Bully (alternatively titled Bully: The Musical) is a 2017 musical featurette written and directed by Aaron Alon and produced by Thunderclap Productions. Bully is a dramatic musical about Sam Bradley, a young man who kills himself after being repeatedly bullied in school because others suspect he is gay. The story follows Sam in the days leading up to his death and the lives of those around him in the days following his suicide.
Bully premiered in the United States on September 24, 2017, at Alamo Drafthouse – Mason Park in Houston, Texas. The film had its film festival premiere in the 2018 Rainier Independent Film Festival in Ashford, Washington, on May 20, 2018.
Synopsis The film tells the story of Sam Bradley, a young man who commits suicide after being bullied in school.
Cast
Edward Henrickson as Sam Bradley, a 14-year-old being bullied in school Danica Dawn Johnson as Mrs. Bradley, Sam's mother Brad Goertz as Mr. Bradley, Sam's father Kiefer Slaton as Tommy Samson, a bully at Sam's school with an abusive father Chelsea Lerner as Mrs. Samson, Tommy's mother Steve Hale as Mr. Samson, Tommy's abusive father Reggie Choyce as Hunter Sikes, a bully at Sam's school whose parents are prone to violence toward one another Monica Davis as Mrs. Sikes, Hunter's mother Juan Sebastian Cruz as Chase Cruz, a bully at Sam's school whose mother suffers from an addiction to pain pills Amanda Passanante as Mrs. Cruz, Chase's mother M.E. Frazier Jr. as Mr. Ross, the school guidance counselor at Sam's high school Nora Hahn as Principal Rutledge, the principal at Sam's high school Tamara Siler as the First Mourner, the person who starts the vigil for Sam Emma Hayden, Ragan Richardson, Michael J. Ross, and Taelon Stonecipher as the quartet in "It Gets Better," four people filming their "It Gets Better" stories in response to Sam's suicide
Songs
"When" – performed by Danica Dawn Johnston and Brad Goertz (as Mrs. and Mr. Bradley); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "The Bullies' Song" – performed by Reggie Choyce, Kiefer Slaton, and Juan Sebastian Cruz (as Hunter, Tommy, and Chase); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "Hunter's Song" – performed by Reggie Choyce (as Hunter); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "Start Raising Men" – performed by Steve Hale (as Mr. Samson); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "It Gets Better" – performed by Emma Hayden, Ragan Richardson, Michael J. Ross, and Taelon Stonecipher (as themselves); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "Hollow House" – performed by Julian A. Puerto; lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "He's a Child" – performed by Monica Davis and Amanda Passanante (as Mrs. Sikes and Mrs. Cruz); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "Who's Next" – performed by M.E. Frazier Jr. (as Mr. Ross) with Tristan Smith on jazz guitar; lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "The Bullies' Song - Reprise" – performed by Reggie Choyce, Kiefer Slaton, and Juan Sebastian Cruz (as Hunter, Tommy, and Chase); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "Raise Your Voice" – performed by Tamara Siler and company (as themselves); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "Was" – performed by Danica Dawn Johnston (as Mrs. Bradley); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "The More It Bleeds" – performed by Patrick Barton, Amy Garner Buchanan, William Sanders, Karen Schlag, Haley Simpson, and company (as themselves); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon "Did He Think" – performed by Brad Goertz (as Mr. Bradley); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
Release Bully premiered in the United States on September 24, 2017, at Alamo Drafthouse – Mason Park in Houston. The second screening occurred April 10, 2018, at the University of Houston. The film had its film festival premiere in the 2018 Rainier Independent Film Festival in Ashford, Washington on May 20, 2018.
Official selections Bully has been selected for screening at the following festivals and events:
Cinema Diverse: the Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (2018) Cult Critic Movie Awards (2018) Depth of Field International Film Festival (2018) Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival (2018) Filmfest Homochrom (2018) Five Continents International Film Festival (2018) Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase (2018) IndieFest (2018) Indigo Moon Film Festival (2018) Lake View International Film Festival (2018) Los Angeles Underground Film Forum (2018) Next International Film Festival – NiFF Houston (2018) Out of the Can Film Festival (2018) PUSH! Film Festival (2018) South Carolina Underground Film Festival (2018) Queer Hippo International LGBT Film Festival (2018) Rainer Independent Film Festival (2018) Thessaloniki International LGBTIQ Film Festival (2018) TMFF – The Monthly Film Festival (March–April 2018) UK Monthly Film Festival (2018)
Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)Result2018AltFF Alternative Film FestivalBest Feature DramaBullyWonBest ActorEdward HenricksonNominatedBest CinematographyOrlando BrionesNominated2018Cinema DiverseFestival FavoriteBullyWon2018Depth of Field International Film FestivalBest of ShowBullyWon2018Eurasia International Monthly Film FestivalBest DirectorAaron AlonWon2018Five Continents International Film FestivalBest Fiction Half-Length FilmBullyWonBest Original MusicAaron AlonWonBest Young Actor in a Feature FilmEdward HenricksonWonBest PosterBullyNominated2018Fort Worth Indie Film ShowcaseBest Overall Domestic FeaturetteBullyWonGenre Award: Domestic AwarenessBullyNominated2018The IndieFEST Film AwardsAward of Merit, LGBTBullyWon2018International Independent Film AwardsGold Winner: Best Song"Hollow House"Won2018Lake View International Film FestivalBest LGBT Film of the Month (June)BullyWon2018Los Angeles Underground Film ForumBest PictureBullyWonBest First FeatureBullyWonBest Narrative FeatureBullyWonBest LGBT FilmBullyWonBest Underground FeatureBullyWon2018Next International Film Festival - NIFF HoustonBest of HoustonBullyWon2018Out of the Can Film FestivalBest Comedy or MusicalBullyRunner-UpBest First Time DirectorAaron AlonNominee
Funding The film received grants from the Houston Art Alliance, the John Steven Kellett Foundation, the City of Houston, and donations from over fifty individuals.
See also Suicide prevention Education in the United States
References
Further reading BWW Interviews: Aaron Alon, Justin Doran, and Brad Goertz talk BULLY, A NEW MUSICAL and its Concept Cast Album Former Pearland resident's anti-bullying film to be screened in Katy
External links