What an excellent example program, Nell. I've sent this idea down to our public library branch folks along with some recommended reading which I'll suggest here as well since this type of program- a film with a panel of experts and discussion- is actually the foundation of film service in public libraries (called the "Film Forum" in the 1940s). If you've got the following oldies but goodies on your shelves or in reference, they're worth taking a glance at:
Using Films: a Handbook for the Program Planner by James L. Limbacher (EFLA) Making Films Work for Your Community (EFLA) Leading Film Discussions: a Guide to Using Films for Discussion, Training Leaders, Planning Effective Programs by Madeline S. Friedlander and Film News is an excellent resource when it comes to learning about what worked and what did not work in this type of series. I especially enjoy anything written by Grace Stevenson. I suppose the caveat is that the mid-century audiences around whom these works were written are different from audiences today, but there are some things that will never change: a necessary finesse for what you show and how and when you show it. If anything, audiences today are super-saturated with images and screens and so *are* looking for that unique experience. Imagine Neal Degrasse Tyson discussing INSTERSTELLAR! I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Elena Rossi-Snook The New York Public Library On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 9:59 PM, Troy Davis <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Nell, > great question. we've tried to do some film series in the past and I think > you are right on trying to connect faculty with it. it is super cool to try > to connect a movie with a discussion of it in cool ways. the venue is > always the issue for us. we've not a really great space to screen films. > we've recently retrofitted an old theater in our library with capabilities > for screenings, so we'll see. in the past, our efforts have been not so > successful, but if I reflect on it a bit, I think if you are gonna try > something like this, you have to have some tolerance for low attendance for > awhile. My biggest regret is that I didn't continue the series. > > I'd say just do it and make the faculty intervention piece "gravy." show > some films, market it a bit, and cultivate a culture of curation on the > campus. Maybe include students in the process. One cool place to look for > films is https://beta.smplmchn.com. > > Best, > Troy > > On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 1:03 PM, Nell J Chenault <[email protected]> wrote: > >> We are proposing a new film discussion series - cross disciplinary - >> bringing speakers/faculty from diverse programs to discuss a film. >> >> Example: Interstellar. a physics professor may discuss science of >> space travel, environmental science food issues, or women's studies discuss >> changing role of women and father-daughrer relations. >> >> But... my question, what is the current trend for academic and >> community participation in such events? What is currently happening at >> your library, school or university? >> >> What helps with success of this type of event for your organization or >> community? >> >> What are your attendance trends? >> >> Can any of you share a current successful series? >> >> Thanks! >> >> Nell Chenault >> Film & Performing Arts Librarian >> VCU Libraries >> (804) 828-2070 | [email protected] >> > > > > -- > Troy Davis | (757) 279-8871 > Swem Library > http://guides.swem.wm.edu/media > [email protected] > > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as > an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video > producers and distributors. > >
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
