Acclaimed Bullying Documentary "Bullies And Friends" Launches Fundraiser for TV and Global Release

LOS ANGELES - Feb. 9, 2015 - PRLog -- "Bullies and Friends", the critically acclaimed documentary film on youth bullying, directed by award-winning filmmaker/actress Cassidy McMillan, has just launched a global fundraising campaign to ensure the film's TV and worldwide release. The highly anticipated independent film, which received the United Nations Association Impact Filmmaking Award while still in final production, offers solutions to bullying to teens, parents, schools and communities and focuses on specific bullying incidents and a precedent setting youth bullying court case.

The documentary achieved the distinction of being selected for global release with a distribution company, but must now raise the required funds to pay for release costs. The fundraising campaign, which offers supporters film perks and gifts for contributions, including autographed scripts from Emmy award-winning TV stars, e-books and the opportunity to be listed as an Associate Producer on the film, is on both the crowdfunding cause platform Go Fund Me www.gofundme.com/BulliesAndFriends and documentary film's official website http://www.BulliesAndFriends.com The film is also seeking companies to come on board as brand partners/sponsors for the film and national school tour upon the film's release.

The costs of release include required FCC closed captioning, film release insurance, studio work for the multi-platforms of TV and digital release and other pre-distribution costs. The film production held focus group preview screenings of extended segments of the film at schools due to audience demand for the film prior to its release, where it received overwhelming positive response. The film, which has started a grass roots bullying prevention movement, has been requested by schools in over 12 countries so far.

The film's director/producer/writer Cassidy McMillan, who's now also a requested speaker/expert on bullying, says she thinks the film is having such an impact due to that it speaks directly to teens. She stated, "I wanted the film to help kids, teachers, parents with the bullying crisis through providing a genuine perspective on the issue from different viewpoints. I also wanted the film to provide workable solutions that could be implemented right now to help prevent bullying. Through interviews in the film with students, parents, educators, government officials, "Bullies and Friends" provides a complete focus of what bullying is, the effects it can cause and has caused, and what we, as a society can do - whether a teen or adult, to address the growing issue of bullying."

The Centers for Disease Control states, "Bullying among school age children is a major public health problem". The federal site StopBullying.gov has shown the correlation between bullying and teens' mental health which can lead to depression and suicide. Currently, the CDC lists that "suicide is the third leading cause of death among children ages 10-24".

The film's co-producer, award-winning filmmaker Persephone Vandegrift, ("All Things Hidden"), feels the CDC statistic lends to the demand and need for this film in schools worldwide. "From the work and research with the film, we've found that bullying affects every student in every school, whether that student is being bullied, is a bystander or witness to it, or is actively engaging in aggressive bullying behavior. This film is an effective prevention resource schools, families and organizations can utilize, and is why we are working so hard to make sure the film gets released worldwide. Too many children have been lost to bullying related suicides. We know this film can make a positive impact to reduce bullying."

"Bullies and Friends" documentary has also attained the support of multi-platinum rock band Simple Plan, who along with Warner/Chappell Music, donated one of the band's hit songs "I'm Just a Kid" to the film. "I'm so appreciative to Simple Plan and Warner/Chappell for stepping forward when I requested their amazing song as I felt it lent toward the theme of our documentary to help kids," McMillan said. "With our film, we want kids to know help is out there and that bullying can be prevented".

The film's production was self-funded by McMillan through personal resources and savings. When asked why she felt so strongly about making the film she stated, "When I heard of children committing suicide due to bullying, I couldn't sit by and not take action to prevent it. I'm proud of the film and our dedicated team working on it, all on a volunteer basis, to get this film out there to make a positive difference."

To learn more and get involved, visit http://www.BulliesAndFriends.com