BULLIES AND FRIENDS
Groundbreaking Documentary on Bullying
"COMPELLING.
An important documentary that provides solutions to the bullying crisis."
-The Reasonable Voice Show, Washington D.C.
"Every middle and high school student should
screen this film.
Impactful."
- United Nations, UNA USA
"A film that can save lives."
-Dr. Michele Borba, Ed. D., Psychologist/Author/Parenting Expert - Featured in BULLIES AND FRIENDS
(NBC's "TODAY" Show, Dr. Phil Show)
"Bullying Among School Age Children Is A Major Public Health Problem"
-Centers for Disease Control
FILM STILLS
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BEHIND THE SCENES
An investigation of the bullying incidents that led to the tragedy of a 14 year-old girl who died from bullying related suicide. Bullies And Friends film seeks to provide answers and solutions to bullying to schools, teens, parents, communities to prevent future tragedies.
Film Director Cassidy McMillan (pictured right) talks with Dr. Michele Borba (pictured left) prior to filming interview for BULLIES AND FRIENDS
Behind the Scenes: Film's Director Cassidy McMillan interviews Dr. Michele Borba on peer abuse, girl bullying, and bullying prevention.
An investigation of the bullying incidents that led to the tragedy of a 14 year-old girl who died from bullying related suicide. Bullies And Friends film seeks to provide answers and solutions to bullying to schools, teens, parents, communities to prevent future tragedies.
"Bullies And Friends opens the doors of communication
on bullying."
- Jennifer Wagner, Fmr. Teacher; Producer, Warner Bros.
"Powerful."
- Laura Van Vleet, Screenwriter and Producer, Little Lion Films
MOVIE TRAILER
"The film speaks directly to adults, educators
and most importantly kids,
on this harsh and sad reality,
and the consequences of bullying."
- Dr. Samineh Shaheem, Founder of Bolt Down On Bullying;
United Arab Emirates
NOMINEE
'BULLIES AND FRIENDS' DOCUMENTARY
RECOGNIZED AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE
ON BULLYING
BULLIES AND FRIENDS documentary is a bullying prevention education resource for schools, communities as
the film provides solutions to the bullying crisis to teens, educators, schools, parents as part of the film's work
to prevent bullying and bullying related suicides, and to help foster kindness and empathy among youth.
BULLIES AND FRIENDS has been recognized by the UNITED NATIONS UNA as an educational resource on bullying,
teen violence, suicide prevention and the film is noted as an academic resource on bullying, relational aggression and bullycide
in the global university textbook 'Psychology' via MacMillan Education and Worth Publishers.
As the film is in post-production, preview segments of the film have been shown at schools as part of focus group screenings. The film has been met with tremendous response by educators, students, parents,
and the film resonates with teens in how they can prevent bullying.
THE FILM
The reports on bullying and bullying related suicides are alarming. According to the NEA, "77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally and physically." The Centers for Disease Control states, "Bullying among school age children is a major public health problem" and "Youth who report being frequently bullied are at increased risk for suicide-related behavior." And the staggering statistic:
"Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children ages 10 to 24."
BULLIES AND FRIENDS takes an unflinching look at the global epidemic of bullying, girl bullying, relational aggression and the devastating impact it causes, including bullying related suicides - also known as bullycides.
The documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Cassidy McMillan, investigates and provides answers to the disturbing bullying epidemic. The groundbreaking film is being described by teachers and parents as a "life-saving wake-up call" to audiences.
BULLIES AND FRIENDS is unique and is being listed as an educational global resource in that the film not only examines the crisis but provides solutions to bullying - to teens, parents, educators, communities and law enforcement.
The film shines a spotlight on the crisis by investigating a bullying related suicide of a 14 year-old girl in a small, rural town that led to the landmark, precedent-setting court case, where for the first time in North America, teens were charged with and stood trial for bullying.
BULLIES AND FRIENDS features the exclusive interview with the court judge who presided over and handed down the unprecedented ruling and sentencing in the controversial court case, which opened the judicial door for other cases of youth bullying to potentially be brought to trial.
The judge spoke on camera about the trial only within BULLIES AND FRIENDS. In the judge's compelling interview, she provides invaluable information every educator, parent, teen, law enforcement official and stakeholder impacted by this epidemic needs to know about the judicial definition of "bullying." The judge provides the knowledge of when, how and why certain actions, threats, harassment by teens to classmates, described by some adults as "just bullying"cross the line into being criminal, prosecutable offenses.
The documentary also features the riveting interview with one of the three teen girls named in the victim's suicide note, was arrested and stood trial for bullying. She tells of her regrettable actions, her remorse, and what she wishes she had done differently to have stopped the tragic outcome. She also tells teens what they can do right now to stop bullying. Her gripping interview speaks directly to teens and is impactful.
BULLIES AND FRIENDS provides education experts including psychologist/best-selling author Dr. Michele Borba (NBC's "TODAY" Show; CNN), who provides key insights on peer abuse, bullying, girl bullying, the specific case in the film and informs teens, parents, and teachers what they can do to prevent peer abuse.
The film includes the emotional, poignant first-person interviews with the victim's mom and younger brother. Both wanted the documentary to be made and share their story with the film's director within BULLIES AND FRIENDS in order to prevent other bullying related suicides. Additionally, the best friend of the teen who lost her life, tells of the friend she lost, how the tragedy will impact her life forever, and why more must be done in court and school systems to stop bullying.
BULLIES AND FRIENDS also talks with a government official involved in the tragedy who was questioned as to why certain measures were and weren't taken, plus additional experts, townspeople affected by the tragedy, and media who reported on it.
The film also features an interview with a mom from a small town near where the tragedy occurred, who almost lost her son to bullying related suicide. She connected with the victim's mom after the tragedy and has become an ally and friend. She shares her son's harrowing story of bullying and tells of warning signs she caught that every parent should know, which helped her prevent her son from self-harm.
BULLIES AND FRIENDS has been noted by a division of the United Nations UNA, academic organizations, teachers, as a bullying prevention education resource tool for years to come, that can be utilized by middle schools, high schools, colleges, youth organizations, teens, families, law enforcement, communities and all stakeholders affected by this epidemic, in that the film is the first of its kind in providing solutions to bullying.
BULLYING PREVENTION
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS FOR SCHOOLS
ABOUT
BULLIES AND FRIENDS award-winning film director, bullying prevention expert and advocate Cassidy McMillan is a media guest, journalist and a speaker/consultant for schools, colleges and events on bullying, cyberbullying, relational aggression, peer abuse and bullying prevention strategies.
Cassidy has spoken to over 20,000 students, teachers at high schools, colleges, government events across the U.S., including for New York City's Department of Education; Florida International University College of Law; George Washington Public Policy Campus; Student Television Network Convention; NVEEE Bullying Summit, Respect For All Week.
She works with government leaders and schools on bullying prevention initiatives, is a consultant for schools on bullying prevention programs, and works with families who have lost children to bullying related suicide.
Media appearances include on KABC; DUBAI TODAY; THE REASONABLE VOICE; L.A. TALK LIVE; MOM SQUAD SHOW; CHARLOTTESVILLE THIS WEEK. Her work and interviews are featured in publications including MISS HEARD MEDIA; LOS ANGELES TIMES; DYNAMC MAGAZINE; MIAMI HERALD.