Timely Outreach: Films to See Before You Vote
October 22, 2004
by Peter Broderick, Founder of Films to See Before You Vote
Political films are now being used more effectively than ever before. From Fahrenheit 9/11 and The Corporation to Uncovered and Outfoxed, they are being utilized by national organizations, grassroots groups, and individuals to inform, inspire, and organize.
Films to See Before You Vote connects audiences to timely political documentaries and features.
FilmsToSeeBeforeYouVote.org was launched to provide easy access to the latest political films and promote their use as tools to catalyze action before November 2nd. Individuals have been hosting screening parties in living rooms around the country. During the crucial days to come, there will be Films To See Before You Vote screenings on campuses across the U.S., and we are co-sponsoring Films To See Before You Vote film tours in Ohio, Florida, and other key states.
A New Era for Political Films
Governments have often used propaganda films to reinforce an official ideology. Passionate independent filmmakers have regularly challenged the party line and tried to change the way people see the world. Activists have been utilizing documentaries and features as organizing tools for years.
2004 has marked the beginning of a new era in the use of political films. During a year in which dissatisfaction with mainstream media coverage of the elections is widespread, voters have unprecedented access to timely political films that contain vital information and analysis thanks to five important developments:
- Filmmakers have produced a new wave of political films on a wide range of topics and issues. However hard they worked to make the films, they are working even harder to get them seen as widely as possible.
- More political films are being shown in theatres than ever before. The enormous success of Fahrenheit 9/11 ($119 million in the U.S. so far) and the strong response to a number of other films such as Control Room and The Corporation has broadened the possibilities for theatrical distribution of political films.
- Robert Greenwald, working with MoveOn.org, pioneered a wildly successful new house party model. Uncovered and Outfoxed were each launched at thousands of house parties across the country, and both have sold over 100,000 copies online.
- More timely political films are available on home video than ever before. Still playing in theaters, Uncovered, Outfoxed, and Fahrenheit 9/11 are already for sale on DVD. Control Room will be released on October 26.
- The Internet has given citizens greater access to political films and political filmmakers greater access to citizens. Utilizing FilmsToSeeBeforeYouVote.org, anyone can connect to the best new political films, find out if they are playing in a local theater or order them on DVD and receive them in a few days.
Films to See Before You Vote is organizing screenings around the country before the Presidential elections.
Organizing a Screening Party
House parties have demonstrated how effectively films can be used to bring people together, stimulate discussion, and foster further action. An organization with a national membership and mailing list can chose a film to be screened across the country on one date, coordinate house parties and participants by zip code, and arrange for the filmmaker to speak to them all simultaneously via Internet hookup.
In addition to house parties that are centrally coordinated nationally, it is also possible to organize ad hoc screening parties locally. There are two models –- the home screening party where people meet in a home or another location with a TV and DVD player, and the theatrical screening party where people go to watch a film together in a local theater and then have a post-screening discussion in a restaurant or home. Visit our site for steps for organizing a screening party.
Films Tours in Key States
Taking place now are Films To See Before You Vote Tours of Ohio, Florida, and other key states. We are working with Chris Wangro, Jim Browne, and Nicole Heidbreder (who successfully pulled off the ambitious Imagine Festival of Arts, Issues and Ideas) to get our “festival-in-a-box” to groups and individuals who arrange screenings and discussions in community centers, libraries, retirement homes, living rooms and on campuses. The free kit consists of political features and shorts on DVD along with discussion guides. Anyone interested in organizing screenings in a key state can sign up.
On Campus
Films To See Before You Vote is also coordinating screening parties on campuses across the country. Any student or faculty member can host an event during which political films and television programs will be watched and discussed. Sign up to host a campus event.
The Corporation is one of many political documentaries highlighted on the Films to See Before You Vote Web site.
Strategies
The Films To See Before You Vote Web site was launched on September 2. We had little time and very few resources. Rather than depending on mainstream media coverage, we focused on individuals to spread the word through forwarding emails. We did targeted outreach to groups that could help us create awareness through email blasts, newsletters and magazines, and their Web sites. We continued to gain momentum throughout September and October, with 13,000 unique visitors in September and 12,000 unique visitors in the first two weeks of October.
At the same time, we continued to improve and expand the site, giving people reasons to return. We just added a discussion area to make it more interactive. We also developed new programs and found new partners to team up with.
Never before have there been more political films available to voters or more ways to use them to inform, inspire, and organize. For the first time in U.S. history, such films could help decide the Presidential election.
