It's Just Movies

— by CHERRY BELL DAMASCO-FARRINGTON —

This year more than 13 million kids will be bullied. On the school bus. On the playground. At the bus stop. In the school cafeteria. In the hallways. Even online.

For years now, the problem has gone unnoticed in schools and the community in general. The documentary “Bully,” directed by Sundance and Emmy award-winner Lee Hirsch, with distribution rights held by the Weinstein Company, was rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America. Katy Butler, a Michigan high school student, started an online petition to overturn the MPAA’s decision so that the demographic that needs to see the film can actually watch it and can be viewed in the public school system.

Katy Butler said, “I can’t believe the MPAA is blocking millions of teenagers from seeing a movie that could change – and, in some cases, save – their lives. According to the film’s website, over 13 million kids will be bullied this year alone. Think of how many of these kids could benefit from seeing this film, especially if it is shown in schools?”

New statistics show that every seven minutes, someone is bullied on school grounds. Nearly 18 million children are bullied each year – that’s one out of four teens — and nine out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment at school and online. Sometimes in the end, even kids as young as 11 years old will have enough and go as far as take their own lives.

The documentary was filmed during the course of the 2009-10 school year. Not only does the film give the vantage point of the kids that are bullied, but also the parents, the teachers and administrators of the schools. It gives a view into how bullying situations are treated in the schools, in the community and our society as a whole.

For more info and to watch the film’s trailer below and check out TheBullyProject.com. You can also sign the petition HERE.

“Bully” is due out in select theaters on March 30, 2012.

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