Rats & Bullies - A Full-Length Documentary Feature

The life and death of Dawn-Marie Wesley is explored in this documentary film which shows how the more subtle forms of bullying exhibited by teen females can have the harshest of results.

http://www.rats-and-bullies.vze.com are the official websites for the documentary film RATS & BULLIES that explores the dark side of relational aggression among teenage girls told through the words of those who knew 14-year-old Dawn-Marie Wesley prior to her suicide in 2000, and those who came to know of her, afterwards.

Are you a bully? Have you ever been bullied? What face comes to mind when the word "bully" is mentioned? RATS & BULLIES explores the popular perceptions of what a bully is, and expands them.

Dawn-Marie Wesley took her own life after experiencing a cycle of psychological abuse and verbal threats from some of her closest acquaintances. Distinctions are made between the more well known types of bullying that males engage in and the more mysterious ways in which females bully.

In RATS & BULLIES you will journey to a small town in British Columbia, Canada and hear first hand accounts from family members, a best friend, a judge, a mother of another child who was headed down the same path as Dawn-Marie, a former mayor, one of the bullies who was prosecuted, and others.

RATS & BULLIES shows you not only the bullying events which led to Dawn-Marie's decision, but also the aftermath: the effect of this loss of life on the victim's family and friends, the community and even the accused. You will also learn of Restorative Justice and how Aboriginal Law played a poignant and powerful role in the punishment of Dawn-Marie's tormentors.

RATS & BULLIES now in post-production, is produced by Roberta McMillan and Ray Buffer at the Huntington Beach based production company, R&R MEDIA PRODUCTIONS. A feature film based on the life of Dawn-Marie Wesley and the topic of "bullicide", is in preproduction. For information on either project contact:

ratsandbullies@aol.com