THE IMAGINATION FILM FESTIVAL Bring Popcorn!

JOIN US AT IMAGINATION FILM FESTIVALS EVENTS - 2011 EVENTS - http://www.imaginefilmfest.com/

Reel Community Action recognizes the power of local community action, and gives community leaders the tools they need to drive specific campaigns that address environmental issues. We identify proven sustainability models to help drive measurable and dramatic change, as well as produce documentary films to support these efforts. Reel Community Action works with environmental organizations, community groups, schools and educators to produce powerful, themed film events that may include workshops, discussion panels, social media strategies and educational curriculum and programming. Our mission is to help community leaders educate and inspire audiences so they become active participants in local sustainability campaigns and programs—such as community gardening projects, restoration efforts, climate action campaigns, and green energy cooperatives. For available films, as well as our current and ongoing projects, see Films and Projects.

How Do I Plan a Film Event?

1. Read this page—and check out our Program Guidelines, Sustainability Models, Action Guide, Event Packages, and Activist Toolkit
2. Choose a film from our library—or, for recommendations, contact us
3. Pick a date, secure a venue, and flesh out all the details
4. Download and submit your Reel Community Action application
5. Once accepted, use the toolkit we’ll deliver to support the film and focus your audience on a specific campaign

Application Process

Applicants must be community leaders, with experience in successful environmental projects/campaigns, who have built coalitions and relationships with other community groups and leaders. Applicants can choose from our Sustainability Model Library—or, with our guidance, develop their own community-specific plan.

1. Read the guidelines for applicants
2. Fill out the application

Community Viewing Rights

All public screenings of a film require community viewing screening rights and depend on the distributor of each film for the screening fee. You’re welcome to seek sponsorships or partnerships in your community to cover the costs.

Current Film Recommendations

BLUE GOLD: WORLD WATER WARS
FLOW: FOR LOVE OF WATER

These documentaries explore the emerging world water crisis from ecological, social, and political standpoints. Organize an event promoting awareness about freshwater endangerment in your community.

For other options, check out our Film Guide—or contact us.

How We Can Help

Our staff, advisors, and volunteers bring a wealth of experience in PR, media, branding, events organizing, and more. For example, we co-produce fundraising events so communities can pay for their efforts; we deliver award-winning filmmakers and environmental leaders to facilitate events and inspire action; and we put together film programming specifically designed for your environmental conference and forum.

Rely on Reel Community Action for:

• Setting Event Strategies and Goals
• Creative Concepting
• Event Production and Management
• Budget Management
• Marketing Production and Management
• Audience Acquisition
• Vendor Selection and Management
• Sponsorship/Partner Acquisition and Management
• Film Festival Programming
• Panel Moderation
• Post-Event Reporting
• Fundraising

A partial list of companies and organizations we’ve served include:

• ecoAmerica
• American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment
• Microsoft Corporation
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
• Tourism Australia
• Gap Inc.
• Kodak
• Honeywell International Inc.

Social Networking: Reel Community Action uses, and recommends, social networking platforms such as WiserEarth, a community directory and networking forum that maps and connects non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals addressing the central issues of our day. These issues include climate change, poverty, the environment, peace, water, hunger, social justice, conservation, and human rights. Content is created and edited by people like you. More information.

Turning Your Event into a “Solution Short”

We expect many of the events we facilitate can serve as models for future actions. With this in mind, Reel Community Action will document, on film, a select number of events for inclusion in our Sustainability Model Library. We call these short documentaries “Solution Shorts.”

Solution Shorts Project Development

Reel Community Action’s Executive Director, Director of Operations, Director of Media Development, and others meet bi-annually to review upcoming events and determine potential projects to document. This committee then communicates with the event hosts and relevant local parties to ascertain whether the project is a good candidate for a Solution Short. If so, the committee will nominate production companies, the Media Director will solicit bids, and the committee will select a company. Reel Community Action personnel with filmmaking expertise will be given first priority.

Our Media Director then oversees the Solution Shorts production in consultation with our Executive Director and Director of Operations.

Solution Shorts Selection Criteria

The decision to document an event balances the following factors:

• Importance—Would a film of your project have a far-reaching, positive effect? This includes the impact of the project, and the impact of distributing information about the project.
• Proximity to Personnel—Is your event local to Reel Community Action personnel—especially those with film-making expertise? It may be easier to document, especially on an ongoing basis.
• Time Frame for Completion—Can your event be rapidly completed? It may provide the most “bang for the buck” for our effort and expense.
• Personnel Expertise—Are we familiar with your project and its concepts? It will be easier for us to document.

Progress Evaluation, Rights, Etc.

Prior to awarding a Solution Short contract, we will establish criteria regarding minimum fulfillment of production responsibilities and dates for periodic progress reports and/or screenings.

Rights: Subject to committee review, contracts between Reel Community Action and individual production companies shall stipulate that production companies are responsible for clearance of all rights, and must provide errors and omissions insurance. Reel Community Action retains all distribution rights. We also retain the right to terminate contracts in the event progress criteria are not met.

"Considering the whole span of earthly time... Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species – man – acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world."
    — Rachel Carson, author, Silent Spring

The Solution Short production committee reviews the finished documentary and specifies corrections if necessary. Audience surveys may be included at screenings and made available online. The Media Director will analyze available reviews, and present summaries at bi-annual documentary committee meetings.

Are you a grassroots activist or a community organizer interested in using films for social change? Reel Community Action is accepting applications for audience and community engagement coordinators, with possible openings starting in early 2010. These will be volunteer positions to take on some of the best eco-docs hot off the reel. Reel Action coordinators will manage local community campaigns for social and environmental issue documentaries. Apply now. carolyn@reelcommunityaction.org