UPDATED with The Human Element: Hosting a Film Screening to Start or Grow an ACEs Initiative: How-to Guide

_{Note: This screening guide is also attached in pdf format below.}  

Movie screenings of documentaries, such as Broken Places, Cracked Up, Paper Tigers, Portraits of Professional Caregivers, Resilience, The Human Element The Raising of America, Whole People, and Wrestling Ghosts, are popular ways to introduce communities to ACEs science and help us to understand and talk about why ACEs, trauma-informed and resilience-building frameworks matter to people, families, communities, systems, and survivors.

There is something about watching a movie together, and as a community, that is bonding, intimate and makes us all equals. As Anndee Hochman wrote in Using Film to Mobilize Action, movies can often reach reporters and community members in ways other formats and presentations do not.

So how does one host a movie screening?

• How long does it take?
• What does it cost?
• Where do I start?
• Can an ACEs Connection Facilitator help?

These are the types of questions we routinely get from those interested in hosting a screening. Here’s a short guide about what we’ve learned to make this process easier for you.

1. Choose Movie for Public Screening
2. Plan Event
3. Considerations
4. Promote Event
5. Event
6. Invitations, Questions & Feedback
   
   

We invite you to share questions, feedback, and suggestions as well. Happy viewing! 

1. Choose Movie for Public Screening

There are several ACEs-related documentaries available for screening in this guide (organized alphabetically). We will continue to add more as they become available.

The trailers are shown first, and below, please find a brief summary of the movie, including prices, screening options, and who directed and/or produced the documentary.

Movie Trailers:  

• Broken Places
• Cracked Up
• Paper Tigers & Resilience
• Portraits of Professional Caregivers
• The Human Element NEW! (Free if not charging an admission price) 
• The Raising of America
• Whole People 
• Wrestling Ghosts

Details about Each Documentary

BROKEN PLACES 

Filmmakers: Roger Weisberg, Writer/Producer/Director

About: Broken Places poses the complex question of why some children are permanently damaged by early adversity while others are able to thrive. To help answer this question, we dug into 40 years of our film archives to update a few of the stories of children growing up in difficult circumstances that we filmed decades ago.

Costs summarized below but detailed on documentary distributor site, here:

• $295.00 Institutional & public viewing edition (DVD for a single location).
• $95.00: K-12 Edition (DVD for K-12 classroom instruction only).
• $225.00: 1-Year Streaming License (public performance rights not included).
• $375.00: 3-Year Streaming License (public performance rights not included).
• $475.00: 1-Year Streaming License & PPR DVD Bundle (includes 1-year. streaming license & perpetual public performance rights for a single campus)
• $580.00: 3-Year Streaming License & PPR DVD Bundle (includes 3-year. streaming license & perpetual public performance rights for a single campus).
  • Note: Small non-profit organizations may contact allie@rocofilms.com for a quote. There's a screening guide for Broken Places available here as well as some suggestions questions for discussions available here.
    
    

CRACKED UP 

Director & Producer: Michelle Esrick

About: In Cracked Up we witness the effects adverse childhood experiences can have across a lifetime through the incredible story of actor, comedian, master impressionist and Saturday Night Live veteran, Darrell Hammond. Behind the scenes, Darrell suffered from debilitating flashbacks, self-injury, addiction, and misdiagnosis, until the right doctor isolated the key to unlocking the memories his brain kept locked away for over 50 years.

Costs summarized below, but please go to the documentary distributor site for quotes and purchases:

Request a Quote for all of the above options for 250 or more. Please see the Cracked Up movie website for more information about the film, and links to the interviews with Darrell Hammond and Michele Esrick.

PAPER TIGERS & RESILIENCE   

Filmmakers: James Redford & Karen Pritzker

About:”Resilience reveals, toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death. While the broader impacts of poverty worsen the risk, no segment of society is immune.

Resilience, however, also chronicles the dawn of a movement that is determined to fight back.” Paper Tigers, a documentary that “follows six students over the course of a school year as a new trauma-sensitive program is implemented.”

Cost: For Paper Tigers & Resilience (as a package)

Education Rates:

• $135. The price for one showing in one k-12 school.
• $695. The price for multiple showings within the same school district.
• $595. The price for one showing at a college or university.
  • Link forlibraries to order.

Non-Education Rates: DVD

• $350. for a single public viewing.
• $795. for up to ten public viewings.

Non-Education Rates: Digital

• $250. for a one-time showing in NON-PUBLIC event.
• $595. for a one-time showing, with digital rights for a movie shown in a public setting.
• $1295. for up to ten public viewings.
• $1595. for a 3-year license.
• $1695. for a life of the file format license.

Notes:

The movie must be shown, for free, to attendees. Find more information here on how to buyor license.

• Schools or orgs with a multi-license agreement can co-sponsor viewings.
• Paper Tigers can be purchased for individual viewing online. More here.  
• There's a facilitator's guide to showing Resilience available online (here) done by KPJR and Prevent Child Abuse America.
• ACEs Connection Communities: Please contact your Community Facilitator who can facilitate DVD viewings of Resilience for review by steering committees or boards of directors  in non-public viewings.

PORTRAITS OF PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVERS

Filmmakers: Vic Compher (Director and Co-Producer), Rodney Whittenberg (Co-Producer and Composer) & Tim Fryett (Videographer, Editor)

About: Caregivers, “documentary film based on interviews with nurses, social workers, clinical psychologists, doctors, firefighters, first responders who rescue, assist, and help to heal the injured and traumatized—and also tell their own remarkable and often painful stories. The film takes us on a journey into a world the public rarely sees, depicting emotional costs experienced by professional care providers and probing the emotional consequences of professional public service.”

Costs: based on PPR (“Public Performance Rights, which means screenings to your institution or school where no admission is charged). More details and exact pricing, payments, handling fees and available discounts, all here but here’s a summary:

• $250. for full feature DVD (74 minutes) OR broadcast version DVD (56 minutes).
• $350. for full feature DVD and Blu Ray (74 minutes) OR broadcast version (56 minutes)
• $75.00 for CAREgivers shorts (topics specific segments, 20 minutes).
  • An additional fee of $150. For a licensing fee of $150 makes it possible to do a community/public screening (and to charge admission for one year).  
• $250.

  for public, private, and social service agencies for 56 minute version through Vimeo Video on Demand (VOD)

• $13.99 for individual viewing downloads for feature length version (74 minutes) through Vimeo for 24 hours. As of November, 2018, the CAREgivers film is available for individual viewing to the general public on a rental basis for $2.99. purchases/ downloads Included is a bundle of shorts from the film (check out this new resource here.)  

• Universities, Colleges and other Educational Institutions contact Filmakers Library / Alexander Street Press for streaming CAREgivers film or purchase DVD’s  

• DISCOUNT of 20% for purchases of the film by agencies that want to incorporate it into their trauma-informed care (TIC) staff curricula.

THE HUMAN ELEMENT  

Director and Producer(s): Director, Mathew Testa and Producer, Olivia Ahnemann, Co-Producer, Daniel Wright 

About: ”In an arresting new documentary from the producers of RACING EXTINCTION, THE COVE and CHASING ICE, environmental photographer James Balog captures the lives of everyday Americans on the front lines of climate change. With rare compassion and heart, THE HUMAN ELEMENT inspires us to reevaluate our relationship with the natural world,” are a force of nature. At the same time human activities alter the basic elements of life – earth, air, water, and fire – those elements change human life.”

Costs:

1. Individual Viewing: Via ITunes, the cost is $4.99 to rent the movie or $12.99 to buy.  
2. Screening: “The film is free to use for screening organizers not charging for tickets. If organizers do charge for tickets, screening fees range from $250-$500, which can be worked out with our distributor,” said Caroline Beaton, the film’s Impact Coordinator, in an email with ACEs Connection, 
   1. Contact: Caroline at caroline@earthvisionfilm.com for more questions. 
   2. Use this Google form to make a screening request. 
      
      Note: There is a screening toolkit and discussion guide about this film available as well.

THE RAISING OF AMERICA

Film Producers: Produced by California Newsreel with Vital Pictures.

About: “The acclaimed five-part documentary series and companion tools illustrate how a strong start for all our kids can lead to better individual outcomes AND a healthier, safer, more prosperous and equitable America.”

Questions about movie and more information about ordering can be found here.  Here’s a brief summary of pricing.

Costs:
Video on Demand (Vimeo) Options

• $1.99 an episode (5 total episodes) for 2 days of video on demand (Vimeo) for personal viewing (available in Spanish or English).

• $195. for 1-year subscription for organizations of all five episodes (available in Spanish or English). Includes public performances as well as for staff trainings, conferences, and workshops. Available as video on demand through Vimeo.

• $350. for unlimited access to staff, students, and faculty with classroom and public performance rights accessible through video on demand (Vimeo) in both Spanish and English (with subtitles).

• $295. to host a video from university server, by purchasing DVD & 3-year license. Captioning files and digital video available upon request. This option must be ordered through Kanopy.

Costs for DVD Options for Raising of America:

• $149. for DVD with public performance rights of all five episodes with English/Spanish audio and subtitles (this option does not include streaming or digital rights).

• $295. for DVD and 3-year streaming licence.

• $79.95 for discounted DVDs for public libraries, community organizations and HBCU’s that qualify.

• $29.95 per DVD if ordered in bulk (50 orders or more)

WHOLE PEOPLE 

Five-Part Online Series (Links):

• Childhood Trauma

• Healing Communities

• A New Response

• Family Solutions

• Healing Journeys

Producers: Twin Cities PBS and CentraCare Health

About:Is a five-part series "spotlighting the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) through personal and community stories. It explores the long-term costs to personal well-being and our society. While much work needs to be done, there are many innovative developments to prevent and treat ACES. We all play a role in becoming a whole people." This series comes with a fairly extensive study guide to help with processing and group facilitation after watching each episode. It has questions, summary points, body-based practices as well as a few quotes.  It’s co-written by Resmaa Menakem MSW, LICSW, S.E.P. of Justice Leadership Solutions, who is the author of My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies) and Pam Beckering, MS, LPCC, of CentraCare Health.

Costs & Screening Options: Streaming, online, for free.

NOTE: Because there is no cost to the online streaming, the viewing online can be done privately or in groups. Also, because this is a series, it can be shared as part of several consecutive events, or part of a longer workshop with time for online discussion, community cafes in person, or some combination of both. More detailed information about the series as well as a study guide to use with it, can be found in this post by Cissy White,as well as on PBS where the series overview is available, as well as the segments on Childhood Trauma, Healing Communities, A New Response, Family Solutions, and Healing Journeys.

WRESTLING GHOSTS
Trailer

Filmmaker: Ana Joanes

About:. Wrestling Ghosts follows the epic journey of Kim, a young mother who, with the help of her partner Matt and the support of therapists, works to confront her traumatic childhood to build a stronger bond with her sons.

While it centers around ACEs science, featuring the work of Donna Jackson Nakazawa, author of Childhood Disrupted: How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology and How We Heal, it does so without jargon and is unflinching at depicting the challenges and needs of those parenting with ACEs while introducing viewers to a wide range of approaches to healing and recovery. There’s a companion website as well dedicated toparent and survivor support. Questions about movie and more information about ordering Wrestling Ghosts can be found here. Screening and pricing options are below.   

Costs & Screening Options

1. $100.00 K-12 & libraries

2. $350.00 Festivals & Conferences

3. $250.00 All other screenings

4. $  19.99 Individual screening

“Please note that no screenings request will be turned down for lack of funds. Please fill out the form and we'll help everyone organize a successful screening!”  Director, Ana Joanes

Be Creative with Screenings & Financing: Monadnock Thrives Story 
Jocelyn Goldblatt and Emily Read Daniels, Community Managers of Monadnock Thrives, did a fundraiser on Facebook after their library venue filled to 80-person capacity on the first day they publicized the event. They raised enough in two days to rent a local movie theater and had a Resilience screening and a community discussion. Six weeks later, at a public event attended by 400 people, they launched their ACEs initiative and an ACEs community on ACEs Connection. Most images in this guide are from that event. The Community Managers even had enough money to get a program made for the event (right).

2. PLAN EVENT

Planning Team: Who will help plan? Meeting times/schedule?

Audience Size: Who will be invited?

Movie Location: There are free public spaces such as schools, libraries, town halls
and community centers. Sometimes schools or offices will co-host
or permit viewings. Ask initiative and community members for help.  

Online: Some films are available online, for free, for streaming. For these films, there’s no cost to

watch in a community setting or to plan an online event for those who wish to watch together, at the same time, from anywhere and come together afterwards to chat on a social network such as ACEs Connection, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

Date/s: One-time only or part of a series of events?

Event Format: How will the audience be engaged? Will there be time for questions
& discussion? Will there be a speaker or a panel? Include a world
cafe or way to engage attendees? (see info. below)

3: CONSIDERATIONS

Considerations

• Inclusive?

  • Is it reaching all sectors? Inclusive across and within sectors? Is language on flyer accessible and inviting? Is there a wide range of panelists from all parts of the community? Is public transportation available? Is childcare available? For free screening options, such as Whole People, is there an online or private viewing option and/or an online discussion forum
    on social media for wider sharing or varied modes of participation?  

• ACEs Connection Launch/Relaunch?

  • Some communities have a movie screening in conjunction with an ACEs Connection Community Site launch/relaunch.

• Have Attendees Find Out Their Own ACE / Resilience Scores?

  • This is frequently debated. Should it be done and what's the best way? Whatever is decided, have a plan, communicate it and if possible, have a support person present to talk more for those who would like that.

• Plan Your Call to Action:

  • What are the follow-up steps, if any, you want people to consider? Join a community / task force / steering group / ACEs Connection / training group? Take ACE information to others? Create an online forum on ACEs Connection or other social networks for further work, discussions, resource sharing and to start or grow an initiative?

• Host/Sponsor/Vendors?

  • Sometimes a non-profit will help pay for flyers, popcorn, water or share a space to have a movie. Some will charge minimal amounts to cover cost. Do you want free vendors and community information tables? Who else do you want at the event and in what role?

4. Promote Event  

Invitees: Who is the intended audience? How will you let people know of the event?

Flyers/Brochures Samples/Examples:

Publicize: Get the word out. Promote, publicize, share, advertize.

• Online: Websites, blogs, social networking sites.Post the event on ACEs Connection (calendar and community pages, blog posts) as well as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn. You can use #hashtag campaigns or use #ACEs.

• Word of mouth: Mention events on community and city or town or neighborhood pages, online and in person. Ask parents, schools, towns, and businesses to help.

• In Print: In the calendar sections of newspapers, magazines, newsletters; send a press release to print, or contact a reporter who might want to cover or attend events.

• Flyers: Hang in public spaces (libraries, public transportation, daycares, coffee shops, etc.) or share via email or online. (See above for examples.) 

• Invite Press Coverage: You can invite specific reporters from local or statewide newspapers or issue-specific publications. You can also email a press release about the screening event to newsroom to spread awareness of ACEs, spread the word about initiatives, and help gather community members.

  • If a story is published, promote widely on all social media channels to keep conversation current (use hashtag #ACEsScience when promoting on social media, and of course, share back excerpts and a link to the article on ACEsConnection.

5: EVENT

BEFORE:

• Building Open/Doors Unlocked (Emergency contacts?)

• Signage for parking, location, movie showing?

• Technology test run?

• Popcorn/water (if relevant)

• Social media/online reminders

• Any other materials to distribute?  Any info to collect from the audience?

Reception/Greeting: Make all feel welcome. Can a few people greet/guide?

Sign-In Sheets (If also an AC community site launch have your AC Community Facilitator help get people signed into ACEs Connection and community.)

DURING: Show Movie (Most run movie straight through. Other stops to discuss)

AFTER: Consider format/activity for discussion, digesting, responding, absorbing content.

• Reminder: People will be assessing their own ACE/Resilience scores. Consider how to address. Share survey formally, informally, casually, clinically or with Poll Everywhere - or not at all?  

CLOSING / Call to Action  

Let people know where to learn more, how to get involved. Go to go to ACEs Connection & Resources Center for handouts, surveys, ACEs flyer in (English & Spanish, Growing Resilient Communities 2.0, ACEs Science & ACEs Too High news.  

6: Invitation, Questions & Feedback

Our community members are our best resource. That’s you! Many communities have done screenings, viewings, and share blog posts and ask-the-community questions and feedback. Here are some examples.  
What We Learned at Our Resilience Screenings (SCAN)

• To read the review of the film and a post-screening discussion between the producer and director, Michele Esrick, and ACEs Connection founder and ACEs Too High publisher, Jane Stevens, see this post by Sylvia Paul.

• Cissy White writes about the Whole People series.

Please add your experiences, ideas, resources and suggestions. Please share the lessons you and your community have learned with the wider community. We want to learn from you!