Chicken & Egg Pictures will be at FIND for an informational grant workshop
to discuss our various grants and funding programs.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 15, 7:00pm
WHERE: Film Independent Offices
PRICE: Free to Film Independent members
RESERVATIONS: Required - call 310.432.1222 or email Reservations@filmindependent.org
Check it out on Film Independent's Website
Last nights Story Leads To Action brought together a film, A Small Act, with the individuals who help inspire movements and acts of justice on a daily basis -- TEACHERS! Geared towards teachers looking to educate about Africa, the discussion focused on social activism and the benefits of global education. The idea of A Small Act is to pay it forward, and make local changes that have global impact. While this can relate to any number of social justice issues, the night targeted the education system.
After screening the film, Jennifer Arnold and Patti Lee sat down with the panelists for a brainstorming session, moderated by Judith Helfand. Panelists for the night included Dr. David Gerwin, a Professor at Queens College, Rachel Peterson, the Director of Community Service at Friends Seminary, and Reginald Bassey, Associate at Nigerian Leadership Initiative, Project Manager at Flaunt Africa, and Manager at the International Youth Council. The discussion centered around specific actions we can take, as global citizens, in order to make our own small act. Dr. David Gerwin proposed showing the film to social studies teachers. He also proposed a change in the system of tests, such as regents and the KCPE’s shown in the film. Rachel Peterson discussed the challenges of including a film such as this in private school curriculum, and the far-reaching interdisciplinary benefits of using the film as a tool for action and education.
As the film shows, one small act can have far ranging impact; there is a domino effect. So, in true Story Leads to Action fashion, the panelists and audience members made commitments to bring the film to their communities, schools, parents, teachers, and really get the word out. The audience wrote down their suggestions and contact information to be compiled, and followed up with. The film really empowered the panelists and audience members and now it is time to put that energy into action!
"I don't want people who see my films to be scared. I want them to act," Michael Moore told a post-screening audience last night at an event presented by the Center for Constitutional Rights, Chicken & Egg Pictures and Indies Direct. That's why, he said, 2009's "Capitalism: A Love Story" is his last film "until I see that happen. I'm not going to provide entertainment for people who can leave the theater going 'Right on!'" But taking a break from filmmaking himself hasn't stopped Moore from supporting his fellow documentarians, including Emily and Sarah Kunstler, whose "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" is on this year's Oscar shortlist.
The film's a portrait of the pair's father, self-described "radical lawyer" William Kunstler, as well as a yearning look back at a turbulent but far more politically active and fiery era. In his career Kunstler represented everyone from the Black Panther Party and the Chicago Seven to more controversial figures, like convicted terrorist El-Sayyid Nosair and members of the Gambino crime family. Yusef Salaam was once one of the latter, one of the five teenagers convicted but years later cleared of the 1989 rape and assault of a jogger in Central Park. Salaam joined Moore and Emily Kunstler on stage after a screening of the film, along with William Kunstler's widow and the directors' mother Margaret and the CCR's Vincent Warren.
"Social justice was religion in our house," Emily Kunstler said, and it's a claim that probably rang true for plenty of people in the crowd, which included fellow filmmakers Alex Gibney, Joe Berlinger and "Gasland"'s Josh Fox. But there was also a sense in the room of the scope of the struggle that involves, of how difficult it has become to engage people and to encourage them to, as Moore hopes, act. Moore mentioned his recent appearance on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" and the health insurance industry's desire to "push [him] off a cliff" after "Sicko," and pointed out that Berlinger is still engaged in a legal battle with Chevron over his film "Crude": "It becomes incumbent upon all of us to make sure he doesn't fall down -- we'll raise money to stop this."
