Maine West alum Carrie Lynn Certa is trying to finance a fictional film about bullying.
Certa, who graduated from Maine West in 1992, wrote the script for the film, "The Study of Happiness," and plans to direct it. She's hoping to raise $75,000 in financing. Certa said she was driven to write the story after the experience of a friend of hers whose daughter was bullied, sexually, by a boy. The incident happened when the girl was 11. Certa said the girl ended up having to leave the school.
"We've all been bullied at some point," Certa said. "I was not popular in high school at all. It was the typical teasing and name calling, but nothing as extreme [as what happened to her friend's daughter]. To me this is an extremely personal story."
The hazing accusations assert that freshman players were sometimes held down while other varsity players inserted sticks and fingers into their buttocks, according to the Cook County State's Attorney.
Maine Township High School District 207 has maintained it complied fully with its obligation to report the bullying and hazing incidents to DCFS, and released a report from an investigation done within the district that stated the district did not commit any wrongdoing.
"I think it would be great to do the film at Maine West," Certa said. "It's a movie that is anti-bullying and it would be a great way to send a message. There is a need to educate students about what bullying is and what they can do about it."
Although Certa's script is not inspired by the hazing scandal, there are some overtones. She said the story takes place in one day and involves a student who has to confront various life issues. In one scene the male student is assaulted in a locker room.
