Film as a Catalyst for Social Change
It was clear from the overwhelming public response to our Community Conversation Film as a Catalyst for Social Change, sponsored by The Allstate Foundation, that people are eager to discuss how filmmakers can make a difference.
On June 10th at the Directors Guild of America, Kenneth Turan, film critic for the Los Angeles Times and NPR moderated a lively and informative discussion with Edward Zwick, producer of Glory and Blood Diamond and Diane Weyermann, Vice President of documentary films at Participant Media, the film company behind An Inconvenient Truth.
Zwick spoke about how film can help dispel commonly held misconceptions about history, giving the examples of his films Glory about African American soldiers fighting for freedom during the Civil War and his upcoming film Defiance about Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. In both instances the public perception has often been that these groups did not resist the persecution they faced and he wanted to show ways in which they did.
Weyermann shared the unique mission of Participant Media, a film company committed to media that inspires social change. Participant Media's films all have a social action component that invites people to become more involved and informed about the topics their films explore. The conversation engaged the more than 320 people in attendance-bringing up new ideas and prompting thought-provoking questions from the audience, many who stayed afterwards for more discussion.
Also participating in the event was David Burstein, a Facing History alum, who introduced the panelists. While in high school, David and some friends started the Westport Youth Film Festival, now the largest high school film festival in the world. Now age 19, David is going around the U.S. with his documentary 18 in 08 to get youth involved in the political process. David credited Facing History with inspiring him to find ways he can make a difference.
Los Angeles Board Chair Gene Krieger closed the evening and encouraged the many people new to Facing History to learn more about our work. Take the Facing History Journey.
