We have a Film & Lecture Committee which tries to host a handful of films each
year. At different times, we’ve tried:
~ Just a random selection of films which struck the fancy of committee members,
even one year calling it “Professors So-and-So host their favorite films”;
~ Just a random selection PLUS a film or two which other faculty
members brought to the committee;
~ A themed set of films, like the year we focused on Cuba
because two profs were taking students on an immersion trip to Cuba (very
cool!), when we screened BUENA VISTA CULTURE CLUB, JUAN OF THE DEAD,
GUANTANAMERA and MOTORCYCLE DIARIES;
~ Next year’s plan in which we will likely try a recurring
*schedule* - “Movie Night Every Other Tuesday!” – to be filled in with
selections from committee members, other faculty/staff, and student
organizations
(What I especially like about this last option is
that, with many dates to fill and little money, it allows an “excuse” for ME to
pick out a bunch of awesome documentaries which already have PPR!)
The upside of having post-screening discussion periods is that many times a
film really *needs* that. We screened SELMA a couple of weeks ago (and had 90
attendees on this itty bitty campus of 900!), and had a great discussion
afterwards. We’ll be screening BOYHOOD in a few weeks and will have a faculty
panel afterwards. We’ve reached out to the psychology & film studies depts.
and our gender issues committee for interested profs for that.
The downside of having post-screening discussions, as I see it, are: 1)
sometimes rounding up people to lead discussions is a nightmare and actually
means an idea to screen never takes off; and 2) if attendees (especially
students) feel that they *have* to stay… and they don’t want to! I think this
can even deter students from attending in the first place. Besides, let’s face
it – some movies are just fun!! and there’s no real need to talk afterwards. ☺
Another thing I do is host a “Green Issues” summer movie series. Since we
don’t offer summer classes, most students are gone. But many faculty/staff
have more time in the summer *and* members of the local community feel perhaps
a little more welcome to participate. I’ve done this for 5 years and plan to
do so again this year. I typically show 3 or 4 environmental-themed
documentary each summer.
Susan
Susan Albrecht
Library Media Acquisitions Manager
Graduate Fellowship Advisor
Wabash College Lilly Library
765-361-6216 (acquisitions)
765-361-6297 (fellowships)
765-361-6295 fax
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
www.facebook.com/wabashcollegelibrary.films<http://www.facebook.com/wabashcollegelibrary.films>
http://pinterest.com/wabashcolllib/
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"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." --Neil Peart
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From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Elena Rossi-Snook
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 10:55 AM
To: Videolib Listserv
Subject: Re: [Videolib] Film discussion series - current trends
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]<mailto:[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]<mailto:[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<tel:%28804%29%20828-2070> |
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
--
Troy Davis | (757) 279-8871<tel:%28757%29%20279-8871>
Swem Library
http://guides.swem.wm.edu/media
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
[http://wmpeople.wm.edu/asset/index/mtdavi/email]
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.
