Tribeca 2011: Weinstein Co. gets on board 'The Bully Project'

The Tribeca Film Festival continues to burnish its reputation for documentaries.

"The Bully Project," a look at the crisis of childhood bullying, has landed a deal with the Weinstein Co., which on Monday picked up U.S. and many international rights to the Lee Hirsch film.

Hirsch, who previously directed the South African music doc "Amandla!," takes a personal approach to the topic by showing the home and school lives of five children and their families affected by bullying. Weinstein Co. executive Peter Lawson emphasized the socially conscious aspect of the film, calling it "a phenomenally insightful and moving examination of bullying and its long-term impact."

The movie is the third Tribeca documentary to land a distribution deal, following food pic "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" and club-life exploration "Limelight." Harvey Weinstein, a longtime collaborator with Michael Moore, last released a doc when he brought out "The Tillman Story" last year.

— Steven Zeitchik

twitter.com/ZeitchikLAT

Photo: "The Bully Project." Credit: Tribeca Film Festival.

Comments

[Edward F. Dragan, EdD]

School should be a place where children feel safe and secure--a place where they can count on being treated with respect. the unfortunate reality is that many students are the targets of bullying, resulting in long-term academic, physical, and emotional consequences. School personnel often minimize or underestimate the extent of bullying and its harm. In many cases, bullying is tolerated or ignored.

This film shows, with painful reality, that schools are notorious for insulating themselves from the outside world. when confronted, administrators tend to agree it's better to keep such unpleasant things as bullying under wraps. Shcools have a duty to protect children and to stop bullying. They have a responsibility to give every kid an opportunity to learn in a climate that is free from intimidation, harassment, and bullying. Sadly, schools don't always fulfill these obligations.

Edward F. Dragan, EdD, Author, "The Bully Action Guide: How to Help Your Child and How to Get Your School to Listen"

[james Pants]

Lee did a great job.

[Judi Edwards]

BIG BULLIES BREED LITTLE BULLIES