Director Daniel E. Catullo III premiered his documentary 4000 Days at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 10, 2024, after months of research into fraternity hazing. The film follows three families who have lost loved ones to hazing rituals and now demand sweeping legal reform. Catullo, a former Sigma Phi Epsilon brother at West Virginia University, says his own campus experiences and the 2014 death of Nolan Burch propelled the project.

The 2014 Nolan Burch death that sparked the film

According to the interview , the fatal hazing of WVU student Nolan Burch in 2014 resurfaced on a Dateline episode and prompted Catullo to contact university president Gordon Gee.. Together they envisioned an educational film to raise awareness and encourage bystander intervention. The early concept quickly went viral, earning an Emmy and attracting other bereaved families who wanted a platform for their stories.

Tribeca premiere on June 10 spotlights three families' legal fight

At the Village East by Angelika screening, Catullo highlighted the stories of three families, including the Oakeses, who lost their son Adam to hazing and continue to campaign for change. He notes that the documentary’s official description calls it “a poowerful chronicle of three families who turned personal tragedy into a nationwide push for accountability, legislative reform, and cultural shift.” The Tribeca debut is expected to reignite public debate and pressure lawmakers to close hazing loopholes that have persisted for over a century.

Social media platforms fueling a new hazing arms race

Catullo observed that fraternities now compete to stage ever more extreme hazing stunts, posting videos on Instagram, TikTok and Yik Yak to garner likes and bragging rights. He warned that this digital bravado creates a feedback loop where younger students mimic dangerous acts in pursuit of acceptance, further endangering lives. In several states hazing remains a misdemeanor or is not classified as a felony, creating a legal gray area that emboldens participants.

AI tools proposed to edit hazing footage responsibly

The director argued that responsible artificial‑intelligence can help edit and contextualize hazing footage, highlighting warning signs without sensationalizing violence. By using AI to blur identities and add explanatory captions, the film aims to inform viewers and empower potential bystanders while avoiding the exploitation of graphic content.

Which states will tighten hazing statutes after the film?

Open questions remain about the legislative response: which jurisdictions will upgrade hazing from a misdemeanor to a felony, and how quickly will universities adopt stricter policies? The interview noted that the pandemic forced Catullo to pivot from music‑film projects to a six‑part series, but it did not reveal any concrete commitments from lawmakers.