Hosting film screenings can be used as a powerful method to accomplish many goals. They can be used to launch solutions-oriented campaigns (either designed by your group or to assist already on-going campaigns). They can create a common foundation of understanding among a large group of people, making it easier for those people to organize and act on those understandings. They can raise awareness. They can generate discussion, and bring a community closer together.
This action kit provides all the resources you'll need to host your own screening of What A Way To go.
It includes:
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Editable Films For Action Flyer Artwork
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Sample Action Guide to hand out to attendees
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Sample Press Release
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Step-by-step film screening Guide
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A sample Peak Oil Resolution for your city to pass, if you should choose to pursue this
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Another sample ordinance you could try to get your city to pass
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The font Films For Action uses for all our flyers
To the right are links to the films trailer, the full film, and a behind-the-scenes interview with the film-makers
What To Do
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Download the screening kit.
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If this is your first film screening, read the screening guide (it should answer all of your questions and provide lots of helpful tips). You can also read the Film Screening Guide here.
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Reach out to 2-3 friends or activists in the community to help you organize the event.
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Get the venue and date confirmed, at least 1 month in advance.
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Buy the film and the community screening liscence from the film-maker's website (It's only $50 and helps to support future films).
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Edit the flyer included in the kit. Print them up and share them everywhere.
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Follow the rest of the directions found in the guide.
If you have any questions, feel free to send us an email via our contact page. It's why we're here!
Audience and Use Considerations
This film is not an ideal "introduction" to these issues for a general audience. If you're trying to reach a mainstream crowd, there may be better films to ease them into this material.
This film is however the best "big picture" film we've watched to date, and sums up our situation like no other film has accomplished. It's dense. It doesn't pull its punches. It isn't watered down.
You might consider this to be excellent "advanced" level material for an audience that's already somewhat familiar with the issues. It will take them to an even deeper and complex understanding of the issues. So this is a great choice after you've done a few other films first, or if you're reaching out to the existing community of "cultural creatives" in your city to build up a coaltiion that can launch your own bona-fide Films For Action chapter (what a great idea!) :)
Good Intro Film Suggestions:
The 11th Hour
2012: Time for Change (currently expensive to buy the rights for)
The Crisis of Civilization (2011)
Related:
A Crude Awakening
HOME
Big Picture, but Controversial (You or your audience won't agree with everything) and niche audience considerations are required. These are food for thought films which are good to have seen but it's helpful to add a disclaimer for your audience stating that screening them doesn't imply an endorsement of everything in them, but that it's valuable to be aware of the perspectives presented and to learn what you can from them. (Listen to the message with an open mind, without judging the material, and enjoy having a wider knowledge of the issues, and take with you what resonates with you).
END: CIV - Resist Or Die (2011) (Doesn't advocate the most constructive solutions, but it's main thesis is nonetheless compelling)
Zeitgeist: Moving Forward (2011) (This film is pretty spot-on really, but it's frequently misunderstood without having seen the dryer, more straight-forward presentation series, which is a flaw in it's communication more so than it's thesis). It also presents some very foreign ideas so it can take some further research to understand them fully.