Technology Meets Its Match: Cyber Bullying Film Targets Teens
A new start-up company has created a film, curriculum and website addressing the growing problem of Cyber Bullying: Harassment over the Internet. Hundreds of volunteers helped this project come into fruition. It is being sold internationally.
Palo Alto, CA, October 09, 2007 --(PR.com)-- DMH Productions is announcing the first film in its educational series. Cyber Bullying: Harassment over the Internet and via cell phones is the theme of a new 30-minute film, Adina’s Deck, which will be available on DVD starting October 9, 2007.
Adina’s Deck was created by Debbie Heimowitz and Jason Azicri. Heimowitz developed the project for her Master’s thesis in the Learning, Design & Technology program at Stanford University. Azicri is a screenwriter and Counseling Psychology graduate student at Santa Clara University. The film is based upon their first-hand research, which was conducted at three San Francisco Bay Area Middle Schools.
“We learned that unfortunately cyber bullying is happening everywhere regardless of socio-economic background,” said director and producer Debbie Heimowitz.
“It’s a new phenomenon that deals with issues that have been around for years such as rumors and malicious targeting of individuals,” said writer and director, Jason Azicri.
In the show, Skye (Kelcie Stranahan), the most popular girl in the 8th grade, receives threatening emails, text messages and voice-mails. Skye’s best friend Melody, (Stephanie Cameron) asks the tech-savvy Adina (Amelia Varni) for help in uncovering the perpetrator. When Adina agrees to help, Adina’s friend Clara (Ciera Trussell) is confused. Skye is stuck up and has never been nice to them in the past, so why is Adina helping her? After an adventure, the girls learn about more than just the bullies’ identity-- they learn about friendship and growing up in the digital age of technology.
Adina’s Deck looks like a Hollywood-style show. It engages teen audiences, who make connections and identify with the contemporary characters. Educators and parents find the show to be a valuable learning tool, and the first of its kind in dealing with the emerging problem of cyber bullying. In a screening of 101 students in Castro Valley, CA in 6th - 8th grade, 82% of the audience showed an improvement in their knowledge of Cyber Bullying demonstrated by their post-screening test results.
Adina’s Deck comes with a parent/teacher’s guide for discussions pertaining to cyber bullying, a pre and post test, a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of the film, a behind the scenes documentary about cyber bullying, bloopers, deleted scenes, and a special taping of a live Q&A session. The DVD is intended for 9-15 year olds, as well as for parents, teachers, school counselors, public and non-public school students, home schoolers, prevention programs, mental health agencies, and hospital settings. In addition, cast and crew members are available to travel nation-wide for live appearances, assemblies, teacher training and conferences.
For more information, visit: the official website: http://www.adinasdeck.com or http://ldt.stanford.edu/~debbieh. Debbie Heimowitz and Jason Azicri can be contacted at: adinasdeck@gmail.com
###
Adina’s Deck was created by Debbie Heimowitz and Jason Azicri. Heimowitz developed the project for her Master’s thesis in the Learning, Design & Technology program at Stanford University. Azicri is a screenwriter and Counseling Psychology graduate student at Santa Clara University. The film is based upon their first-hand research, which was conducted at three San Francisco Bay Area Middle Schools.
“We learned that unfortunately cyber bullying is happening everywhere regardless of socio-economic background,” said director and producer Debbie Heimowitz.
“It’s a new phenomenon that deals with issues that have been around for years such as rumors and malicious targeting of individuals,” said writer and director, Jason Azicri.
In the show, Skye (Kelcie Stranahan), the most popular girl in the 8th grade, receives threatening emails, text messages and voice-mails. Skye’s best friend Melody, (Stephanie Cameron) asks the tech-savvy Adina (Amelia Varni) for help in uncovering the perpetrator. When Adina agrees to help, Adina’s friend Clara (Ciera Trussell) is confused. Skye is stuck up and has never been nice to them in the past, so why is Adina helping her? After an adventure, the girls learn about more than just the bullies’ identity-- they learn about friendship and growing up in the digital age of technology.
Adina’s Deck looks like a Hollywood-style show. It engages teen audiences, who make connections and identify with the contemporary characters. Educators and parents find the show to be a valuable learning tool, and the first of its kind in dealing with the emerging problem of cyber bullying. In a screening of 101 students in Castro Valley, CA in 6th - 8th grade, 82% of the audience showed an improvement in their knowledge of Cyber Bullying demonstrated by their post-screening test results.
Adina’s Deck comes with a parent/teacher’s guide for discussions pertaining to cyber bullying, a pre and post test, a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of the film, a behind the scenes documentary about cyber bullying, bloopers, deleted scenes, and a special taping of a live Q&A session. The DVD is intended for 9-15 year olds, as well as for parents, teachers, school counselors, public and non-public school students, home schoolers, prevention programs, mental health agencies, and hospital settings. In addition, cast and crew members are available to travel nation-wide for live appearances, assemblies, teacher training and conferences.
For more information, visit: the official website: http://www.adinasdeck.com or http://ldt.stanford.edu/~debbieh. Debbie Heimowitz and Jason Azicri can be contacted at: adinasdeck@gmail.com
###
Contact
Adina's Deck
Debbie Heimowitz
(510)390-0569
www.adinasdeck.com
Debbie Heimowitz
(510)390-0569
www.adinasdeck.com
Contact
Categories