Given that Burning Sands takes place at Frederick Douglass University, its apt that Douglasss prose is a constant presence, be it in dialogue between Zurich and Hughes, or in Zurichs own narration. Starring: Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Trevante Rhodes. Although the girls, parties, and respect gained are reasons for some, it's not for everyone. How do you feel about the way in which BGLOs experience was portrayed in this movie?I believe that the representation of Black Greek Letter Organizations could have been more well-rounded. Beyond Burning Sands by P R Adams. His participation was voluntary he was seemingly attempting to earn a leadership role within the Florida A&M Marching band. So, my theory for Tyrant's Tomb is that- okay get ready for it- Frank Zhang will die. While the movie is named after the term "crossing the sands," it doesn't have much to do with the phrase's meaning. My response: If you simply see it as that, then it will be just that. The 19-year-old had been forcedto take part in an 18-mile hike through the mountainous terrain North-East of Los Angeles, without footwear or an adequate water supply. Theres a burning curiosity to get a glimpse into the black culture and community. 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). Anything else?As people of color, we are all unique and multifaceted in so many ways. Patrick Jackson, Morehouse College '11, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film? Theres a kind of effect where because you have endured this the next guy is certainly going to endure it, which is another reason why it doesnt stop theres always this need to do it at least one more time.. Based on feedback from people who arent Greek-affiliated, the positive characteristics of these organizations arent portrayed prominently enough in the film to indicate that the negative experiences that it depicts are exceptions to the norm. To view the request, visit the Prospector Saloon in . The actor committed suicide, per TMZ and other news outlets. What do you think the film did well?I would like to applaud the director for taking on such a controversial topic and shedding light on to the consequences of pledging gone wrong. The Great Empire (aka GE or simply . What was your initial reaction after watching Burning Sands? The episode opens with the family finding Frank hovering near death on the couch after his attempted suicide by a heroin overdose, but aside from Liam, no one particularly seems to care if he lives or dies. Id be remiss to say that the film was entirely falsified; Gerard McMurray didnt make up the violent initiations depicted in Burning Sands. I cant ignore, however, what seems like an increasing number of incidents. [2], The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2017. Some 1,600 homes and buildings have been destroyed. Hank Nuwers new book Destroying Young Lives: Hazing in Schools and the Militaryis availablenow. The dark tone of the film is not surprising. It is important that we are the ones telling our stories and telling them truthfully, but we also need to be cognizant that eyes are on us and we should be telling stories holistically. In 2014, Armando Villa was found dead in a ditch in the Angeles National Forest. In 2011, a drum major at Florida A&M named Robert Champion died after being beaten and hazed on a bus. Frank resided in. Generations have benefited from the Divine Nines leadership, scholarship and charity. In the early 1900s, as today, the ability for educated blacks to come together to serve their communities was integral to fighting the injustices they faced in America. Its similar to someone who makes it through college with a 4.0 but gets into the professional world and lacks the drive, hustle and professionalism to be successful. It currently holds an 87% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. In 2012, he was named one of 125 top alumni in Florida A&M University's 125-year history. However, Greek life for most blacks has more significance than for some of my black and white friends who pledged predominantly white fraternities and sororities. Copyright 2018 Fandango. Im also asked why I would let someone haze me just to be part of an organization. Meanwhile, Jackson said Woodard helped him grow as an actor. Most took plea deals. The lessons gleaned from Douglasss words, though, are complicated. He lived and died, quite literally, for his profession as an actor, but there was a side that few outside celebrity circles knewFrank Sutton the cultured Ivy League grad and serious student of theatre history. 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. Hell Week is the period that culminates one's pledging process. As an African-American, becoming part of a historically black fraternity or sorority means more than joining an organization to party and network. Co-starring Moonlights Trevante Rhodes in yet another film about African-American masculinity, Gerard McMurrays dramawhich premiered at Januarys Sundance Film Festival, and is based in part on his own experiencesconcerns five African-American college freshmen going through Hell Week, a hazing rite of passage required to gain admittance to prestigious Lambda Phi fraternity. Also that I am my sister's keeper. Hazing isnt exclusive to the United States. Black Hands Black Heart. Burning Sands Area 10 is the tenth stage in Ashvini Desert . It was fairly accurate, but with films like this and othersStomp the Yard,Drumline,etc.they won't ever give the completely perfect picture to the experience because each HBCU and the chapters of those organizations are unique and different. The first contract I ever negotiated wasnt in corporate America but via my chapter. Lauren Babb, American University '14, former member of Delta Sigma Theta. Im not familiar with any films about BGLOs in which black sororities are just as visible as the frats, so I was hoping that Burning Sands would break this trend. The story is told through the eyes of a black fraternity pledge. 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). His latest book, "The Ratline," is a gripping sequel. Burning Sands is pretty straight forward in terms of the plot, but there is a nice twist at towards the end of the film, which is probably when the movie hit its climax. This time around, Sands, a human rights lawyer, follows the trail of a big fish who was never caught: Otto Wchter, a high-ranking Nazi . We reached out to 12 men and women who are members of the Divine Nine (the nickname for the nine Black Greek Letter Organizations)and asked them to share their reactions to the film. "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. But there are more reasons to stream this movie than its impressive cast. Sometimes, waking is worse than the nightmare. It was amazing watching these two actors I grew up watching on TV. With that being said, each member organization of the Divine Nine takes hazing seriously and comes down pretty hard on those caught. All of us had at least a passing interest in Burning Sands, a film that turns the pledge process into a stressful . Black fraternities and sororities are without question a huge part of the black college experience now as it was for most of the 20th century. How do you feel about the way in which BGLOs and the HBCU experience were portrayed in this movie?The HBCU experience is such a multifaceted one. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film? What do you think the film did well?I liked the part of the film where the pledges reached out and called the older, more successful brothers. Six of the nine would be founded at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and all of them are collectively referred to as the Divine Nine. The producer/s of the film Burning Sands is/are Stephanie Allain, Jason Michael Berman, Reginald Hudlin, Mel Jones. I understand hazing is illegal, but they didnt deserve to get charged for manslaughter over a tradition that started decades ago. He said that the film was inspired by the death of a student and that he wants to use it to start a conversation about a call to action to stop hazing. Champion, 26, died in November 2011 aboard a school bus after a football game and a band initiation rite. Were you personally offended at any point during the film? 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. Burning Sands | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix Watch on Burning Sands is the debut feature from Gerard McMurray, whose most notable producing credit is on Ryan Coogler's devastating. Powerful Send help right to the people and causes you care about. He suggests, however, that education on the practice and an improved definition is likely to reduce rituals. LBS Promo. Though many Shameless fans hoped Fiona would return for the series finale, she only appears in flashbacks as Frank looks back on his life. Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first black sorority, would be founded two years later in 1908 (Michelle Obama and tennis great Zina Garrison are members). 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. Michael Walker (2016): Died of alcohol poisoning. 2:54. Yes. Not everyone is Greek, and not everyone wants to be Greek. For alumni, you have to take oversight over your undergrad chapter and make sure the young adults are not making uninformed decisions that could compromise their futures. Featuring stars Trevor Jackson,. Most residents. My mindset when I pledged was: By Any Means Necessary. For me, it meant that I completed one of the most arduous treks of my life. SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched "Father Frank, Full of Grace," the series finale of "Showtime," available on . Burning Sands Golf Collection FRATERNAL GOLF Par 06 GOLF BAG COLLECTION Burning Sands Alpha Phi Alpha Black Golf Stand Bag $235.06 Add to cart Burning Sands Alpha Phi Alpha White Golf Stand Bag $235.06 Add to cart Burning Sands Kappa Alpha Psi Crimson Golf Stand Bag - COMING SOON $235.11 Sold out Sold out Burning Sands Its still overwhelming just thinking about it.. Narrow Escape! If creating a call to action about hazing was the motive, then why was the rest of the film pretty negative as well? Burning Sands is an American drama movie directed by Gerard McMurray, from a screenplay by McMurray and Christine Berg, and starring Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole, DeRon Horton, and Trevante Rhodes. Members of fraternities who dont take part in initiations are oftenshunned duringtheir college career and excluded from social events. What are your thoughts on that?Everything about learning and growing should be intentional and purposeful. After I watched it, I really saw that McCurray was trying to do. Five young men pledge Lambda Lambda Phi Fraternity at the historically Black institution, Frederick Douglass University. From Zurichs alienation from his father (whose texts he wont return), to his strained relationship with the girlfriend (Imani Hakim) who disapproves of his frat dreams, to his feelings of obligation to the dean (Steve Harris) who helped get him a spot on Lambdas pledge roster, Burning Sands uses standard narrative conventions to forward a subtle, but powerful, point about racial equality. Being that the focus was on excessive hazing, there should have been more light shed on the positive aspects other than stepping and parties. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film?Offended? And this movie really promotes brotherhood. The subject matter behind American Crime and Burning Sands is very heavy. 39 square miles). I developed a mental toughness and resolve that I didnt know I had. These organizations bring people together, make change in the world, and give you a bond that you cant find anywhere. The Unicorn Clan, called the Ki-Rin Clan before it left its homeland behind, originally set out from Rokugan soon after its founding to explore this region of the Mortal Realm and determine if its inhabitants presented any . I absolutely love everything about it. Hell Week is the period that culminates ones pledging process. Such a notion, however, is soon contrasted with Professor Hughess favorite Douglass quote: Its easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. Whether hazing is thus a positive or a negative factor in a mans maturation remains, to some extent, open to interpretation. Judges in the US have been in fraternities, most of our presidents have been in a fraternity and theres leniency, theres a feeling that these are good kids., I helped conduct a survey for Alfred University and the National Collegiate Athletics Association. But the nuances are unique and so is the way I tell the story. From the time I became interested to the time I crossed totaled 18 months. Demaris Webster, DePaul University '12, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. As a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization, were you personally offended at any point during the film? Instead, it's a cautionary tale about the dangers of hazing. The Burning Sands Trilogy Omnibus. What are your thoughts on that?There needs to be a serious conversation had about hazing amongst BGLO and other organizations on campus. 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. That topic is of similar concern to the latest original feature from Netflix, Burning Sands, albeit in a manner thats as unexpected as it is intriguing. revamp thrums with sexual tension, Do not sell or share my personal information. What do you think the film did well?Nothing really. LBS Sealed & Full Sets. The Burning Sands, also known in the Rokugani tongue as the Yakeru yoni Atsui, was the name given to the great arid area to the north and west of the Empire of Rokugan. 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. But anti-hazing rules have driven his Hell Week underground, and the veteran members of his fraternity have degenerated into a pack of vicious, drunken, sadistic louts. Following 1908, there would be four more black fraternities and three more black sororities created, all boasting their own illustrious history, members and contributions to American and world history. Trusted Your donation is protected by the [4], Burning Sands received positive reviews from film critics. In BURNING SANDS, Zurich (Trevor Jackson) is a new student at Frederick Douglas University who is trying to survive as a fraternity pledge during "Hell Week.""Hell Week" is a time when fraternity pledges are made to endure a plethora of humiliations from fraternity brothers -- if Zurich can make it through "Hell Week," he will be a member of one of the most prestigious fraternities on campus . When asked, Were you hazed? my answer was simply, No, I just pledged hazing is illegal. Even as I write this, I choose my words carefully. I was really disheartened by the depiction of Black Greek Organizations. Yes, I did lose 15 pounds off my 130-pound frame while I pledged. FRANK SANDS OBITUARY Sands Sr., Frank Melville Age 82 Frank Melville Sands Sr, 82 years old, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on March 18, 2021. The fire has consumed 10,000 hectares of forested and city land (app. Like HBCUs, black fraternities and sororities were created out of necessity to serve and protect African-American communities. According to CNN, the last three defendants were convicted of manslaughter and are serving time in prison. Gerard McMurray, a producer on acclaimed filmFruitvale Station, directed and co-wrote Burning Sands, which also stars Oscar-nominated actress Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage), Steve Harris (The Practice), and Trevante Rhodes (Moonlight). Aaron Paxton Arnold is a keynote speaker, national media contributor and founder of MusicIsMyBusiness. I didnt know how I would handle a woman of her caliber. . Such ambiguity is also felt in a finale that finds Zurich and company coping with tragedy, and in the process, figuring out to whom theyre truly loyal. The movie leaves you feeling empty, like there's no real meaning behind it all, and that's the whole point; it's just like the hazing death that it portrays. It was imperative to prevent anything like this from happening again. Its a portrait whose universality is all the more compelling for its precise, unique details. Of course, there was a physical element that Id never experienced before, but it was the mental challenges that made pledging hard. Frank Sutton, who played the gruff sergeant foil to Jim Nabors' country bumpkin Gomer Pyle, was a talented actor on screen, tube and stage. There is more to this movie than hazing. From the film's overtly dark tone, it is safe to assume McMurray is critical of the most brutal hazing rituals, even if he glorifies them with his camera. When you think about the people who viewed this movie, especially at Sundance, I assure you, it was mostly a white audience. 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. Maybe I am just brainwashed to protect what I hold so dear. Zurich takes out his cell phone and calls his dad, realizing why his father never joined the fraternity, and the movie ends. Thereare problematic hazing activities that some individuals engage in that stray far away from the meaningful traditions of respective divine nine organizations and it's definitely crucial to challenge them in order to encourage free thinking and to save lives. Legend of the Five Rings CCG. What do you think the film did well?Even with its inconsistencies,Burning Sands was definitely filmed very well, capturing the mental and physical abuse of being hazed. Institution, Frederick Douglass University, Reginald Hudlin, Mel Jones but via my chapter together make... 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