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'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls': Award-winning short film based on a true story.
Director: Paul James Screenplay: Paul James Dreamotion Studios production.
Synopsis:
A lonely high-school girl escapes depression and her bullies when she meets the perfect boy online, but is he too good to be true?
Locations:
Orange County & Los Angeles County, California
Status:
Released - Festival Run
'BEST SHORT FILM' - DANCES WITH FILMS (AUDIENCE CHOICE)
'BEST SHORT FILM' - AWARENESS FILM FESTIVAL (GRAND JURY)
'BEST SHORT FILM' - LONDON LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVAL (GRAND JURY)
'BEST SHORT FILM' - BUTE STREET FILM FESTIVAL (FESTIVAL WINNER)
'BEST SHORT FILM' - BELIEVE PSYCHOLOGY FILM FESTIVAL (GRAND PRIZE)
'BEST SHORT FILM' - ROYAL STARR FILM FESTIVAL (GRAND JURY)
GRAMMY NOMINEE: 'I CAN'T HOLD ON' (SONG OF THE YEAR CATEGORY)
* LONDON LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVAL: WINNER - 'BEST FILM' & WILL SCREEN IN LONDON (CLICK HERE FOR ANNOUNCEMENT)
* ROYAL STARR FILM FESTIVAL: GRAND JURY WINNER - 'BEST SHORT FILM'.
* BELIEVE PSYCHOLOGY FILM FESTIVAL: GRAND PRIZE WINNER - 'BEST SHORT FILM'
* BUTE STREET FILM FESTIVAL: FESTIVAL WINNER - 'BEST SHORT FILM'.
* AWARENESS FILM FESTIVAL: GRAND JURY WINNER - 'BEST SHORT FILM'.
* GRAMMY NOMINEE - SONG OF THE YEAR: 'I CAN'T HOLD ON' (FROM UNDER THE BRIDGE SOUNDTRACK)
* DANCES WITH FILMS: WINNER - 'BEST SHORT FILM' AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD.
* PASADENA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - SCREENING (Wed., Sep. 15th - 8:00 pm @ Laemmle's Playhouse 7, Pasadena CA)
* LOS ANGELES MOVIE AWARDS - SCREENING (Sep. 26th @ The Complex Hollywood Theater, Los Angeles CA)
* LOS ANGELES FILM AWARDS WINNER: 'BEST DIRECTOR', 'BEST ORIGINAL STORY', 'BEST ACTOR', 'BEST SONG'
If you read nothing else, please read this:
Bullying • Cyber-Bullying • Suicide • Based on a Shocking and Twisted TRUE STORY
‘From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls’ was inspired by, and is based on the true story of Megan Meier, who took her own life 3 weeks prior to her 14th birthday after a severe cyber-bullying attack.
BULLYING and CYBER-BULLYING continue to rise, while seriously affecting, damaging and destroying lives. And with over 4.66 billion people accessing the internet across the globe (60% of the world's population), the stage, platforms, opportunities and techniques for CYBER-BULLYING are dramatically and continuously expanding and exploding! Of the 4.66 billion people accessing the internet across the globe, 4.33 use social media (93%).
Sadly, CYBER-BULLYING is a prominent and powerful relative trend, which is growing at a frightening pace. Bullying has become possible from anywhere in the world, with far more anonymity than ever, while the absence of accountability and responsibility soars. We must all recognize this massive problem and 'be the change'.
Paul James
Visit 'The Blog' for the latest FUTB news and updates (https://www.themovieproducer.com)
Click here to see our Sun Newspaper cover story! (https://www.sunnews.org/seal-beach-filmmaker-shoots-anti-bullying-film/)
'From Under The Bridge' official trailer was released on May 6th, 2021 (below).
https://youtu.be/5HfSiW-D8ag
'From Under The Bridge' post production was completed on March 31st, 2021 and the film was submitted to Cannes. The official film poster was completed and released on April 8th, 2021 (latest revision below).
'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' is a carefully tailored multi-faceted bullying and cyber-bullying film, centered around a primary story based on real events, while capturing supporting stories without disruption to the flow of the film. The captivating plot features real issues and features an array of characters approaching the story from contrasting angles, including the 'waterfall' effects of abuse. The script is powerful, while bringing awareness through creative storytelling.Clare is a lonely and insecure high school girl, trying to navigate her way through the dark shadows of her depression, which is fueled by multiple factors.
Clare finds herself in a new chapter of her life, without her mother or any friends, while her bullies target her regularly and with increasing severity. Her loving father is overwhelmed, but trying desperately to bridge the void between them, which hides the secrets behind his daughter's state of mind.
But then suddenly from the darkness there is light. Clare is presented with the possibility of happiness, as she connects with a charming, attractive and seemingly caring teenage boy through social media. He listens to her, compliments and flatters her... and he is in college!
Surely, this chance encounter will change everything? And indeed, it surely does...
This tale is captivating, emotional and shocking. For some, it will be seriously relatable. But more than anything, we hope it leaves you pondering... what can YOU do to help?
WINNER - BEST SHORT FILM 2023: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' won 'BEST SHORT FILM' at the 'Seal Beach Film Festival'.
The film will be screened by the festival in 2024.
From the thousands upon thousands of films submitted by filmmakers across the world, reviewed by and screened with the Lift-Off Film Festival, Paul James Houghton was one of the 6 directors nominated for 'Best Director 2022' .
SCREENING - LONDON LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVAL: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' won the GRAND JURY AWARD for 'BEST SHORT FILM' at the 'London Lift-Off Film Festival' and as a result, screened on December 9th, 2022 at the Genesis Cinema (London, England). Attendees were entered to win a trip to Los Angeles, California to see the 'Once Upon a Riot' premiere (winner - Sam Hollis).
WINNER - GRAND JURY AWARD: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' screened at the 'Royal Starr Film Festival' on September 9th, 2022 in Royal Oak, Michigan and won the GRAND JURY AWARD for 'BEST SHORT FILM'.
SCREENING - INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN CARE FILM FESTIVAL: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' screened at the 'International Children Care Film Festival' on June 26th, 2022 in Paris, France.
GRAND PRIZE WINNER - BELIEVE PSYCHOLOGY FILM FESTIVAL: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' screened at the 'Believe Psychology Film Festival' on May 22nd, 2022 at The Skiptown Playhouse (Los Angeles, California) and won the GRAND PRIZE 'BEST SHORT FILM'.
WINNER - BUTE STREET FESTIVAL: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' screened at the 'Bute Street Festival' on April 9th, 2022 at The Hat Factory (Luton, England) and won a 'BEST SHORT FILM' award. This is especially important to Paul James (writer/director) and Lorraine Ely (costume design)... who were both born and raised in Luton. The costumes are based on Paul's high school uniform (Lealands).
WINNER - GRAND JURY AWARD: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' awarded 'Best Film' by the 'London Lift-Off Film Festival' and will screen in person in London, England in 2022. (Click on either image to see the official announcement).
WINNER - GRAND JURY AWARD: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' screened at the 'Awareness Film Festival' on Saturday, October 23rd at 12:00 pm at the Regal LA Live Cinema (Los Angeles, California) and won the GRAND JURY AWARD for 'BEST SHORT FILM'. Megan's mother, Tina Meier, attended the screening.
GRAMMY NOMINEE - SONG OF THE YEAR: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' song 'I Can't Hold On' (written specifically for the film by Justin Busch & Heidi Merrill) received a GRAMMY NOMINATION.
WINNER - AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' screened at the 'Dances With Films' festival on Sunday, September 5th at the TLC Chinese Theatre in Hollywood (Los Angeles, California) and was crowned a WINNER at the awards ceremony on September 12th.
FRONT PAGE NEWS: 'From Under The Bridge' makes the front page news for the 4th time along with a 3 page article, which covers Tina Meier's visit to LA to see the film on the big screen for the first time, where it won the Grand Jury Award for 'Best Short Film'...(click image or here for article)
WINNER: 'From Under The Bridge: When Bullies Become Trolls' is a Los Angeles Film Awards WINNER for:'BEST DIRECTOR' (Paul James Houghton)'BEST ORIGINAL STORY' (Paul James Houghton)'BEST ACTOR' (Luc Clopton as 'Kyle')'BEST SONG' (Justin Busch & Heidi Merrill for 'I Can't Hold On')
