Copyright 2018 Fandango. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film?Offended? He said that the film was inspired by the death of a student and that he wants to. However, for those of us who don't operate on that level, we must begin to question our own actions and if we are truly embodying what our founders created these fraternities and sororities for in the first place. There are some who are attracted to the parties and boisterousness of particular organizations. To my surprise, McMurray, a member of Omega Psi Phi, did a good job showing this. As I always like to say, Its deeper than rap lyrics, which refers to when theres a beef between two hip-hop artists and the beef goes beyond the actual song as in Remy Ma vs. Nicki Minaj. But there are more reasons to stream this movie than its impressive cast. Rarely has the big-screen spotlight shone so directly on African-American college life, which is here rendered as a milieu at once distinctly black (the thudding hip-hop at frat parties; the step-dancing routines that take place at those shindigs, as well as in public campus spaces), and yet not all that different than any other sort of university setting, awash as it is in the usual mix of personalities, peer pressures and academic types. Burning Sands By Frank Touby Rated 5.00 / 5 based on 1 review Before the catastrophic BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico all earth was threatened by the oil disaster in the Persian Gulf over 700 oil wells were set on fire by Saddam Hussein. 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. I say that because I look at a movie like School Daze that truly encompassed what it was like being a student at an HBCU. In the film, there is a moment when a girl who is in a sorority asks, Who is your girlfriend is she in a sorority? and the guy replies, Shes not the sorority type. The girl says, I wouldnt know her then. This suggests that black Greeks interact only with each other. 12 brothers and sisters tell us what they think. To join the Shrine, Masons must "cross the burning sands to drink on camel's milk." Shriners claim that their tradition dates back to 644 A.D. Considering that this film was not just for BGLO audiences, those who aren't members of an org may still be confused about certain aspects of the experience. Mike Deng (2013): Died following multiple body slams by 20-30 members of a fraternity. It's based on true events and sheds light on the dangers of hazing. All rights reserved. However, creating a film like this puts the director between a rock and a hard place, because while he is addressing very real issues of hazing and people seeking membership in BGLOs for superficial reasons, to truly address every aspect of the situation would require him to reveal confidential details of the process of pursuing membership in these organizations. 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. But again, I think theres a way to start that conversation and create a film that shows why BGLOs are great and not the bad stereotypes. What would you have changed about the film?I would have liked to get deeper into the conversations of why the pledges were dealing with it and what was stopping them truly from either saying something in the moment or something to someone after. Our HBCUs and BGLO are very important in this country. Legend of the Burning Sands. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Its the idea of tradition, that its been done for X amount of time, even if its a criminal act, even if its bizarre behaviour, its part of that group. Im also asked why I would let someone haze me just to be part of an organization. I would be very hesitant about showing something like that in front of white audiences; it feeds into the narrative that black men are savages. The film is based on the personal experiences of the writer-director Gerard McMurray, and was inspired by Robert Champion, the FAMU drum major killed in a hazing ritual in Orlando, Florida. Burning Sandsis available to watch on Netflix. Get this thrilling post-apocalyptic series and see what lies Across Burning Sands. In the spring of 1981, a hunger strike involving an IRA prisoner became a story that caught the world's attention. The latest Tweets from Die a Slow and Pitiful Death (@_Burning_Sands): "Gohan: "I don;t know how many times I blew up this regime."" For me, it meant that I completed one of the most arduous treks of my life. So, whatever they throw at me while pledging will only make me better and prepare me for the real world. Aaron Paxton Arnold is a keynote speaker, national media contributor and founder of MusicIsMyBusiness. In January 2016, it was announced Gerard McMurray would direct the film, from a screenplay by himself and Christine Berg, while Stephanie Allain, Jason Michael Berman of Mandalay Pictures, Reginald Hudlin and Shawn Knapp will serve as producers on the film alongside Netflix. His ability to captivate is even stronger inBurning Sands,a film that capitalizes on his strengths. The Great Empire (aka GE or simply . Deep into Hell Week, a favored pledgee is torn between honoring his code of silence or standing up against the intensifying violence of underground hazing.Deep into Hell Week, a favored pledgee is torn between honoring his code of silence or standing up against the intensifying violence of underground hazing.Deep into Hell Week, a favored pledgee is torn between honoring his code of silence or standing up against the intensifying violence of underground hazing. His participation was voluntary he was seemingly attempting to earn a leadership role within the Florida A&M Marching band. Student Zurich leads the pledge class as they endure big brother hazing on campus and at line ups at fraternity house. Watermarked PDF. In 2012, he was named one of 125 top alumni in Florida A&M University's 125-year history. In a way, I cant disagree. It currently holds an 87% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. To Rokugani, the Burning Sands are a gaijin enigma. When then-President Barack Obama announced his My Brothers Keeper initiative, all Divine Nine organizations pledged their support and extended their resources. The term crossing the burning sands describes pledging a Greek-letter organization and crossing over from being a pledge to becoming a full member. Its not a coincidence that the Divine Nine organizations were founded during the Jim Crow era. While pledging, I was never disrespected. They inspired other young blacks to go to college and even provided college scholarships to high school students. 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. It was a hyper-exaggerated mess. Champion was taking part in a ritual known as Crossing Bus C, which involved walking up the aisle of a bus while receiving kicks and punches. To follow in their footsteps was a great challenge and honor for me. It's the best representation of Black Greek life that I've seen, especially compared to Stomp The Yard, Drumline, The Quad, etc. Hazing deaths in recent years Michael Walker (2016): Died of alcohol poisoning. It stars Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole, DeRon Horton and Trevante Rhodes. "Netflix Expands Global Indie Strategy With Slate Of New Features", "Common Joins Sundance Pic 'Burning Sands' As EP, Will Contribute Original Song", "Sundance 2017: Robert Redford, New Rashida Jones Netflix Series, 'Rebel In The Rye' & More On Premiere, Docu, Midnight & Kids Slates", "Netflix Announces Slate of Original Films, Documentaries and Series at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Burning_Sands_(2017_film)&oldid=1128965190, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 December 2022, at 22:58. Trevor Duffy (2014): Died of acute alcohol poisoning when forced to down 1.5litres of vodka. From the time I played little league sports to the time I entered corporate America, Ive experienced some form of hazing. On March 9, hip-hop music fans around the world were recognizing the 20th anniversary of rapper Biggie Smalls death. I think this movie was meant strictly as a cautionary tale. No. I couldnt help but think about the Jay Z song Get Your Mind Right Mami, in which he exclaims, Its a secret society, all we ask is trust. Not only is hazing illegal, but the practice has claimed the lives of far too many young men and women across college campuses all over America, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads | EU Privacy Rights | Cookie Policy | Manage Preferences. It's tough to watch because I was in the shoes of those pledges, but it's something I vowed to never partake in once I was a member. 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. What is the Spanish language plot outline for Burning Sands (2017)? Anything else?A lot of Greeks are upset about the movie being made, but I applaud the director. Lakin Starling, Spelman College '13, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Understandably, this movie has generated a strong response from members of the Black Greek community. Sundance Film Review: 'Burning Sands' Reviewed at Sundance Film Festival (competing), Jan. 24, 2017. Maya Alena Allen, Howard University '15, Alpha Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands? What would you have changed about the film?There needed to be more light shed on the different aspects of the pledge process and the members already in the organization. Contrary to popular belief Greek organizations are more than popularity and step shows. Still, you ache as Zurich undergoes emotional U-turns in the hours before Hell Night, debating whether to expose Lambda Lambda Phi's tactics or summon his leadership potential to "cross the . I wasn't really offended. Certain parts were difficult to watch, but I believe that most of those were impactful parts of McMurray's directorial decisions. See production, box office & company info, It's alright, I guess, but I just couldn't connect to it. Black Hands Black Heart. Copyright Fandango. What do you think the film did well?Nothing really. Why instead focus on BGLOs who are already under scrutiny and have a litany of investigations on an annual basis? But, these conversations will be useless if they don't bring in members from all bodies of the orgsundergraduate, graduate, and members at large. The Burning Sands Trilogy Omnibus. [1] In January 2017, Common boarded the film as an executive producer and will contribute an original song to the film. I do think it was a missed opportunity to give a more rounded portrayal of black greek organizations even though there were a few scenes that did that. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Search instead in Creative? You have a community that depends on you to serve. I do think it gave a great general glance at life at these institutions and orgs. Besides to my dad being part of Omega Psi Phi, my mom, aunts and cousins are all members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (former U.S. attorney general Loretta Lynch and tennis legend Wilma Rudolph are members). There is a strong difference between hazing and pledging, and many of the members of our BGLO have failed to see the difference. Unconscious bias is real folks. One night the hazing goes too far and a big brother advises the pledge class to drop off a seriously injured pledge at the emergency room but to avoid the cameras. "Burning Sands," Gerald McMurray's feature filmmaking debut, is one of the fresher entries, thanks mainly to its setting: a historically black fraternity on a historically black campus like Howard, the university where the co-writer and director got his degree. Are we perpetuating the cycles of violence and hazing just because it was done to us? Karki was taking part in a fraternities bonding night. Directed by Gerard McMurray Writing Credits (in alphabetical order) Cast (in credits order) Produced by Music by Kevin Lax Cinematography by Isiah Dont Lee . "I include step dancing and the Greek brotherhood just like School Daze," McMurray said. I include step dancing and the Greek brotherhood just like School Daze, McMurray said. Praneet Karki (2015): Died of exertion during extreme physical hazing. In 2014, Armando Villa was found dead in a ditch in the Angeles National Forest. Gerard McMurrays (Fruitvale Station) new Netflix film, premiering March 10th, follows five black men navigating the horrors of pledging an African-American fraternity. The subject matter behind American Crime and Burning Sands is very heavy. While others may deem it as a negative, I actually liked the way the film ended. 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