Photo by David DiMicco
As part of the Friends Council on Education's Service Learning Peer Network conference, Andy Cohen, director of the Bridge Film Festival, presented the concept of "bridging" Friends Schools via Bridge Film Festival Screening Events, to be planned and run by students as community service projects.
Mr. Cohen said, "These events will enable students to learn new skills, manage responsibilities and gain confidence through the experience of service to others." The screenings will strengthen bonds between Friends schools and are also designed to raise money for one annually targeted charity. This year's charity is the St. Bernard Project of Louisiana.
25 faculty and staff members from many Friends schools and organizations were on hand to listen, learn, and participate. After presenting a brief history of the Bridge Film Festival and information about this year's service learning opportunity, the attendees were split into groups and given instructions to brainstorm plans and ideas for a screening event. Here are some of the ideas they developed:
Team #1
- Set ticket prices at $5 for adults and $3 for students
- Sell baseball caps with BFF logo
- Have an outdoor screening
- Invite guest speakers
- Collect contact info of attendees
- Allow audience to vote for favorite film
- Award prizes for films with most votes
- Link BFF films on school's website
- Invite area schools and organizations
- Invite local media to cover event
- Hold an outdoor screening with tent backup
- Award films in each division
- Set a fancy dress code for a red carpet event
- Set a theme for the screening based on one Quaker testimony
- Publicize city wide
- Have food based on where the film entries were made
- Invite non-profit organizations based on the themes of the films and allow them to have table displays
- Make sure that films selected will be cross-divisional and age appropriate
- Have student photographers document the event
- Offer lots of buttered popcorn
- Invite both students and parents
- Host a Sunday afternoon event
- Have students run set-up and staffing
- Invite area Meetings
- Invite student finalist filmmakers
- Have a suggested admission price
- Invite a professional documentary filmmaker to speak
- Make the screening a student leadership event
- Have student event coordinate with Quest Center
- Involve US Service Committee
- Have it as part of the visual arts evening
- Include our own school's non-finalist entries
- Have a Faux Hollywood Opening Night theme
- Encourage students to make a PSA with a local community service partner
- Hold the event at Friends Center
- Offer freshly popped popcorn
- Have learning games for youngsters
- Invite representatives from student groups and associations
- Form a student panel of judges to choose awards for films
- Have a filmmaking workshop to create short films
- Serve refreshments
