[2], The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2017. From the time I became interested to the time I crossed totaled 18 months. Burning Sands is an American drama movie directed by Gerard McMurray, from a screenplay by McMurray and Christine Berg, and starring Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole, DeRon Horton, and Trevante Rhodes. But anti-hazing rules have driven his Hell Week underground, and the veteran members of his fraternity have degenerated into a pack . After I watched it, I really saw that McCurray was trying to do. For prospective initiates, it's okay to stand up for what is wrong. Pledging a fraternity or sorority is not the same as hazing. Was he trying to make these athletes better, or did he go too far? Cheryl is 'torn' over the idea of having more children. While McMurray's inspiration is well-intended, I feel there were more aspects to show. It currently holds an 87% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. FAMU settled a lawsuit for $1.1 million and issued an apology about the incident. We rarely see black people in college, he said. 12 brothers and sisters tell us what they think. While others may deem it as a negative, I actually liked the way the film ended. '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. 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. The Great Empire (aka GE or simply . 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. Rihanna Will Perform Lift Me Up For The First Time At The Oscars, In Emily, Emily Bront Gets To Be A Real Girl, Breaking Down Astrologys Big Three Through Movies, Here Are The Winners Of The 2023 SAG Awards. black Greek life and mystique are based on secrecy and discretion. Gerard McMurrays (Fruitvale Station) new Netflix film, premiering March 10th, follows five black men navigating the horrors of pledging an African-American fraternity. Style + Culture, delivered straight to your inbox. Unfortunately for Zurich and his line brothers, the fraternitys overzealous upperclassmen are power-drunk bullies who sadistically torture them at every turn. There are some colleges that dont have those groups but they still have hazing in their athletics groups. [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. Burning Sandsdirector is a Howard University alum and amember of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. Lauren Babb, American University '14, former member of Delta Sigma Theta. LBS Sealed & Full Sets. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film?Offended? The genres of the film Burning Sands is/are Drama, . That topic is of similar concern to the latest original feature from Netflix, Burning Sands, albeit in a manner thats as unexpected as it is intriguing. The story was national news for weeks when 15 defendants were originally charged. Were you personally offended at any point during the film? 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. The Burning Sands Trilogy Omnibus. 2017 | Maturity Rating: 18+ | 1h 42m | Dramas. 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 . All rights reserved. A 2007 survey showed that 55% of male and female students took part in hazing rituals. 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. According to CNN, the last three defendants were convicted of manslaughter and are serving time in prison. Its symbol is a lion. What are your thoughts on that?I think the purpose of the film was to start a serious conversation about the severity of underground pledging. The fire has consumed 10,000 hectares of forested and city land (app. A lot of the people who are involved are athletes: its been ingrained in them from a young age not to quit and thats important to them.. P.R. The subject matter behind American Crime and Burning Sands is very heavy. 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. Only ten per cent believed they had taken part in the practice, but the number who went through drinking, sexual simulation, beatings, forced shoplifting, was over 50 per cent. V3.1. There is a strong difference between hazing and pledging, and many of the members of our BGLO have failed to see the difference. 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. I think it showed how the experience of being on the line brings people together in ways that only other Greeks can understand. The 1988 comedic drama School Daze, which Lee wrote and directed, follows the hazing rituals of the fictional Gamma Phi Gamma fraternity. 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. 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 As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film? 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. 2:54. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. I would add more, though. 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. The world can be a cruel place and growing up as a black man or woman is exponentially harder. Furthermore, I enjoyed the one professor's concern with Zurich; educators at HBCUs are definitely more connected with their students. The city was ordered evacuated on May 3. In 1998, I would be blessed to cross those same sands at FAMU. However, Greek life for most blacks has more significance than for some of my black and white friends who pledged predominantly white fraternities and sororities. From the time I played little league sports to the time I entered corporate America, Ive experienced some form of hazing. "I include step dancing and the Greek brotherhood just like School Daze," McMurray said. Despite the advice, the young neophyte fraternity brothers wait together at the hospital awaiting the fate of their friend, Frank. Legend of the Five Rings CCG. The pledge class learns the brotherhood mottos and bonds together because of or despite moral and physical hazing. That narrative is super played. This store requires javascript to be enabled for some features to work correctly. It was amazing watching these two actors I grew up watching on TV. They hurried a. For current members, it is time to reinvent your process and become smarter. Copyright 2018 Fandango. It sent the message that HBCUs are only about Greek Organizations, sex, and parties, which is not true at all. But its the reference to slave-owners methodsat the start of a story about African-American men doing analogous, terrible things to other African-American menwhich hovers over the remainder of the proceedings. Powerful Send help right to the people and causes you care about. There were things that resonated like the impact of professors who care about your well-being and take the time to advise you outside of the classroom. They are lawyers, doctors, pro athletes, mayors, politicians, engineers, entrepreneurs, coders and journalists, to name a few. Burning Sandsgives us the good, the bad and the ugly about fraternity life at HBCUs, Trevor Jackson, Steve Harris in Burning Sands. 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. While Burning Sands may be a new movie, hazing in Black fraternities is not. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands? Copyright Fandango. McMurray drew from real-life hazing deaths at two different HBCUs. I also thought it was powerful to show the pledges reaching out to members of the organizations who were in different stages of post-undergraduate life. [3] It was released on March 10, 2017, by Netflix. Not everything about pledging is bad, and not every brother in the organization is mean. In 2012, he was named one of 125 top alumni in Florida A&M University's 125-year history. This is not just among U.S. college students, but also includes high school students, military deaths, adult societies, Masonic organizations and occupational deaths. How do we break these cycles? 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. Words . I do think it gave a great general glance at life at these institutions and orgs. Genre: Drama. The 1988 comedic drama School Daze, which Lee wrote and directed, follows the hazing rituals of the fictional Gamma Phi Gamma fraternity.But unlike Burning Sands, the musically driven movie portrays hazing as a rite of passage instead of a life-threatening crossroad. Although the girls, parties, and respect gained are reasons for some, it's not for everyone. Burning Sands | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix Watch on Burning Sands is the debut feature from Gerard McMurray, whose most notable producing credit is on Ryan Coogler's devastating. It's based on true events and sheds light on the dangers of hazing. Many of the BGLOs have already begun to have these conversations on the executive level. If you're able, e-mail us scans at no less than 600 dpi in a high-quality format at LBS.Remastered@gmail.com. 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. How do you feel about the way in which BGLOs and the HBCU experience were portrayed in this movie? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dri Fit, UPF 50+, Moisture Wicking, Breathable, Recycled Material, Wrinkle Free Collar. What do you think the film did well?Nothing really. McMurrays film isnt nearly as stylized as Neels, taking a more straightforward aesthetic approach to its material. Wicking, Breathable, Recycled Material, Wrinkle Free Collar the top the... Were convicted of manslaughter and are serving time in prison of or despite moral and burning sands frank death hazing world can a... 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