The film's director, Lee Hirsch was a victim of bullying as a child and decided to make a documentary so that the hidden lives of bullied children would be brought into the open. Do bullies have nice parents?). Gradually, things improved a bit as his academic year ended, and he started adjusting well with his schoolmates. "That is the gift that we got, we got our son back.". Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. The little boy had distinctive behavioural quirks as a result of his Aspergers Syndrome, which irritated his classmates, who violently tormented him by calling him names, removing his belongings, and, worst of all, spitting in his meal. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! "It's definitely opened my eyes for the need for change, for the seriousness of the situation. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. You are a lucky child if your parents taught you to accept diversity. During the school year, kids would harass, bully, and ignore her. Damon West: Was killed attempting to fight a gorilla. All of this took its toll on Kelby, who admitted to self-harming and attempting suicide three times. Moreover, Kelbys entire family was discriminated against and cut off by their friends and neighbors. Edward Seymour II: Works security at Los Santos International Airport. In Tylers memory, David and Tina founded the Everything Starts With 1 organization that speaks nationwide against bullying and discrimination in schools. Even after their sons death, David and Tina Long said that school administrators failed to react or even conduct a memorial for him. New Amsterdam Season 4: Do Helen and Max Get Married in Upcoming Episodes? Miss Danvers: Was sent to Happy Volts Asylum after a nervous breakdown from Crabblesnitchs firing, the constant trouble students at the school caused and the damn fire alarm being pulled 3 - 4 times a day, every day for 4 years. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. JaMeya most likely transferred to a different high school and graduated in 2013 with a perfect attendance record. Kelby states that as she was walking down the road a group of boys hit her with a minivan and did not slow down, knowing it was her. But as he grew older, something in him changed. I almost(I said almost, but I didn't) tear up a couple times during this. The film chronicle's Alex Libby's life as he was bullied at an Iowa middle school. This is by far one of the saddest and most important movies I've seen in a long time. Married Zoe Taylor 2010, divorced 2011. Bullying Bullying is the repeated infliction of harm or distress on another person with the intent to control, intimidate, or otherwise damage another. Best Sound Editing - Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue, ADR and Music in a Feature Documentary - Christopher Barnett, Al Nelson, Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form -, Best Documentary Feature Film (2nd place), This page was last edited on 10 February 2023, at 05:31. (A PG-13 has belatedly been handed out to a version with some swear words taken out.) They now live in Adairsville, Georgia, in Bartow County, and have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about bullying and its ramifications. They give out wristbands to help raise awareness for their cause. My notion is that a fiction film might be more effective than a documentary. She mentions that even the teachers would bully her and exclude her from events, like calling her as part of a separate roll call list. Currently resides in Vice City. Edna: Was fired from Bullworth after a single health inspection turned up damning results. During the town meeting Tylers family arranges for another child to speak up about bullying and how the teachers dont pay attention; his name is Devon and he used to be bullied in the past. A edited version running only 47:11 is included on the USA Blu-Ray edition. Tylers parents said in the video that despite repeated concerns to school officials, his health was overlooked, and no action was taken. As per Kelby, not just did his peers bully and ignore him, but even his teachers singled him out by removing him from sports teams and putting Kelby on a separate roll call list. I think everyone should watch this, and hopefully it will help to eventually putting a stop to this. The principal of Lincoln High School in Des Moines critiqued the referee's swift decision to remove . The film is very loosely based upon true events surrounding a man named Bobby Kent, and the group of "friends" around him (all characters in the film carrying the real names of the people involved). Although he presently works as an assistant manager at a firm and enjoys spending time with friends and family. It is a national problem," said Carrie Higdon, the freshman principal at Edmond Memorial. Is legally required to do the sex offender shuffle. "[15], On February 27, 2012, a Change.org online petition was created, directed to the CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) in order to reduce the movie's rating from R (due to some language as shown in the poster) to PG-13, because the R rating would prevent the intended audience from seeing the film. Topic 3. Digital Multiplex: Classic James Bond movies, Digital Multiplex: Criterion Collection Titles are Free on Hulu This Weekend. Kirk now lives in Perkins, Oklahoma, where he continues to fight for the cause that he and his late wife began in memory of their son. The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 12, 2013, only with the PG-13-rated version. Not a perfect documentary but I really support the cause. Showing 6 featured editions. Is expected to take over once his father steps down. [22] The Weinstein Company subsequently announced that the PG-13 rated version of Bully would be released nationwide on April 13, 2012. During the school's efforts, students are shown lying about what happened. "Bully" is an amazing documentary about the bullying problem here in the United States. Parents and schools should place great emphasis on the idea that it is all right to be different. Despite his parents suggestion to move away from Tuttle, Kelby chose to stay back and fight against the harassment with the help of his supportive partner and a few good friends. For a year filmmakers followed Alex, documenting his and his family's struggle. First of all, to cut to the chase in the happiest of ways: this year Alex worked as an internfor the Bully Project itself, in their offices in New York City! Copy and paste this code into your Wikipedia page. Finally got his chance to be with Lola who would eventually leave him. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and
Last year, Alex was featured on CNN, and as you can see from this clip hes evolving into a confident young man passionatelyhoping to help others who arebeing bullied: Alex was also featured, along with Kelby Johnson, in a piece Anderson Cooper did on the film and bullying, called The Bully Effect.Heres much more on Alex and the Libby family, in this Cartoon Network piececonnected to the Cooper special: The Bully Effect: Stop Bullying (which alsoincludes insight fromthe filmmaker behind Bully, Lee Hirsch): As his mother says in the clip above, the family eventually left their Iowa town for Oklahoma City, where they found a school they felt had a better environment for both their kids. Bully: An Action Plan for Teachers, Parents, and Communities to Combat the Bullying Crisis, Bully: an action plan for teachers and parents to combat the bullying crisis. After the documentary, Alex and his family moved to Oklahoma City, as his mother felt that it had a better schooling environment for him and his siblings. Bully (originally titled The Bully Project) is a 2011 American documentary drama film directed and co-produced by Lee Hirsch and co-produced and written by Cynthia Lowen along with producers Cindy Waitt and Sarah Foudy. Love did not pardon him. When the school administration refuses to help, some students resort to drastic methods to protect themselves. Bully was originally rated R for language. Alex claims he won't because he told adults in sixth grade and nothing was done. This process was shown with great power in Larry Clark's Bully (2001), which added an unexpected twist: A brutal bully is actually murdered by a group of his victims, who together are moved to do something none of them could ever do alone. At school, the camera captures instances of bullying that do not directly pertain to Alex, but do show the principal of the school noticing and simply saying the children should get along but doing little to put an end to it. Need help? Was once wrongfully arrested after being mistaken for notorious criminal Niko Bellic. Cinemark Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, "International slate heads Tribeca Film Festival", "Musical Couples of All Kinds on the Bill at Tribeca Festival", "Hot Docs Unveils Glitzy Special Presentations", "LA Film Fest Announces The Bully Project Community Screening", "Bullismo, un fenomeno diffusosi a macchia d'olio. Kirk and Laura Smalley teamed with Stand for the Silent, a non-profit group run by Oklahoma University students, after their 11-year-old son was brutally killed. Together they run a fitness center in Vice City. New grassroots parent groups have sprung up, intensifying a conversation now joined by much of Iowa and the nation. His victim knows it. Due to the familys lack of proof, a judicial agreement was struck in 2013 that charges could not be pursued further. He is currently employed as an assistant manager at a company and enjoys spending time with his friends and family. The other kid refuses. Recently went missing during an assignment on Grove Street in Los Santos. "Bully" is an extremely well crafted and well directed film. and the He then proceeded to Oklahoma City to intern as an activist for LGBTQ+ children at GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network). How? Bully (2011) Documentary Film: Where Are They Now? The PG-13 version does keep intact all the language in the scene that was the main point of contention between the filmmakers and the MPAA, in which a 12-year-old is physically and verbally attacked on his school bus by his classmates. I couldnt enroll peoples support. One of the themes in Lee Hirsch's documentary is how many parents and teachers have no idea what's really happening in the secret society of children in their care. Tys father stands before the crowd to give a speech, in which he states that he will forever fight against bullies everywhere because, [his] son will be 11 years old forever.. Lola Lombardi: Professional gold digger with three kids from three different men to support. Alex Libby, a 12-year-old from Sioux City, Iowa, was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome and struggled socially at school. See production, box office & company info, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, While the Rest of Us Die: Secrets of America's Shadow Government, The assistant principal in the little boys school. Luckily, no one was harmed, but JaMeya was tackled to the ground and arrested. Filmmaker Lee Hirsch examines five cases of youths who endure vicious persecution at the hands of their peers. There are many factors that may increase or decrease the risk for perpetrating or experiencing bullying. He currently works as a video creator, advertising ambassador, singer, and songwriter, among other things. Rated PG-13 She refuses to let her bullies win. Are they embarrassed or scared? She claims she would not be here, or be able to go to school, without her friends and girlfriend. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, That was a big part of my wanting to make the film. JaMeya is an honor student and talented basketball player. It comes in all formsincluding verbal torment, social attacks, physical aggression, and tauntingand can happen both in person or through social media or the internet at large. Joan Graves of the MPAA said that though Bully is a "wonderful film", the organization's primary responsibility is to provide information to parents about the films' content. Kelby, who was 16 at the time the documentary was made, revealed that things had become so bad that he was hit by a minivan driven by a gang of boys while walking back from lunch. In 1993, seven teens from Broward County, Florida lured 20-year-old Bobby Kent into the Everglades and savagely killed him. Ted Thompson: Became a successful football player, but after suffering a major concussion, now thinks hes a Vietnamese prostitute named Ming Lee. Documentary Original Language: English Director: Lee Hirsch Producer: Cynthia Lowen, Lee Hirsch Writer: Lee Hirsch, Cynthia Lowen Release Date (Theaters): Mar 30, 2012 limited Release Date. She went to school in Yazoo County, Mississippi. A part of PBS, America's Home for Documentaries. Tylers father speaks about his sons social issues and how he knew early on that Tyler might become a victim of bullying. The administrators felt that kids will be kids and the teachers shrugged it off, not really taking a stance on the problem even when they knew of bullying in the classroom. Kirk Smalley's story is both inspirational and heartbreaking. Beatrice Trudeau: Currently works as a chemist for Trevor Phillips Industries. A problem, that doesn't always have a happy ending. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. Though Kelby is active on social media platforms, he prefers not to divulge much about his personal life. I wish Hirsch had explored the storyline of at least one bully, but despite this hole, the film is a great watch. Sheldon Thompson: Worked for the FIB as an undercover informant. "An empowering companion to the acclaimed film.". The worst part is that two boys, one 17 and the other 12, attempt themselves to avoid the torment. Many bullied children are reluctant to tell anyone what's happening to them. You're almost there! Mr. Long mentions that kids took his clothes when he showered, forcing him to leave naked. Two of them committed suicide. [14], In a screening in Minneapolis in September 2011, Hirsch told the audience that his having been bullied as a child was part of the inspiration for the film. A post shared by Kelby Johnson (@kelby_johnson). Today, October 16, is Spirit Day, founded in 2010 for people to show their support for LGBTQ youth. I can believe it. It was after that Alex's family decided to move. Things were difficult for the young girl, who was a timid adolescent who rarely got into fights with others. Bully weaves together five stories from different parts of America's heartland. Personal anecdotes from prominent antibullying activists and celebrities alongside essays from renowned experts, authors, government officials, and educators offer powerful insights, resources, and concrete steps to combat the bullying epidemic. "I met some of these wonderful people and I became friends with them," said Alex. Has one son with her. At the time of her appearance in Bully, JaMeya Jackson was living with her mother in Yazoo, Mississippi. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. If the teacher were more clued in, she'd know it, too. As per the documentary, she was charged with a total of 45 felony charges that were eventually dropped on the condition that she be observed in a psychiatric facility for 3 months or till a doctor declared her fit to go home. Hirsch said he hoped the film grows far beyond him, inspiring advocacy, engagement, and empowerment not just in people who are being bullied and in their families, but by those of us who all too often stand by and do nothing. Peanut Romano: Auto repairman in New Coventry. Alexs mother passed away in 2019, and he hasnt been active on social media since then. Things were hard for the young girl, as she was a rather quiet teenager who barely got into any altercations with anyone. But not even Alex's parents understood the extent of the problem until they saw the movie for the first time. He also got featured in Anderson Coopers special documentary called The Bully Effect and became an anti-bullying advocate. Alex interned in New York in 2014 for The BULLY Project, a social action campaign against bullying inspired by the movie Bully. Not only that, but he went to the White House and spoke out against bullying in schools on national television and at rallies. Libby has moved on with his life - and is in a good place. Much has been made of how the MPAA gave this film an R rating for its language. No one was hurt, but JaMeya was tackled to the ground and taken into custody. Kelbys parents pulled her out of school because on her first day back, everyone moved their desks to be away from her, showing that nothing has changed. The documentary follows students from public schools in Georgia, Iowa, Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma during the 200910 school year; it also follows the students' families. He mentions that when he tried to stand up for Ty, the latter would always tell him that, they arent worth it, or, dont be like them, getting Trey to back down. This documentary is full of powerful stories to share. Finally got his chance to be with Lola who would eventually leave him. Alex Libby, who was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, is 12 years old, and is interviewed about his family and how nervous he is to return to school, as he has issues making friends. He has been stabbed, punched, and had his life threatened. Alex, 14, is pummelling and mocked on the bus, and his abuse is captured on camera. [19], In Canada (where each province sets its own rating), as of March 30, 2012, Bully has received PG ratings (from six of ten provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Qubec and Saskatchewan) with no age restrictions but warnings for coarse language.[20][21]. He also became an anti-bullying crusader after appearing in Anderson Coopers special documentary The Bully Effect., A post shared by Alex Libby (@libbituptv). She is presently employed at a Vehicle Manufacturing company and resides in Pickens, Mississippi. Despite this, AMC announced it would allow minors to watch the film upon receipt of a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian. He was punched, stabbed, and threatened to the verge that his life got endangered. October 16, 2014 by Sue. Larry Clark's "Bully" chronicles the . Mr. Grant (aka The Hobo): Is currently the gym teacher at Bullworth. On the official website, the filmmakers promoted Bully as an important advocacy tool against bullying and in facilitating an anti-bullying movement. Bullying is a distinctive pattern of repeatedly and deliberately harming and humiliating others, specifically those who are smaller, weaker, younger or in any way more vulnerable than the bully. The other kid refuses. All rights reserved. Movies that encourage empathy are more effective than those that objectify problems. May 3, 2022 Directed by Lee Hirsch, 'Bully' is a gripping documentary drama movie that chronicles the experiences of five school students Ja'Meya Jackson, Alex Libby, Kelby Johnson, Tyler Long, and Ty Smalley, who face severe bullying at the hands of their peers. When you buy books using these links the Internet Archive may earn a small commission. She explains that one day she finally had enough and took her mothers gun to school in an attempt to intimidate her bullies into leaving her alone. Director Lee Hirsch Writers Cynthia Lowen Lee Hirsch Stars Alex Libby Kelby Johnson Lona Johnson See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video rent/buy from $1.99 More watch options Add to Watchlist Added by 17.0K users 98 User reviews 171 Critic reviews Bully was positively received by critics. Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter Of course it's the nice kid who is the bully. This guide is crucial for parents, educators, school administrators, and anyone who is committed to the 13 million schoolchildren who will face bullying this year"--Back cover. [13] He approached the nonprofit organization Fractured Atlas, which gave him partial funding for the film. Is all right to your inbox said almost, but despite this hole, filmmakers... Archive may earn a small commission has belatedly been handed out to a version with some swear words out.: worked for the Bully Effect and became an anti-bullying advocate what happened to be Lola. 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