Project AWARE moves forward with film (Printed Jan. 18, 2008)
By Ashley St. Michel
Staff Writer
Alyssa McCourt stood anxiously in front of more than 500 Saco Middle School students while they taunted and bullied her into humiliation.
This was the scene in the school’s gymnasium Jan. 8 during a special assembly presented by Project AWARE. The assembly was part of a scene featured in the groups second DVD, “Untold Stories.”
Project AWARE is a teen theatre group that addresses issues concerning young people. The group was created in 2003 in an effort to raise awareness about youth prescription drug abuse. Last February the players released their first DVD, “Falling” which told the story about a young girl’s downward spiral, played by “Untold Stories” Director Megan Hanson, into prescription drug abuse.
“Untold Stories” is written, directed and performed by Thornton Academy High School students Marissa Breton, Shannon Folsom, Adam Gallant, Emily Galos, Megan Hanson, Kevin Lannan, Caroline LeTorre, Katie Moskowitz, Janet Ottman, Dana Tripp and McCourt. Video Creations in Kennebunk is filming and editing the DVD. Filming began Oct. 27 and the DVD is scheduled to premier in April or May.
McCourt, a first year Project AWARE member, said she approached the group about focusing on bullying and harassment in schools for their next project after they released “Falling.”McCourt said she was bullied in elementary school. She said the harassment went on for a few years because she thought it was her fault.
“The more I started learning about the issue, the more I found it was really something bad,” Fourth year member and artistic facilitator Marissa Breton said. “Right now it’s a priority. There is a lot to do right now, and it’s worth it because I haven’t burnt out yet.”
The movie focuses on the effects and impact harassment has on children behind closed doors through the perspective of two distinct characters’ stories and shows what these young teens have to deal with as a result. Hanson, a high school senior, said the story specifically shows the common paths victims follow as a means of escape from the reality of their lives. The movie climaxes when the main character, McCourt, is speaking to more than 500 students during an assembly and the students openly harass her.
“This issue is very complicated,” Project AWARE Coordinator Carl Lakari said. “It’s not that simple to just say stop being mean or stop hurting people. These bullies are sometimes hurting themselves as well.”
Lakari said the group focused on bullying because of the lack of awareness concentrated primarily on bullies, rather than the victims.
“We wanted to make sure we had a well rounded look as to why people are mean to each other,” he said. “We wanted to focus on the deeper issue of why people are mean.”
According to the Department of Justice, in 2003, 7 percent of students ages 12 to 18 reported they had been bullied at school during the previous six months. Public school students were more likely to report being bullied than private school students.
In 2005, Gov. John Baldacci signed into law a bill aimed at preventing bullying in schools. Maine became the 18th state to enact legislation that deals with bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, in schools. The law required school boards to define bullying, harassment and sexual harassment and to develop new policies to deal with the behaviors by September 2005.
The assembly began with introductions and an overview of what the students were asked to do for the filming. Students at the assembly were asked to switch places with their neighbor in an effort to “get into” their bullying character. The assembly was scheduled with the help of the Saco Middle School Civil Rights Team. Members of the team also spoke, explaining why bullying is harmful and how it affects people. Video Creations Co-owner Lee Cote said the event showcased the abilities of the group, Lakari and the students at Saco Middle School.
“It was such a fast-paced piece,” he said. “It certainly wasn’t an easy thing for Carl (Lakari) to do. You are looking at 500 blank stares and you have to somehow make the issue fresh and interesting over and over again until the shot is done.”
The event was scheduled after Saco Middle School Principal Richard Talbot approached Lakari about hosting an assembly to inform the students about the harmful effects of bullying. Talbot said he knew the group was involved in the University of Southern Maine’s Center for Prevention of Hate Violence, which was developed in 1999 and is dedicated to informing and addressing bullying and harassment issues in Maine.
Lakari then asked Talbot if he could use the middle school’s sixth and seventh grade students as extras in a scene in addition to the campaign about bullying.
“I approached (Lakari) about using the Project AWARE members to campaign about bullying,” Talbot said. “I was really thrilled. Middle school students like to tease and bully each other so I just thought the students were outstanding. I thought it went exceptionally well.”
Talbot said he was unsure how the students would react, since the scene required most of the students to perform as bullies. Talbot said he was surprised with the attentiveness and respectfulness of all the students in attendance.
Video Creations Co-owner Blake Baldwin said the filming experienced very few problems. One of the more challenging shots included a 360-degree angle that ran on a curved track around McCourt. The scene was shot in an effort to show the humiliation and fear McCourt felt as the students continued to bully her. Baldwin and Cote used two curved tracks, which they said they hadn’t used often in the past, one close to McCourt and one further away.
“Both of us were sore after that shot,” Baldwin laughed and added the soreness came from having to assist the camera quickly around the track.
“We feel not only do we get to use fun toys, we are investing back into the community,” Cote said. “We are showcasing what media might be for those students who are interested. They might see it and think, ‘I want to do that’.”
Cote said a minor problem the assembly created was lighting.
Lakari said the goal of the film is to raise awareness.
“We are really trying to create an impacting, relatively short DVD that will raise people’s awareness,” Lakari said. “And this is really what making movies is all about, working together toward a common purpose.”
To contact Ashley St. Michel, call 282-4337 ext. 228 or email news@inthecourier.com.
Staff Writer
Alyssa McCourt stood anxiously in front of more than 500 Saco Middle School students while they taunted and bullied her into humiliation.
This was the scene in the school’s gymnasium Jan. 8 during a special assembly presented by Project AWARE. The assembly was part of a scene featured in the groups second DVD, “Untold Stories.”
Project AWARE is a teen theatre group that addresses issues concerning young people. The group was created in 2003 in an effort to raise awareness about youth prescription drug abuse. Last February the players released their first DVD, “Falling” which told the story about a young girl’s downward spiral, played by “Untold Stories” Director Megan Hanson, into prescription drug abuse.
“Untold Stories” is written, directed and performed by Thornton Academy High School students Marissa Breton, Shannon Folsom, Adam Gallant, Emily Galos, Megan Hanson, Kevin Lannan, Caroline LeTorre, Katie Moskowitz, Janet Ottman, Dana Tripp and McCourt. Video Creations in Kennebunk is filming and editing the DVD. Filming began Oct. 27 and the DVD is scheduled to premier in April or May.
McCourt, a first year Project AWARE member, said she approached the group about focusing on bullying and harassment in schools for their next project after they released “Falling.”McCourt said she was bullied in elementary school. She said the harassment went on for a few years because she thought it was her fault.
“The more I started learning about the issue, the more I found it was really something bad,” Fourth year member and artistic facilitator Marissa Breton said. “Right now it’s a priority. There is a lot to do right now, and it’s worth it because I haven’t burnt out yet.”
The movie focuses on the effects and impact harassment has on children behind closed doors through the perspective of two distinct characters’ stories and shows what these young teens have to deal with as a result. Hanson, a high school senior, said the story specifically shows the common paths victims follow as a means of escape from the reality of their lives. The movie climaxes when the main character, McCourt, is speaking to more than 500 students during an assembly and the students openly harass her.
“This issue is very complicated,” Project AWARE Coordinator Carl Lakari said. “It’s not that simple to just say stop being mean or stop hurting people. These bullies are sometimes hurting themselves as well.”
Lakari said the group focused on bullying because of the lack of awareness concentrated primarily on bullies, rather than the victims.
“We wanted to make sure we had a well rounded look as to why people are mean to each other,” he said. “We wanted to focus on the deeper issue of why people are mean.”
According to the Department of Justice, in 2003, 7 percent of students ages 12 to 18 reported they had been bullied at school during the previous six months. Public school students were more likely to report being bullied than private school students.
In 2005, Gov. John Baldacci signed into law a bill aimed at preventing bullying in schools. Maine became the 18th state to enact legislation that deals with bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, in schools. The law required school boards to define bullying, harassment and sexual harassment and to develop new policies to deal with the behaviors by September 2005.
The assembly began with introductions and an overview of what the students were asked to do for the filming. Students at the assembly were asked to switch places with their neighbor in an effort to “get into” their bullying character. The assembly was scheduled with the help of the Saco Middle School Civil Rights Team. Members of the team also spoke, explaining why bullying is harmful and how it affects people. Video Creations Co-owner Lee Cote said the event showcased the abilities of the group, Lakari and the students at Saco Middle School.
“It was such a fast-paced piece,” he said. “It certainly wasn’t an easy thing for Carl (Lakari) to do. You are looking at 500 blank stares and you have to somehow make the issue fresh and interesting over and over again until the shot is done.”
The event was scheduled after Saco Middle School Principal Richard Talbot approached Lakari about hosting an assembly to inform the students about the harmful effects of bullying. Talbot said he knew the group was involved in the University of Southern Maine’s Center for Prevention of Hate Violence, which was developed in 1999 and is dedicated to informing and addressing bullying and harassment issues in Maine.
Lakari then asked Talbot if he could use the middle school’s sixth and seventh grade students as extras in a scene in addition to the campaign about bullying.
“I approached (Lakari) about using the Project AWARE members to campaign about bullying,” Talbot said. “I was really thrilled. Middle school students like to tease and bully each other so I just thought the students were outstanding. I thought it went exceptionally well.”
Talbot said he was unsure how the students would react, since the scene required most of the students to perform as bullies. Talbot said he was surprised with the attentiveness and respectfulness of all the students in attendance.
Video Creations Co-owner Blake Baldwin said the filming experienced very few problems. One of the more challenging shots included a 360-degree angle that ran on a curved track around McCourt. The scene was shot in an effort to show the humiliation and fear McCourt felt as the students continued to bully her. Baldwin and Cote used two curved tracks, which they said they hadn’t used often in the past, one close to McCourt and one further away.
“Both of us were sore after that shot,” Baldwin laughed and added the soreness came from having to assist the camera quickly around the track.
“We feel not only do we get to use fun toys, we are investing back into the community,” Cote said. “We are showcasing what media might be for those students who are interested. They might see it and think, ‘I want to do that’.”
Cote said a minor problem the assembly created was lighting.
Lakari said the goal of the film is to raise awareness.
“We are really trying to create an impacting, relatively short DVD that will raise people’s awareness,” Lakari said. “And this is really what making movies is all about, working together toward a common purpose.”
To contact Ashley St. Michel, call 282-4337 ext. 228 or email news@inthecourier.com.
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