forgiveness at Steve's grave.

Andrew is once again ostracized at school following the incident at the party. After telekinetically ripping teeth from a bully's mouth, Andrew begins to identify as an apex predator and rationalizes that he should not feel guilty for using his powers to hurt those weaker than him. Desperate to pay for his mother's treatment, Andrew disguises himself with his father's firefighter gear and uses his powers to rob a gang and a gas station, inadvertently causing an explosion that puts him in the hospital and police custody. At his bedside, a distraught Richard informs an unconscious Andrew that Karen has died after Richard had spent the day searching for him. Blaming Andrew for Karen's death, Richard prepares to strike him, but Andrew abruptly awakens and violently blows out the wall of the room.

Matt experiences a severe nosebleed and realizes Andrew is in trouble after seeing a news alert about a mysterious explosion downtown. He and Casey head to the hospital to find Andrew unleashing his rage all over downtown, too blinded by anger to realize he is hurting innocent people. Matt fights Andrew, crashing through buildings, hurling vehicles, and landing at Space Needle while the police surround them. Matt tries to reason with Andrew, but the latter violently injures him before threatening other bystanders. Realizing that Andrew is beyond help, Matt reluctantly impales him with a spear from a nearby statue and flies away before the police can reach him.

Sometime later, Matt lands in Tibet with Andrew's camera. He films one last video where he apologizes to Andrew, vows to use his powers for good, and promises to discover the truth about what happened to them. He points the camera at a Tibetan monastery in the distance before flying away, leaving the camera behind.

Rating: 10 Stars

Young Sheldon, 2017-2024 (On Netflix till Season 6) George died in the 7th Season.

Young Sheldon is an American coming-of-age sitcom television series that aired on CBS from September 25, 2017, to May 16, 2024. Created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro, the show serves as a spin-off prequel to The Big Bang Theory. Set during the late 80s and early 90s, it follows the life of child prodigy Sheldon Cooper as he grows up with his family in East Texas. The talented Iain Armitage stars as young Sheldon, alongside a cast that includes Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Montana Jordan, Raegan Revord and, Annie Potts. Interestingly, Jim Parsons, who portrayed the adult Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory, not only narrated the series but also served as an executive producer.

The development of this prequel series began in November 2016, stemming from an initial idea that Jim Parsons shared with the producers of The Big Bang Theory. The show premiered as a special preview on September 25, 2017, and was later picked up for a full season. It continued to air weekly starting from November 2, 2017. In March 2021, CBS renewed the series for a seventh season, which premiered on February 15, 2024. However, in November 2023, CBS announced that the show would conclude after its seventh season, and the one-hour series finale aired on May 16, 2024.

Young Sheldon has received positive reviews from both critics and fans since its release. Additionally, there’s exciting news for fans of the show: a spin-off series centered around Georgie Cooper and Mandy McAllister is currently in development, titled Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. 

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The series follows Sheldon Cooper's early life as a child prodigy in the fictional town of Medford, Texas. As he grows up, he tries to fit into a world of people, including his own family and friends, who struggle to cope with his intellectual capabilities and social ineptitude. While the timeline begins in the fall of 1989, the passage of time is indicated by episodes referencing historic or pop cultural events from the early 1990s, some of which are unique to the US.

Series Overview:

The show premiered as a special preview on September 25, 2017, and was picked up for a full season that began airing weekly on November 2, 2017.

In March 2021, CBS renewed the series through to a seventh season, which premiered on February 15, 2024.

In November 2023, CBS announced that the seventh season would be its last season.

During the course of the series, 141 episodes of Young Sheldon aired over seven seasons, between September 25, 2017, and May 16, 20241.

Seasons:

Season 1 (2017–18): The first season consists of 22 episodes and follows 9-year-old genius Sheldon Cooper as he begins high school in the ninth grade. He questions his teachers, informs students of their rule-breaking, and tries to find his place in the new school.

Season 2 (2018–19): The second season also has 22 episodes and continues Sheldon’s adventures as he navigates school and family life.

Season 3 (2019–20): With 21 episodes, this season explores more of Sheldon’s childhood experiences.

Season 4 (2020–21): The fourth season, comprising 18 episodes, delves into Sheldon’s growth and relationships.

Season 5 (2021–22): In this season, with 22 episodes, we see Sheldon facing new challenges and milestones.

Season 6 (2022–23): Another 22-episode season that follows Sheldon’s journey as he matures.

Season 7 (2024): The seventh and final season consists of 14 episodes, bringing the series to a close. 

Let’s dive into the quirky adventures of young Sheldon Cooper from the TV series Young Sheldon. 

Child Prodigy:

Sheldon Cooper, portrayed by Iain Armitage, is a child prodigy with an exceptional intellect. His genius-level IQ and unique personality set him apart from his peers.

From a young age, Sheldon displays an intense interest in science, mathematics, and theoretical physics. He often corrects his teachers and classmates, leading to both admiration and frustration.

Family Dynamics:

Sheldon lives with his family in East Texas. His father, George Cooper Sr., works as a football coach, while his mother, Mary Cooper, is a devout Christian.

His twin sister, Missy, is his complete opposite—outgoing, athletic, and not academically inclined. Their interactions provide comedic moments throughout the series.

Social Challenges:

Sheldon’s lack of social skills and understanding of sarcasm make it difficult for him to connect with others. He takes things literally and struggles with empathy.

His friendship with Tam, a Vietnamese boy, and his interactions with his neighbor, Billy Sparks, add depth to his character.

School Life:

The series follows Sheldon as he enters high school at the age of 9. His interactions with teachers, classmates, and administrators are both amusing and heartwarming.

His teacher, Ms. Ingram, tries to accommodate his advanced knowledge, but Sheldon’s insistence on following rules to the letter often leads to humorous situations.

Obsessions and Rituals:

Sheldon has various obsessions, including trains, comic books, and scientific theories. His room is filled with model train sets and comic book memorabilia.

He adheres to strict routines, such as knocking three times before entering a room or sitting in the same spot on the couch.

Family Support:

Despite their differences, Sheldon’s family supports him. His mother, especially, encourages his scientific pursuits and tries to balance his academic life with social experiences.

His relationship with his beloved Meemaw (his grandmother) is heartwarming and provides emotional depth to the show.

Growing Up:

As the seasons progress, we witness Sheldon’s growth. He faces challenges, makes friends, and learns valuable life lessons.

The series beautifully captures the essence of childhood, curiosity, and the journey toward adulthood.

Young Sheldon combines humor, heart, and nostalgia, making it a delightful watch for fans of The Big Bang Theory and anyone who enjoys endearing coming-of-age stories.

In the seventh and final season of Young Sheldon, which concluded on May 16, 2024, several significant events took place:

George’s Death:

The season begins with the unexpected death of George Cooper Sr. (portrayed by Lance Barber) due to a heart attack.

The Cooper family grapples with their grief, each member coping in their own way.

Sheldon’s Regret:

Sheldon Cooper (played by Iain Armitage) reflects on the last moments he spent with his father before George went to work.

He wishes he had done things differently and replays a poignant scene from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, where Spock tells Captain Kirk, “I have been and always shall be… your friend.”

Family Dynamics:

Missy (Raegan Revord) processes her father’s death by lashing out at Sheldon and expressing her emotions.

Meemaw (Annie Potts) offers advice to keep George’s eulogy “short and sweet.”

Full Circle:

The series finale comes full circle as Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik reprise their Big Bang Theory roles as adult Sheldon and Amy.

The present-day scenes tie back to the past, providing closure for the Cooper family during this difficult time.

Rating: 10 Stars