# Bully (2017 film)

Bully (alternatively titled Bully: The Musical) is a 2017 musical featurette written and directed by Aaron Alon and produced by Thunderclap Productions. Bully is a dramatic musical about Sam Bradley, a young man who kills himself after being repeatedly bullied in school because others suspect he is gay. The story follows Sam in the days leading up to his death and the lives of those around him in the days following his suicide.
Bully premiered in the United States on September 24, 2017, at Alamo Drafthouse – Mason Park in Houston, Texas. The film had its film festival premiere in the 2018 Rainier Independent Film Festival in Ashford, Washington, on May 20, 2018.

## Synopsis

The film tells the story of Sam Bradley, a young man who commits suicide after being bullied in school.

## Cast

* Edward Henrickson as Sam Bradley, a 14-year-old being bullied in school
* Danica Dawn Johnson as Mrs. Bradley, Sam's mother
* Brad Goertz as Mr. Bradley, Sam's father
* Kiefer Slaton as Tommy Samson, a bully at Sam's school with an abusive father
* Chelsea Lerner as Mrs. Samson, Tommy's mother
* Steve Hale as Mr. Samson, Tommy's abusive father
* Reggie Choyce as Hunter Sikes, a bully at Sam's school whose parents are prone to violence toward one another
* Monica Davis as Mrs. Sikes, Hunter's mother
* Juan Sebastian Cruz as Chase Cruz, a bully at Sam's school whose mother suffers from an addiction to pain pills
* Amanda Passanante as Mrs. Cruz, Chase's mother
* M.E. Frazier Jr. as Mr. Ross, the school guidance counselor at Sam's high school
* Nora Hahn as Principal Rutledge, the principal at Sam's high school
* Tamara Siler as the First Mourner, the person who starts the vigil for Sam
* Emma Hayden, Ragan Richardson, Michael J. Ross, and Taelon Stonecipher as the quartet in "It Gets Better," four people filming their "It Gets Better" stories in response to Sam's suicide

## Songs

* "When" – performed by Danica Dawn Johnston and Brad Goertz (as Mrs. and Mr. Bradley); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "The Bullies' Song" – performed by Reggie Choyce, Kiefer Slaton, and Juan Sebastian Cruz (as Hunter, Tommy, and Chase); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "Hunter's Song" – performed by Reggie Choyce (as Hunter); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "Start Raising Men" – performed by Steve Hale (as Mr. Samson); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "It Gets Better" – performed by Emma Hayden, Ragan Richardson, Michael J. Ross, and Taelon Stonecipher (as themselves); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "Hollow House" – performed by Julian A. Puerto; lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "He's a Child" – performed by Monica Davis and Amanda Passanante (as Mrs. Sikes and Mrs. Cruz); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "Who's Next" – performed by M.E. Frazier Jr. (as Mr. Ross) with Tristan Smith on jazz guitar; lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "The Bullies' Song - Reprise" – performed by Reggie Choyce, Kiefer Slaton, and Juan Sebastian Cruz (as Hunter, Tommy, and Chase); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "Raise Your Voice" – performed by Tamara Siler and company (as themselves); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "Was" – performed by Danica Dawn Johnston (as Mrs. Bradley); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "The More It Bleeds" – performed by Patrick Barton, Amy Garner Buchanan, William Sanders, Karen Schlag, Haley Simpson, and company (as themselves); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon
* "Did He Think" – performed by Brad Goertz (as Mr. Bradley); lyrics and music by Aaron Alon

## Release

Bully premiered in the United States on September 24, 2017, at Alamo Drafthouse – Mason Park in Houston. The second screening occurred April 10, 2018, at the University of Houston. The film had its film festival premiere in the 2018 Rainier Independent Film Festival in Ashford, Washington on May 20, 2018.

### Official selections

Bully has been selected for screening at the following festivals and events:
* Cinema Diverse: the Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (2018)
* Cult Critic Movie Awards (2018)
* Depth of Field International Film Festival (2018)
* Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival (2018)
* Filmfest Homochrom (2018)
* Five Continents International Film Festival (2018)
* Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase (2018)
* IndieFest (2018)
* Indigo Moon Film Festival (2018)
* Lake View International Film Festival (2018)
* Los Angeles Underground Film Forum (2018)
* Next International Film Festival – NiFF Houston (2018)
* Out of the Can Film Festival (2018)
* PUSH! Film Festival (2018)
* South Carolina Underground Film Festival (2018)
* Queer Hippo International LGBT Film Festival (2018)
* Rainer Independent Film Festival (2018)
* Thessaloniki International LGBTIQ Film Festival (2018)
* TMFF – The Monthly Film Festival (March–April 2018)
* UK Monthly Film Festival (2018)

### Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2018 | AltFF Alternative Film Festival | Best Feature Drama | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | AltFF Alternative Film Festival | Best Actor | Edward Henrickson | Nominated |
| 2018 | AltFF Alternative Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Orlando Briones | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cinema Diverse | Festival Favorite | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Depth of Field International Film Festival | Best of Show | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival | Best Director | Aaron Alon | Won |
| 2018 | Five Continents International Film Festival | Best Fiction Half-Length Film | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Five Continents International Film Festival | Best Original Music | Aaron Alon | Won |
| 2018 | Five Continents International Film Festival | Best Young Actor in a Feature Film | Edward Henrickson | Won |
| 2018 | Five Continents International Film Festival | Best Poster | Bully | Nominated |
| 2018 | Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase | Best Overall Domestic Featurette | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase | Genre Award: Domestic Awareness | Bully | Nominated |
| 2018 | The IndieFEST Film Awards | Award of Merit, LGBT | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | International Independent Film Awards | Gold Winner: Best Song | "Hollow House" | Won |
| 2018 | Lake View International Film Festival | Best LGBT Film of the Month (June) | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Underground Film Forum | Best Picture | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Underground Film Forum | Best First Feature | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Underground Film Forum | Best Narrative Feature | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Underground Film Forum | Best LGBT Film | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Underground Film Forum | Best Underground Feature | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Next International Film Festival - NIFF Houston | Best of Houston | Bully | Won |
| 2018 | Out of the Can Film Festival | Best Comedy or Musical | Bully | Runner-Up |
| 2018 | Out of the Can Film Festival | Best First Time Director | Aaron Alon | Nominee |

## Funding

The film received grants from the Houston Art Alliance, the John Steven Kellett Foundation, the City of Houston, and donations from over fifty individuals.