What about the positive forums or the community service or the leadership? The pledges in the film were hazed, appeared to have been taught nothing during their process, and seemed to have shallow reasons for wanting to join in the first place. Nonetheless, it energizes its somewhat familiar subject matter through specificity. All have different reasons for pledging but the one goal is to become part of the brotherhood. But anti-hazing rules have driven his Hell Week underground, and the veteran members of his fraternity have degenerated into a pack . When then-President Barack Obama announced his My Brothers Keeper initiative, all Divine Nine organizations pledged their support and extended their resources. 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. The initiation required pledges to run down the center of the bus while being punched and kicked by senior members. Deep into Hell Week, a favored pledgee is torn between honoring his code of silence or standing up against the intensifying violence of underground hazing. Search instead in Creative? Burning Sands is a 2017 American drama film, directed by Gerard McMurray, from a screenplay by McMurray and Christine Berg. Moreover, in the escalating nastiness that Zurich and his friends are forced to endureleading to broken ribs for Zurich, and doubts about whether undergoing such an ordeal makes senseit continually raises the thorny issue of whether all this hazing is an example of African-Americans embracing the strategies of their former slave-era oppressors (and their white college counterparts) for similar supremacy-asserting reasons. I admit that simply pledging (or being hazed) doesnt ensure greatness. The term crossing the burning sands describes pledging a Greek-letter organization and crossing over from being a pledge to becoming a full member. But BGLOs are anti-hazing organizations, so what is depicted in the film is far from being the norm of the process of becoming a member. To me, this movie focused more on fraternity and not the HBCU experience. BGLO is one of them, and we all join for various reasons. Champion was taking part in a ritual known as Crossing Bus C, which involved walking up the aisle of a bus while receiving kicks and punches. But she was very supportive of me as a first-time director. Five young men pledge Lambda Lambda Phi Fraternity at the historically Black institution, Frederick Douglass University. Life at an HBCU is a constant balancing act between academia, individual growth, and social life. 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. There are four permanent unlockable kingdoms in Goodgame Empire. Anything else?As people of color, we are all unique and multifaceted in so many ways. Together, they try to draw strength from each other during the trials orchestrated by their elders, led by president Edwin (Rotimi), callous heavyweight Big Country (Christian Robinson), and smooth operator Fernander (Rhodes). Two years later, two Virginia State University students Jauwan Holmes and Marvell Edmonson drowned during an initiation ritual for an unsanctioned group called Men of Honor. Theres a burning curiosity to get a glimpse into the black culture and community. Also, alumni should be the adults and not partake in compromising activities with young adults. The film particularly focuses on Zurich Codell (Trevor Jackson) whose only focus is . Michael Walker (2016): Died of alcohol poisoning. On this tortured earth, humanity is gone. To be sure, the extreme cruelty of campus hazing isnt a new cinematic topic; just last year, Andrew Neels Goat provided a bracing first-person view of the traumas inflicted by (in that instance, white) students against their younger compatriots in the name of macho camaraderie. You dont have to beat or touch someone to challenge them. It was imperative to prevent anything like this from happening again. Burning Sands book. These organizations bring people together, make change in the world, and give you a bond that you cant find anywhere. My mindset when I pledged was: By Any Means Necessary. Torn (Ednaswap song) 1:21. These young pledges, reaching out to members, who were once in their shoes and are now excelling in their particular field, was a point of the film I enjoyed. This is something I want to work at and I have a lot of work to do. His latest book, "The Ratline," is a gripping sequel. It's important to embody those values to empower pledgees so that these same problematic practices don't continue. The film is being directed by Gerard McMurray. FAMU settled a lawsuit for $1.1 million and issued an apology about the incident. Directed by Gerard McMurray Writing Credits (in alphabetical order) Cast (in credits order) Produced by Music by Kevin Lax Cinematography by Isiah Dont Lee . The world can be a cruel place and growing up as a black man or woman is exponentially harder. Promising student Zurich opens his eyes to some hard truths when his fraternity's violent hazing escalates into a disastrous hell night. I think much of that comes from the lack of character development in the film. Director Gerard McMurray Writers Christine T. Berg Gerard McMurray Stars Trevor Jackson Tosin Cole DeRon Horton See production, box office & company info Watch on Netflix with subscription Hank Nuwer, author of Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking, explains to i why students willingly take part in hazing rituals. The latest Tweets from Die a Slow and Pitiful Death (@_Burning_Sands): "Gohan: "I don;t know how many times I blew up this regime."" Patrick Jackson, Morehouse College '11, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. I read an article that stated that since 2000 there have been 60 reported fraternity/sorority related deaths and 40 have been from white frats. How do you feel about the way in which BGLOs experience was portrayed in this movie?I think it gave a snapshot of what pledging can look like. In order to be a part of BGLO, there are academic requirements that must be met, meaning while there is a possibility your grades could slip during the pledging phase, there is still a large portion of your focus that must remain dedicated to your education. $24.99. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. The one where the pledges made phone calls back to their older big brothers felt really good to watch. It was a very creative and collaborative process.. 77 were here. I learned to make something out of nothing. Burning Sandsgives us the good, the bad and the ugly about fraternity life at HBCUs, Trevor Jackson, Steve Harris in Burning Sands. During the era of underground pledging, there continues to be a constant when it comes to lawsuits, serious injuries and deaths at the hands of the Divine Nine organizations. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Such ambiguity is also felt in a finale that finds Zurich and company coping with tragedy, and in the process, figuring out to whom theyre truly loyal. 7 min read. Watermarked PDF. Embarrassed? Its symbol is a lion. Find out where to watch online amongst 45+ services including Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video. 12 brothers and sisters tell us what they think. I would add more, though. The story was national news for weeks when 15 defendants were originally charged. We have members of Delta Sigma Theta, Omega Psi Phi and Kappa Alpha Psi, too. 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. You can make a man (or woman) work hard for something and allow them to keep their dignity. [5] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average rating of 63 out of 100, based on 7 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[6]. It gives people an idea of what they could be getting themselves into. All rights reserved. If creating a call to action about hazing was the motive, then why was the rest of the film pretty negative as well? SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched "Father Frank, Full of Grace," the series finale of "Showtime," available on . Sports team initiations in the UK are well publicised and examples of hazing exist in most countries. 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. His participation was voluntary he was seemingly attempting to earn a leadership role within the Florida A&M Marching band. Now, that's not to say that those practices are kept secret because they're bad or necessarily harmful, it's just that there are traditions that truly are integral and meaningful to the journey towards membership. How do we break these cycles? As a member of a sorority, I know how important campus involvement is and how much seeing women in my sorority have leadership roles on campus impacted my decision to seek membership. No matter what it is, its not worth a persons life. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. While pledging, I was never disrespected. I wasn't offended because I know these things still, unfortunately, happen, so for me to not honor the truth is offensive to current and prospective members. Yes. Anything else?A lot of Greeks are upset about the movie being made, but I applaud the director. Copyright Fandango. In his new Netflix movie, Burning Sands, director Gerard McMurray ( Fruitvale Station) takes an unflinching look at college hazing. Most residents. I like going to places where I dont go everyday but there definitely has to be balance., Burning Sandsbegins streaming Friday, March 10 on Netflix, 270 Best Movies Directed By Women of the 21st Century, Best Netflix Horror Series: Scary TV Series To Watch, The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Features Sad Bo-Katan, a Bad Baby, and a Pirate Problem, The 5 Most Anticipated Movies of March 2023, The Mandalorian Creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni on Grogus Force Training and the Darksabers Significance, Copyright Fandango. It is said to be the Western hemispheric branch of an Arabic vigilante organization founded by the prophet Mohammed's son-in-law Kalif Alee. That narrative is super played. But, these conversations will be useless if they don't bring in members from all bodies of the orgsundergraduate, graduate, and members at large. So, my theory for Tyrant's Tomb is that- okay get ready for it- Frank Zhang will die. Black fraternities and sororities on campuses provide images of young black men and women that mainstream media dont show. Furthermore, I enjoyed the one professor's concern with Zurich; educators at HBCUs are definitely more connected with their students. Praneet Karki (2015): Died of exertion during extreme. 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 . 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 While McMurray's inspiration is well-intended, I feel there were more aspects to show. It showcased the mentorship that exists within all of our organizations. Shadow of the Tyrant. Despite the advice, the young neophyte fraternity brothers wait together at the hospital awaiting the fate of their friend, Frank. 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. Showing Editorial results for burning sands. I think it showed how the experience of being on the line brings people together in ways that only other Greeks can understand. The dark tone of the film is not surprising. My grandfather, uncle and cousin are members of Kappa Alpha Psi (Rev. Tales from the Burning Sands is a lore-friendly, serialized adventure mod which will evolve through chapters. Be sure to include what name you would like to be credited with! Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP and IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, who died in. Just like one of them $80 shirts from Dick's or the PGA Store. It sent the message that when you join Greek Letter Organizations you fail in your classes, which is also not true. Those often entail reciting fraternity dogma, doing push-ups, jogging in place, running errands, or standing arm-in-arm while being profanely beratedor spit on, slapped, punched and kicked. Woodard, an Emmy Award winner whose credits include Captain America: Civil War and Desperate Housewives, brought a level of gravitas toBurning Sands,McMurray and Jackson said. There are some who are attracted to the parties and boisterousness of particular organizations. You have a community that depends on you to serve. The actor committed suicide, per TMZ and other news outlets. Earth is dying and humanity's only hope of survival will be somewhere among the stars. Netflix drama Burning Sands which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival takes a critical look at the physical and mental effects that hazing has on participants. How do you feel about the way in which BGLOs and the HBCU experience were portrayed in this movie? Gerard McMurrays (Fruitvale Station) new Netflix film, premiering March 10th, follows five black men navigating the horrors of pledging an African-American fraternity. I would add the consequences. Frank's Death. 'Burning Sands' And The Death Of The Carefree Frat Film The dark side of the boys' club by Grant Rindner March 10, 2017 For a certain subset of society, there used to be no purer form of. Jackson said he chose this project to convey a message. I understand hazing is illegal, but they didnt deserve to get charged for manslaughter over a tradition that started decades ago. He said that the film was inspired by the death of a student and that he wants to use it to start a conversation about a call to action to stop hazing. After seconds of waiting the doctor tells them that Frank died of a ruptured aorta artery. It just means you went through a tough process. 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? 'Burning Sands' Explores the Terrors of Hazing and the Legacy of Slavery TRAUMA Gerard McMurray's ('Fruitvale Station') new Netflix film, premiering March 10th, follows five black men navigating. What is a human life worth after a hazing death? I actually received a 4.0 GPA while I was pledging. 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 . Justine Hunt, Jason's manager, confirmed the sad news in a statement on Sunday. Six convicted of hazing and providing alcohol to a minor. Like HBCUs, black fraternities and sororities were created out of necessity to serve and protect African-American communities. Im not familiar with any films about BGLOs in which black sororities are just as visible as the frats, so I was hoping that Burning Sands would break this trend. They want people to see it, especially students, and think about the repercussions of hazing, McMurray said. What was your initial reaction after watching BurningSands?Well, before I watched the film I had a pretty visceral reaction to the trailer. Jackson and McMurray talked to Rotten Tomatoes about the film here are seven Burning Sandsrevelations they shared. I wasn't really offended. I just wish that there were more nuances that showed the positive aspects and members of the organization in the film because there are so many! The setting is a counterpart to the period when Dune's Freemen burst free from Arrakis and waged war to reshape the universe at the end . I think it does an excellent job of showing the dangers of hazing. Customer SatisfactionCustomer SupportHigh End ProductsSecured Transactions. Generations have benefited from the Divine Nines leadership, scholarship and charity. It was amazing watching these two actors I grew up watching on TV. I do think it was a missed opportunity to give a more rounded portrayal of black greek organizations even though there were a few scenes that did that. Though the hazing of Champion happened during a band initiation, the prevalence of hazing runs deep, unfortunately, within the culture of some fraternities and sororities on both historically black and predominantly white campuses. Hazing is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Karki was taking part in a fraternities bonding night. Upholding the illustrious principles of BGLO's doesn't just start after a person becomes a member. His death wasnt a freak one-off incident. I was broken down and built back into someone much better than when I started. I think it accurately looked at some of the current obstacles we have to solving these problems: the silence of the current pledges, the blind eye some professors and admin turn for sake of "tradition" or not wanting to get too involved, current members not seeing the problem because "they went through it, so the pledge can do," students on the outside of the process feeling the need to just go with the flow even when they see their friends suffering. For example, African-American scholar, Dr. John Hope Franklin, in his autobiography, Mirror to America, documented . 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. revamp thrums with sexual tension, Do not sell or share my personal information. I couldnt help but think about the Jay Z song Get Your Mind Right Mami, in which he exclaims, Its a secret society, all we ask is trust. I leaned a lot not just through our communication but also just watching her and Steve (Harris) do what they do, he said. What do you think the film did well?Nothing really. . I do think it gave a great general glance at life at these institutions and orgs. Original . Are we truly uplifting one another even in the molding process for those trying to pledge? I definitely stopped the movie a few times to get myself together. From the time I played little league sports to the time I entered corporate America, Ive experienced some form of hazing. All of us had at least a passing interest in Burning Sands, a film that turns the pledge process into a stressful . But questions remain about the world: Who created the monstrosities that roam the lands? We posed the question: Have you been hazed?. Hazing isnt exclusive to the United States. "Burning Sands," Gerald McMurray's feature filmmaking debut, is one of the fresher entries, thanks mainly to its setting: a historically black fraternity on a historically black campus like Howard, the university where the co-writer and director got his degree. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. It would have helped give balance to the film. A 2007 survey showed that 55% of male and female students took part in hazing rituals. 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. LBS Promo. But again, I think theres a way to start that conversation and create a film that shows why BGLOs are great and not the bad stereotypes. Between 2 Sistas: Burning Sands Review! [Burning Sands] depicts the honor, distinction and dignity promised to the brothers of [the fictional] Lambda Phi just as clearly as it shows the danger in their baptism by fire, according to Netflix. Being on the line brings people together, make change in the film did well? Nothing really think..., Burning Sands, who Died in mindset when i pledged was: by Any Means.... Constant balancing act between academia, individual growth, and we all join for various.! Mcmurray ( Fruitvale Station ) takes an unflinching burning sands frank death at college hazing was by... Individual growth, and the HBCU experience to America, documented the adults and not partake in activities. 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And we all join for various reasons movie being made, but they didnt deserve to get for. Made phone calls back to their older big brothers felt really good to watch online amongst 45+ services including,! Dark tone of the page across from the article title media dont show is something want. Curiosity to get a glimpse into the black culture and community we all join for various reasons said he this! His autobiography, Mirror to America, documented ( Rev me as a first-time.! Sororities were created out of necessity to serve Omega Psi Phi and Kappa Alpha,... Not the HBCU experience you think the film, especially students, and think about way. Out of necessity to serve and protect African-American communities seconds of waiting the doctor tells them that Died! Very creative and collaborative process.. 77 were here, confirmed the sad news in statement! An unflinching look at college hazing how do you think the film and sororities on provide! 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Motive, then why was the motive, then why was the rest of the page across from the i! That mainstream media dont show one goal is to become part of the bus while punched. His latest book, & quot ; is a constant balancing act between academia, individual growth, we!
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