Nolan Burch Submitted Photo
(Editor's note: A media kit with downloadable photos, videos and additional resources regarding the documentary, safety campaign and more, is available in the WVUToday Media Center.)
A documentary born from tragedy, but which inspired a national safety campaign, is now nominated for a regional Emmy.
“Breathe, Nolan, Breathe” chronicles the events during and after a 2014 hazing event at an unsanctioned fraternity that led to Nolan Burch’s death, a then freshman at West Virginia University.
The documentary, which draws attention to the simple acts that could have changed the outcome, is the brainchild of Daniel E. Catullo III, CEO of City Drive Studios, an award-winning filmmaker who attended WVU.
WVU hosted the world premiere of the film in November 2019 to coincide with the launch of a safety campaign titled “Would You?” which focuses on anti-hazing, medical amnesty laws and bystander intervention resources to better equip students to help in critical and potentially life-threatening situations. WVU partnered with Catullo, TJ and Kim Burch, and Anyone Collective to develop the project.
The Burches, who established the NMB Foundation in their son’s memory, joined Catullo and others during the premiere for a panel discussion highlighting the efforts made to increase awareness and improve student safety.
WVU, Catullo and the Burch family hope the documentary, in combination with the “Would You?” campaign, will serve as a model for other universities as they also combat the issues involved.
“Breathe, Nolan, Breathe” is nominated in the Documentary – Cultural/Topical category in the Ohio Valley Chapter. A virtual Emmy ceremony will be held Sunday, October 4.
-WVU-
ak/07/15/2020
CONTACT: April Kaull
Interim Exec. Director of Communications
University Relations
304-293-3990; akaull@mail.wvu.edu
Call 1-855-WVU-NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday.
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.