Locker

Before the filming of "Locker," the director asked the young men and women in the cast: "who do you most identify with, the bullies or the boy who gets his books knocked out of his arms?" Almost everybody said they identified with the student who was being bullied. This indicates how widespread school bullying is.

The young female actresses in "Locker" also talked with the director about the differences between girls and boys when it comes to bullying. This discussion later inspired the idea behind "Cafeteria." It was a hard spot to film, not technically, but because the crew watching the filming sympathized with the boy being bullied. During the scene where the young man is picked on, many people working on the spot felt a sinking feeling in their stomachs, "like you'd had something bad for lunch." That the scene touched the cast and crew that much is indicative of how relevant the message is to all of us.

Almost everyone who worked to make "Locker" had witnessed acts of bullying firsthand, and was able to relate to the situation. Some had even seen people step in to help others out in situations where they were being bullied. "Locker" models a positive example of reaching out to someone else in need. It also positions the athlete in the spot as part of the solution - not part of the problem.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

BOY: Hey Travis…
BOY: Get some friends, loser!
HELPFUL BOY: So, are you all right, man?
TRAVIS: Yeah.
HELPFUL BOY: Let me help you out.
TRAVIS: Thanks.
MUSIC: Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend.
HELPFUL BOY: See you around.
TRAVIS: Yeah.
MUSIC: I’ll help you carry on…
ANNCR/SUPER: Character…pass it on. A message from The Foundation for a Better Life.

Character. Pass It On!