This is not just among U.S. college students, but also includes high school students, military deaths, adult societies, Masonic organizations and occupational deaths. I leaned a lot not just through our communication but also just watching her and Steve (Harris) do what they do, he said. Each chapter will introduce a new character, story line, and/or location. It's important to embody those values to empower pledgees so that these same problematic practices don't continue. Genre: Drama. Copyright 2018 Fandango. black Greek life and mystique are based on secrecy and discretion. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film? Among black fraternities and sororities, there is the saying, Its harder once you make it across the burning sands. They inspired other young blacks to go to college and even provided college scholarships to high school students. My favorite actors Denzel Washington and Michael Shannon are people who go there. How do you feel about the way in which BGLOs experience was portrayed in this movie?I believe that the representation of Black Greek Letter Organizations could have been more well-rounded. Burning Sandsdirectorsaid that the film was influenced by the death of Robert Champion and wants to use it to start a conversation about a call to action to stop hazing. Its the honor, distinction and dignity that have been traditions for thousands of mostly college-educated African-American women and men since 1906, when the first black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha (Martin Luther King Jr. and Stuart Scott were members) was founded. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands? Our HBCUs and BGLO are very important in this country. I was mostly let down by the lack of visibility of black sororities in the movie. Burning Sands is a 2017 American drama film, directed by Gerard McMurray, from a screenplay by McMurray and Christine Berg. Because two Virginia State University students died while being hazed four years ago, administrators were all too happy to have McMurray use the schools campus for the movie. Its a portrait whose universality is all the more compelling for its precise, unique details. When asked, Were you hazed? my answer was simply, No, I just pledged hazing is illegal. Even as I write this, I choose my words carefully. We hold this with pride and this is why; when someone misrepresents us, we react so strongly. [4], Burning Sands received positive reviews from film critics. Gerard McMurray, the films director, has said he was inspired to make the film following the death of Robert Champion. Customer SatisfactionCustomer SupportHigh End ProductsSecured Transactions. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film?I was not personally. I admit that simply pledging (or being hazed) doesnt ensure greatness. You can make a man (or woman) work hard for something and allow them to keep their dignity. This was frustrating, because the film was shot very well, and could have been even better had the plot been more realistic. It's based on true events and sheds light on the dangers of hazing. Lord of the Rings TCG. It was a very creative and collaborative process.. Presenting an accurate representation of Black Greek life and the HBCU experience is almost impossible if you're not from this world, so it's interesting to note that McMurray is an alum of Howard University and a member of Omega Psi Phi. I would add the consequences. The film was a good eye-opener for prospective, current, and alumni BGLO members. I felt it was pretty accurate in the sense that it depicted how modern-day pledging has lost its way; although being a member of an organization brings status and a network, is it worth the loss of self-dignity and respect? Do we really understand the difference between being made and being made right? What would you have changed about the film?There needed to be more light shed on the different aspects of the pledge process and the members already in the organization. While the movie is named after the term "crossing the sands," it doesn't have much to do with the phrase's meaning. In January 2016, it was announced Gerard McMurray would direct the film, from a screenplay by himself and Christine Berg, while Stephanie Allain, Jason Michael Berman of Mandalay Pictures, Reginald Hudlin and Shawn Knapp will serve as producers on the film alongside Netflix. The Burning Sands Trilogy Omnibus. But the filmmaker disputes that. 12 brothers and sisters tell us what they think. Judges in the US have been in fraternities, most of our presidents have been in a fraternity and theres leniency, theres a feeling that these are good kids., I helped conduct a survey for Alfred University and the National Collegiate Athletics Association. The 19-year-old had been forcedto take part in an 18-mile hike through the mountainous terrain North-East of Los Angeles, without footwear or an adequate water supply. 2:54. If creating a call to action about hazing was the motive, then why was the rest of the film pretty negative as well? The first contract I ever negotiated wasnt in corporate America but via my chapter. How black Utah Jazz players have embraced Salt Lake City, The King is crowned: The true and actual arrival of LeBron James, The Undefeated 44: African Americans who shook up the world, Canada is now one of the worlds top sources of elite prep basketball recruits, beef between two hip-hop artists and the beef goes beyond the actual song as in Remy Ma vs. Nicki Minaj, the University of Oregon strength coach was suspended after pushing three players too hard, thus forcing them to be hospitalized. Average Rating (4 ratings) To the north of the Empire of Rokugan, lies a mysterious land called the Burning Sands, where great empires clash, where deadly intrigues abound in the great Jewel of the Desert, and where intrigue and war are one in the same. I say that because I look at a movie like School Daze that truly encompassed what it was like being a student at an HBCU. McMurray said fraternity brothers and others have questioned why hes tackling the topic of hazing because they think it will tarnish the image of black fraternities and sororities. His participation was voluntary he was seemingly attempting to earn a leadership role within the Florida A&M Marching band. To my surprise, McMurray, a member of Omega Psi Phi, did a good job showing this. Replace art with better scans where needed. I analyzed how they performed. What do you think the film did well? The film set out to address hazing in BGLOs, and it didbut with exaggerations and inconsistencies. V3.1. It just means you went through a tough process. Frank Sutton, who played the gruff sergeant foil to Jim Nabors' country bumpkin Gomer Pyle, was a talented actor on screen, tube and stage. What do you think the film did well?I would like to applaud the director for taking on such a controversial topic and shedding light on to the consequences of pledging gone wrong. On March 9, hip-hop music fans around the world were recognizing the 20th anniversary of rapper Biggie Smalls death. Released March 10th, 2017, 'Burning Sands' stars Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole The movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 45 min, and received a user score of 58 (out of. It sent the message that when you join Greek Letter Organizations you fail in your classes, which is also not true. Nuwer believesthat harsher sentencing needs to be handed out to those who instigate extreme acts of hazing. Rarely has the big-screen spotlight shone so directly on African-American college life, which is here rendered as a milieu at once distinctly black (the thudding hip-hop at frat parties; the step-dancing routines that take place at those shindigs, as well as in public campus spaces), and yet not all that different than any other sort of university setting, awash as it is in the usual mix of personalities, peer pressures and academic types. My mindset when I pledged was: By Any Means Necessary. A lot of people fail to realize you have to meet a certain criteria academically and have a good standing within your community before your application is even considered. 39 square miles). While pledging, I was never disrespected. Despite the advice, the young neophyte fraternity brothers wait together at the hospital awaiting the fate of their friend, Frank. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands?I watched the film after hearing quite a number of negative reviews, so I didnt have the highest expectations, to begin with, but I dont think it was as bad as some people made it out to be. We see one sorority member, admirably depicted as being intelligent and strong-willed, but we dont get a sense of her connection to her sorority sisters. From its opening sequence, in which Frank suffers the repercussions of protecting Zurich from mistreatment, Burning Sands pulls no punches in its depiction of the horrors that would-be frat boys willingly tolerate to join their coveted Greek ranks. Hazing isnt exclusive to the United States. Members of fraternities who dont take part in initiations are oftenshunned duringtheir college career and excluded from social events. I would be very hesitant about showing something like that in front of white audiences; it feeds into the narrative that black men are savages. I learned to push my mind, body and soul to limits that I didnt think were possible. While McMurray's inspiration is well-intended, I feel there were more aspects to show. I wish the film also mentioned less frivolous reasons for joining a fraternity. Hank Nuwer, author of Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking, explains to i why students willingly take part in hazing rituals. However, Burning Sandsdid expand the representation of BGLO in film to a certain extent, by incorporating older fraternity members into the story line in order to demonstrate the organizations emphasis on lifelong, active membership, rather than simply focusing on pledging as other films have. And I think were tired of seeing ourselves depicted as slaves or abusive on screen. Nuwer suggests a competitive nature may also have a role to play in a participants willingness to take part. My grades were the best theyd ever been because I was disciplined throughout the whole process. But now as a parent of a teenage daughter who will enter college in three years, I understand the point that had to be made. Now that Jackson has proven he can be portray dramatic roles, hes ready to tackle a comedy or two, he said. What would you have changed about the film?I would not change anything about the film. Read what each of them took away from Burning Sands in the interviews, below. In BURNING SANDS, Zurich (Trevor Jackson) is a new student at Frederick Douglas University who is trying to survive as a fraternity pledge during "Hell Week.""Hell Week" is a time when fraternity pledges are made to endure a plethora of humiliations from fraternity brothers -- if Zurich can make it through "Hell Week," he will be a member of one of the most prestigious fraternities on campus . What do you think the film did well?I think people went into the film wanting to be entertained by the HBCU/BGLO experience, but instead, they were educated. Life at an HBCU is a constant balancing act between academia, individual growth, and social life. The initiation required pledges to run down the center of the bus while being punched and kicked by senior members. You have a community that depends on you to serve. I love having fun, Jackson said. I learned what it was like to run a company after running my chapter. Such a notion, however, is soon contrasted with Professor Hughess favorite Douglass quote: Its easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. Whether hazing is thus a positive or a negative factor in a mans maturation remains, to some extent, open to interpretation. Comfortable sweater keeps me warm without overheating. Instigators waited one hour before calling an ambulance. Not everyone is Greek, and not everyone wants to be Greek. I wasn't really offended. The film is based on the personal experiences of the writer-director Gerard McMurray, and was inspired by Robert Champion, the FAMU drum major killed in a hazing ritual in Orlando, Florida. Leticia Hunt, Tuskegee University '12, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. It was amazing watching these two actors I grew up watching on TV. Burning Sands Golf Collection FRATERNAL GOLF Par 06 GOLF BAG COLLECTION Burning Sands Alpha Phi Alpha Black Golf Stand Bag $235.06 Add to cart Burning Sands Alpha Phi Alpha White Golf Stand Bag $235.06 Add to cart Burning Sands Kappa Alpha Psi Crimson Golf Stand Bag - COMING SOON $235.11 Sold out Sold out Burning Sands It was triggering. At 2:05 a.m. on Nov. 26, 1996, a gathered crowd cheered with an early morning raucousness known only to the not-so-sober as charges went off in rapid succession up and down the 17-story tower of. It stars Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole, DeRon Horton and Trevante Rhodes. The subject matter behind American Crime and Burning Sands is very heavy. Six of the nine would be founded at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and all of them are collectively referred to as the Divine Nine. When you think about the people who viewed this movie, especially at Sundance, I assure you, it was mostly a white audience. Keryce Chelsi Henry, Johns Hopkins University '14, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Instead of highlighting the important reasons people join sororities and fraternities forfamily lineage, support system, seeking personal and professional growthit created a narrative that was negative. Six convicted of hazing and providing alcohol to a minor. The one where the pledges made phone calls back to their older big brothers felt really good to watch. Who wants to see someone else walk in and enjoy the fruits of something you sacrificed for and worked tirelessly to help create and/or sustain? How do you feel about the way in which BGLOs and the HBCU experience were portrayed in this movie?The HBCU experience is such a multifaceted one. I didnt know how I would handle a woman of her caliber. What are your thoughts on that?If you watch it, you can tell that the motive was to call out hazing, which is fine, and I believe that conversation is needed. Price: $3.99 USD. Despite charities like hazingprevention.organd activists like Nuwer, the problem of hazing is likely to persist,according to the Indiana lecturer. Remember!" before losing his life. To me, this movie focused more on fraternity and not the HBCU experience. Hell Week is the period that culminates one's pledging process. When Reggie Lee joins defense contractor Frontierza, the company's work on advanced hibernation technology for sleeper colony ships seems the perfect career starter. At Alfred University, after a studentwas beaten and after a pledge died of alcohol poisoning, they banned the entire Greek system, but they still have hazing in the football team and a guy nearly died following the ban. It's tough to watch because I was in the shoes of those pledges, but it's something I vowed to never partake in once I was a member. Burning Sandsdirector is a Howard University alum and amember of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. It is also equally irresponsible for members of BGLOs to dismiss this movie as pure fiction when it is not. Based on feedback from people who arent Greek-affiliated, the positive characteristics of these organizations arent portrayed prominently enough in the film to indicate that the negative experiences that it depicts are exceptions to the norm. So, whatever they throw at me while pledging will only make me better and prepare me for the real world. For current members, it is time to reinvent your process and become smarter. Mark Sands Organizer Hull, Yorkshire and the Humber, United Kingdom Created February 13, 2023 Funerals & Memorials Report fundraiser Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help Easy Donate quickly and easily. It was imperative to prevent anything like this from happening again. Sundance Film Review: 'Burning Sands' Reviewed at Sundance Film Festival (competing), Jan. 24, 2017. After seconds of waiting the doctor tells them that Frank died of a ruptured aorta artery. Trevor Duffy (2014): Died of acute alcohol poisoning when forced to down 1.5litres of vodka. The movie Burning Sands is about a fraternity hazing gone wrong. During the movie, two Frederick Douglass quotes are repeated: "It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken men," and, "If there is . And once I crossed the burning sands, it did become harder. He makes himself available to be told of pledge abuse but not far enough to break the fraternity code of silence and secrecy. Adams started with Beneath Burning Sands with the very early awakening of a mixed group of scientists and military personnel put together by by our all seeing military mind which had the idea of human survival and of course our military survival. See production, box office & company info, It's alright, I guess, but I just couldn't connect to it. Burning Sands takes place at a fictitious HBCU, Frederick Douglass University, during the Lambda Phi fraternity's Hell Week. 2 Wild Doges spawn after 23.33 seconds 700f, delay 13.33~16.67 seconds 400f~500f. Theres no permanent solution hazing has always been with us and it will continue to be with us in 100 years.. Trevor Jackson (American Crime) stars as Zurich, a bright and outgoing pre-med student determined to successfully pledge the fictional Lambda Phi fraternity at his historically black college. Featuring stars Trevor Jackson,. I can go from the boardroom to happy hour without changing. Its symbol is a lion. There are some who are attracted to the parties and boisterousness of particular organizations. Members thinkweve always done it, were kind of an extraordinary group ourselves and we can get through this.'. . Director, Gerard McMurray, began writing the script shortly after the death of Robert Champion, a drum major student at Florida A&M University who died during his frat hazing in 2011. Im also asked why I would let someone haze me just to be part of an organization. The film did not depict how BGLOs run their organizations or the principles of public service or scholarship. I was broken down and built back into someone much better than when I started. Understandably, this movie has generated a strong response from members of the Black Greek community. What do you think the film did well?Even with its inconsistencies,Burning Sands was definitely filmed very well, capturing the mental and physical abuse of being hazed. Considering that this film was not just for BGLO audiences, those who aren't members of an org may still be confused about certain aspects of the experience. In 2012, he was named one of 125 top alumni in Florida A&M University's 125-year history. Since 1969 there has been at least one death every year caused by hazing practices in the United States. When you create a movie like thatwith a black cast, which depicts mostly black peopleyou have to assume we, people of color, are your main audience. Dean Richardson, a Lambda Phi alumnus, holds himself out as an example of the fraternity system and extols its virtues. Anything else?As people of color, we are all unique and multifaceted in so many ways. For prospective initiates, it's okay to stand up for what is wrong. Demaris Webster, DePaul University '12, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film? His latest book, "The Ratline," is a gripping sequel. It currently holds an 87% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. From the time I played little league sports to the time I entered corporate America, Ive experienced some form of hazing. The pledges balance their time in class with English professor Hughes and their new fraternity life of parties, sorority girls and dating. It was a minor sacrifice in comparison with all that I gained and continue to gain. Not only is hazing illegal, but the practice has claimed the lives of far too many young men and women across college campuses all over America, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). I didnt take any part of the film personally, but I was confused by some of the far-fetched details of the plot. Perhaps most disturbingly, Nuwer suggests that participants are willing to go through the suffering as they know they too will be able to inflict the punishments a few months later. Who better to rule the future world. But she was very supportive of me as a first-time director. There is more to this movie than hazing. 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