The low-budget movie “Contest” was conceived with the idea of reaching teens and tweens with an anti-bullying message, and the Cartoon Network was looking to expand its “Stop Bullying: Speak Up” campaign. So it was a perfect match.
“Contest” will make its world premiere on Oct. 6, the network announced Thursday. Set in a small-town high school, it’s about a bully and his favorite target forging an unlikely friendship as partners in a cooking contest.
And to build awareness of the project, the movie’s producers leaned heavily on Twitter and Facebook, where they got a major boost from a social media-savvy cast that includes a slew of on-the-rise stars.