It shows how a pledgeship can go so wrong, and what we can do to prevent a meaningless death. 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. This is not just among U.S. college students, but also includes high school students, military deaths, adult societies, Masonic organizations and occupational deaths. Zurich is joined in his fraternity quest by four mates, only two of whomangrier Frank (Tosin Cole) and nerdy Square (DeRon Horton)are really defined by McMurray and Christine Bergs screenplay. Fits Perfect. 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. Do not be fearful to speak out against foul behavior during a pledge process. This may be the only peek into Greek life for some people, and you don't want it to be blanketed by stereotypes. 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. Praneet Karki (2015): Died of exertion during extreme physical hazing. It sent the message that when you join Greek Letter Organizations you fail in your classes, which is also not true. 2 Wild Doges spawn after 23.33 seconds 700f, delay 13.33~16.67 seconds 400f~500f. 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. That pre-med student Zurich (impressive newcomer Trevor Jackson) hasnt read this letter only further helps lay the foundation for the subsequent tale, in which Zurich is put through a gauntlet of torment and is forced to reassess his feelings toward comrades who are eager to dominate through terroralbeit in a spirit of fostering brotherhood.. The story is told through the eyes of a black fraternity pledge. Hi, my friends! Savino, Domenico - Pinkard, Maceo - Warren, Frank H. - Wilbur Sweatman's Original Jazz Band - Henry, S. R. Date: 1918-06-14; Audio Recording Burning sands Fox trot Victor 19033. Meanwhile, Jackson said Woodard helped him grow as an actor. From the film's overtly dark tone, it is safe to assume McMurray is critical of the most brutal hazing rituals, even if he glorifies them with his camera. My favorite actors Denzel Washington and Michael Shannon are people who go there. 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. While McMurray's inspiration is well-intended, I feel there were more aspects to show. I think much of that comes from the lack of character development in the film. We produce the most black engineers and doctors. 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. The episode opens with the family finding Frank hovering near death on the couch after his attempted suicide by a heroin overdose, but aside from Liam, no one particularly seems to care if he lives or dies. 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. But anti-hazing rules have driven his Hell Week underground, and the veteran members of his fraternity have degenerated into a pack . Who better to rule the future world. 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. Members thinkweve always done it, were kind of an extraordinary group ourselves and we can get through this.'. It was predicted it would take decades to extinguish them. I can go from the boardroom to happy hour without changing. 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 wasn't really offended. On March 9, hip-hop music fans around the world were recognizing the 20th anniversary of rapper Biggie Smalls death. Love for Black Fraternities and Sororities, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (USD $), Kappa Alpha Psi Crimson Golf Stand Bag - COMING SOON, Kappa Alpha Psi Cream Golf Stand Bag - COMING SOON, Alpha Phi Alpha Half Zip Pullover Sweater. I had never seen a group of young black men who stood atop the social ladder and balanced that with excellence in academics and service to their community. They are lawyers, doctors, pro athletes, mayors, politicians, engineers, entrepreneurs, coders and journalists, to name a few. The lessons gleaned from Douglasss words, though, are complicated. Shadow of the Tyrant. Are we truly uplifting one another even in the molding process for those trying to pledge? After filming this, I talked to my team and I was like, Guys, we do need something a little light., I cant cry everyday, he added. Hazing isnt exclusive to the United States. Lauren Babb, American University '14, former member of Delta Sigma Theta. 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. 1.6K 108K views 5 years ago We speak to the director and cast of Netflix's Burning Sands about what happened at the end of the movie, and what it's all about. With that being said, each member organization of the Divine Nine takes hazing seriously and comes down pretty hard on those caught. Search instead in Creative? In a way, I cant disagree. Being that the focus was on excessive hazing, there should have been more light shed on the positive aspects other than stepping and parties. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands? The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2017, before being released on March 10, 2017, by Netflix. 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. 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 . This conversation is still occurring and, unfortunately, it's not just in BGLOs. Legend of the Burning Sands. I absolutely love everything about it. Anything else?As people of color, we are all unique and multifaceted in so many ways. His last words to Apollo are "GO! 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. Comfortable sweater keeps me warm without overheating. Pledging a fraternity or sorority is not the same as hazing. BurningSands director said that he wanted to use the movie to start a conversation about a call to action to stop hazing. According to hazing expert Hank Nuwer, there has been at least one death every year from 1969 to 2016 as a result of hazing, initiation and pledging-related accidents. 100 Best Free Movies on YouTube (March 2023), 100 Best Movies Written by Women of All Time. The movie leaves you feeling empty, like there's no real meaning behind it all, and that's the whole point; it's just like the hazing death that it portrays. The 1988 comedic drama School Daze, which Lee wrote and directed, follows the hazing rituals of the fictional Gamma Phi Gamma fraternity. 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. Ralph Abernathy and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin are members). What do you think the film did well?I believe that it gave the viewer a look into a very exclusive world. Sometimes, waking is worse than the nightmare. To me, this movie focused more on fraternity and not the HBCU experience. Stage Information Misc. If it isn't, it's always more worth it to question instructions and stand up for what's right. Leticia Hunt, Tuskegee University '12, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. BGLO is one of them, and we all join for various reasons. How do you feel about the way in which Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) and the HBCU experience were portrayed in this movie?I believe BGLOs and the HBCU experience was portrayed as very superficial. From the time I played little league sports to the time I entered corporate America, Ive experienced some form of hazing. Many of the BGLOs have already begun to have these conversations on the executive level. Legend of the Five Rings CCG. A 2007 survey showed that 55% of male and female students took part in hazing rituals. The initiation required pledges to run down the center of the bus while being punched and kicked by senior members. If youve seen season 2 of American Crime,you know the 20-year-old actor has a commanding presence. LBS Sealed & Full Sets. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Racial power dynamics are at the heart of Hollywoods reigning box-office champ Get Out, a horror hit that not only upends genre conventions, but allegorically addresses the lingering legacy of slavery in 21st century America. 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. Like any other movie, some things are true, and others are dramatized. Between takes, Gerard would be like, Trevor, calm down. Im always eating and Im always happy. The producer/s of the film Burning Sands is/are Stephanie Allain, Jason Michael Berman, Reginald Hudlin, Mel Jones. 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. 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands? All rights reserved. Not everything about pledging is bad, and not every brother in the organization is mean. I wanted to show young black men at a black college and the challenges they go through on the path to manhood.. I analyzed how they performed. If you havent seen the whole movie, dont pass judgment, the New Orleans native said. Burning Sands is pretty straight forward in terms of the plot, but there is a nice twist at towards the end of the film, which is probably when the movie hit its climax. 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. 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. Student Zurich leads the pledge class as they endure big brother hazing on campus and at line ups at fraternity house. Hell Week is the period that culminates ones pledging process. Patrick Jackson, Morehouse College '11, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Are we perpetuating the cycles of violence and hazing just because it was done to us? 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. Burning Sands takes place at a fictitious HBCU, Frederick Douglass University, during the Lambda Phi fraternitys Hell Week. 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. $1,000 each.. Burning Sands director is a Howard University alum and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. All have different reasons for pledging but the one goal is to become part of the brotherhood. 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