In 1997 Cindy Baer joined the Big Sisters of Los Angeles program, and became a mentor to an 11-year-old at-risk girl named Celeste Davis. Four years later, Baer produced and directed a screenplay written by Davis called
Purgatory House (2004), casting Davis, who had never acted before, in the lead role. Purgatory House was filmed in 2001, one year before the movie
Thirteen (2003).