HAZING Production Company Partners with StopHazing to Develop Prevention Materials
August 21, 2023
StopHazing and God Bless the Child Productions, LLC (GBC) announced their partnership to release a new collection of hazing prevention resources to accompany director Byron Hurt’s latest documentary film, HAZING. StopHazing researchers and staff will work with Byron, and HAZING producer, Natalie Bullock Brown, to produce the materials to support the film’s use as a hazing prevention strategy.
HAZING is a 90-minute first-person documentary in which Byron weaves his story with those of a diverse mix of characters. The film features the voices of hazing victims, family members of victims, perpetrators, and scholars, providing historical context and the film’s thematic framework: that hazing is a widespread, far-reaching system fueled by tradition, secrecy, groupthink, power and control, and the desire to belong. HAZING also offers voices hopeful for and resistant to a hazing-free culture.
This award-winning film, HAZING, helps draw attention to and share educational information about hazing through powerful testimonies. The collaboration with StopHazing aims to extend the film’s reach by offering increased opportunities for viewers to reflect, learn, and ultimately take action to support hazing prevention.
“I’m very excited to work with StopHazing’s dedicated team in an effort to advance discussion about how to prevent hazing. I have long wanted to partner with the StopHazing team to help us further amplify the core themes and messages presented in the documentary. Our partnership creates an incredible opportunity for those who are truly committed to educating students to use the film as a media tool to spark dialogue hazing culture.”
Byron Hurt, Filmmaker & Director
The new Viewing Guide which will accompany the film will include an overview of hazing as a form of interpersonal violence, a set of discussion questions, and a series of short-form resources that focus on prevalent themes from the film such as mental health, bystander intervention, leadership, and power dynamics. Each themed resource will connect the film to hazing prevention and provide suggested activities to extend reflection and learning from the film’s content.
“It is an honor to be collaborating with Byron Hurt and Natalie Bullock Brown to develop resources to accompany the documentary. HAZING is a powerful film that ignites reflection and dialogue that can help shift hazing cultures. We appreciate the film’s thoughtful and courageous exploration of this complex topic and are excited to help amplify its use as an educational resource.”
Dr. Elizabeth Allan, Professor of Higher Education at the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development and Principal of StopHazing
The Viewing Guide will be available in September which is National Campus Safety Awareness Month (NCSAM) and includes National Hazing Prevention Week. Starting September 12, 2023, HAZING will be available to stream on Prime Video, Comcast, and iTunes.
Please direct questions or inquiries for additional information to Meredith Stewart, Operations Manager at StopHazing, meredith@stophazing.org.
Download a PDF of this announcement here.
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