Episode 4 Bullying Prevention

Plot: An unorthodox English teacher in a private prep school both challenges and inspires his young students to think for themselves and live life to the fullest. His motto for them is simple, yet life-changing: Carpe Diem, or "Seize the day!"

Scene: Professor Keating encourages his students to use walking styles as a way to express their individuality.

Theme: Independent Thinking

Focus Questions: Why do we find ourselves conforming to others? How important is it to fit in with the crowd? What do we think of someone who chooses not to participate at all?

Studio: Touchstone Studios and Buena Vista Pictures

Directed by: Peter Weir

Writing credits: Tom Schulman

Cast :
Robin Williams ... John Keating
Ethan Hawke ... Todd Anderson

Plot: An ordinary teenager suddenly becomes an excellent basketball player and a popular student at school. The problem is that his new abilities are the result of becoming a werewolf! It may mean that he has the girl of his dreams and all the friends he could want, but is it worth the price of being so different?

Scene: The father of a teenage werewolf reminds his son that with great power comes great responsibility.

Theme: Power and Responsibility

Focus Questions: Why do people sometimes feel ashamed of themselves and their abilities? How do we treat others who are different?

Studio: MGM and United Artists

Directed by: Rod Daniel

Writing credits: Jeph Loeb and Matthew Wiesman

Cast:
Michael J. Fox ... Scott Howard
James Hampton ... Harold Howard
Susan Ursitti ... Lisa "Boof" Marconi

Plot: Marty McFly is a kid who is never on time for anything. Then, thanks to his scientist friend, Marty gets shot back in time to the days when his parents were in high school. In the soda shop, Marty meets his teenage version of his dad who is about to have one of his many run ins with the local bully.

Scene: At the soda shop Marty has difficulty understanding why his father won't stand up to Biff.

Theme: Standing Up to Power

Focus Questions: How would George stand up for himself? Why is it hard sometimes to stand up to others? What holds us back?

Studio: Universal Studios

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Writing credits: Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale

Cast :
Michael J. Fox ... Marty McFly
Christopher Lloyd ... Dr. Emmett Brown
Lea Thompson ... Lorraine Baines McFly
Crispin Glover ... George McFly

Plot: Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, this is the story of a firl firmly grounded in her religious beliefs who finds herself attracted to a boy whose life and background are quite the opposite of hers.

Scene: On the school bus Jamie refuses to be intimidated by one of the most popular boys at school.

Theme: Who Are Your Friends

Focus Questions: Does it matter what people think about you? Why? Why not? What does it mean to be self-confident? Whose opinions do matter to you? How many people really know you?

Studio: Warner Brothers

Directed by: Adam Shankman

Writing credits: Karen Janszen

Cast :
Mandy Moore ... Jamie Sullivan
Shane West ... London Carter

Plot: A kid from Harlem is recruited into a southern university marching band. Thinking that he is the anser to all the band's problems does not score him any points with the tough band professor. Everyone needs a lesson in what it means to work as a team, and what it means to be responsible for one another.

Scene: On the first day of marching band practice, Mr. Lee reminds his members of the importance of teamwork.

Theme: Responisibility for Others

Focus Questions: What is the difference between helpful and harmful and harmful peer pressure? Are we responsible for other's actions? Why or Why not?

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Directed by: Charles Stone, III

Writing credits: Tina Gordon Chism and Shawn Schepps

Cast:
Nick Cannon ... Devon Miles
Zoe Saldana ... Laila
Orlando Jones ... Dr. Lee

Plot: It is not easy to be the powerless son of the most famous superheroes on the planet. But when his power emerge and the most popular girl in school notices him will there be room in his life for the friend he has left behind?

Scene: At a party, Will must choose between his best friend and the popular crowd.

Theme: Using Popularity as a Weapon

Focus Questions: What should y ou do when you hear something bad about a friend? What does it mean to be really loyal?

Studio: Walt Disney Studios

Directed by: Mike Mitchell

Writing credits: Paul Hernandez, Robert Schooley and Mark McCorkle

Cast :
Michael Anarano ... Will Stronghold
Kurt Russell ... Steve Stronghold

Plot: This tale may be set in the 1940s, but the situations these kids face are vary familiar today. For example, when a friend dares you to do something that you know is not a good idea, what will you choose to do?

Scene: Flick is double dog dared to stick his tongue to the flag pole.

Theme: Standing Up to a Dare

Focus Questions: Do crowds influence what we say and do? How? Why?What makes a dare so powerful?

Studio: MGM and Warner Brothers

Directed by: Bob Clark

Writing credits: Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark

Cast :
Peter Billingsley ... Ralphie Parker
Darren McGavin ... The Old Man Parker
Melinda Dillon ... Mrs. Parker
Ian Petrella ... Randy Parker

Plot: When a girl who has always been home-schooled suddenly enters a public high school, she learns that it can be pretty hard to fit in. So, when some popular girls invite her to join their clique, it seems like a great idea...or is it?

Theme: Cady gets the run down on the do's and dont's of the popular clique.

Focus Questions: What are the rules your friends expect you to follow? What is a clique? How can a clique be harmful? How can cliques control you?

Studio: Paramount

Directed by: Mark Waters

Writing credits: Tina Fey

Cast:
LIndsay Lohan ... Cady Heron
Rachel McAdams ... Regina George

Plot: A family learns how to stick together while moving to a new city and a new school. The older brother didn't ask to be laughed at by the bullies at school. What will keep him from making a very big mistake?

Scene: Charlie's sister intervenes when he is provoked by bullies.

Theme: Intervention

Focus Questions: When is it better to walk away? When is is not? Why do bullies say hurtful things or try to pick a fight? What are they afraid of?

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Directed by: Shawn Levy

Writing credits: Sam Harper, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolaw

Cast:
Steve Martin ... Tom Baker
Bonnie Hunt ... Kate Baker
Tom Welling ... Charlie Baker
Hiliary Duff ... Lorraine Baker

Plot: A new kid in town battles to save the environment from a greedy developer. But before he embarks on this quest, he first has to face the girl who has been bullying him from the moment he arrived.

Scene: Roy teaches Beatrice a different approah to communicate rather than using anger towards others.

Theme: Communication

Focus Questions: Do you agree with the way he confronted Beatrice? Why? Why not? What happens when we stand up to a bully? Does trying to talk things out work?

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Directed by: Wil Shriner

Writing credits: Wil Shriner

Cast:
Logan Lerman ... Roy Eberhardt
Brie Larson ... Beatrice
Cody Linley... Mullet Fingers
Luke Wilson ... Delinko
Neil Flynn ... Mr. Eberhardt
Robert Wagner ... Mayor Wagner

Plot: When a young boy is bullied, he finds it easier to blame the ants in the anthill below him than to face up to the bully.

Scene: When Lucas is tormented by bullies bigger than he is, he takes out his anger on ants.

Theme: Scapegoating

Focus Questions: Why does Lucas turn on the ants instead of the bully? Have you ever blamed someone else for something that person did not do? Why? What were you afraid of?

Studio: Warner Brothers

Directed by: John A. Davis

Writing credits: John A. Davis and John Nickle

Cast:
Julia Roberts ... Hova (voice)
Nicholas Cage ... Zoc (voice)
Meryl Streep ... Queen (voice)

Plot: It is no fun to be laughed at and beaten up. So when this happensto a young boy at the couny fair, he watches very carefully to see what his father will do to the kids who humiliated and hurt him.

Scene: The father of a boy who has been attacked by bullies gives them a gift of cotton candy.

Theme: Understanding your Enemies

Focus Questions: How do friends help you persevere? How are they at times not so very helpful? How do you know when working harder will help you succeed or when, no matter how hard you work, you will still not be able to reach your goal?

Studio: Universal Studios

Directed by: Jon Avnet

Writing credits: Kathy McWorter

Cast:
Kevin Costner ... Stephen Simmons
Elijah Wood ... Stu Simmons
Mare WInningham ... Lois Simmons
Lexi Randall ... Lidia Joanne Simmons