I Am Not A Target! (BFS/Special Interest/Children/Security)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: B Main Program: B
Bullying is a major problem and always had been, but
beginning in the 1980s, it became worse as the culture encouraged young men to
be colder and even more brutal, while teachers and schools suddenly took less
and less responsibility what happened on their premises (with the ever-lame
“kids will be kids” response) leading up to a cycle of school shootings, the
constant cutting of federal funds and taxes, plus sudden corporate sponsorship
en masse that undermines the school’s authority further. Bullying happens outside of school too, of
course, and the impressive new program called I Am Not A Target! (2004)
is a big step in the right direction in dealing with a problem ignored for too
long.
Though the nearly 50 minutes is not accusatory or
political, it is very thorough about who bullies, how they bully, why the bully
and by the time you are done with the extras, you find out about bully types
that even the most attentive adults may not have considered. Unfortunately, even all the great advice and
strategy here will not fix the problem 100% of the time, but it likely will in
most cases. Meredith Gold makes a great
host, is very well spoken and very familiar with all the angles, putting her
several steps ahead of young predators and what they might pull. It leaves adults as the authority figures
and out of the immediate loop. When
adults encourage their children to act like bullies, including when their
carelessness lets that happen, that’s another program.
The 1.33 X 1 image is shot on professional NTSC videotape
and has good color, with the usual range and detail limits. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no major
surrounds, but is recorded very clearly and playback is clean. Extras include text safety tips for kids,
text instructor profiles and a great full-length program called The ABCs
Of Bully Defense that is an excellent companion to the feature
show. This deserves a sequel down the
line.
- Nicholas Sheffo
