Screening TREE-SIT

Help Earth Films bring the premier screening of "Tree-Sit - The Art of Resistance" to your area.

* 1. The film "Tree-Sit " description
* 2. Road show - summer & fall 2003
* 3. The first step: date and hall
* 4. Equipment "We are self-contained."
* 5. Media workshop
* 6. SPONSORING ORGANIZATION AND FUNDS
* 7. Screening Guidelines
* 8. Tree-sit poster

1- The film "Tree-Sit " describes a modern evolving environmental movement and the young people who have defined it. In the giant redwoods of Northern California, surrounded by clearcuts, a ragged band of activists have taken the art of resistance to n heights. Dozens of tree-sitters - including Julia Butterfly - are seen taking the power back into their own hands in this powerful, poignant look inside the Earth First! movement in Humboldt County. The plunder of the last old growth forests is just one small example of corporate exploitation that is being repeated worldwide. We hope "Tree-sit" will inspire people to act on environmental issues on a local, and international level.

* 2 - We are currently booking dates for a Spring 2003 road show, and hope that you or your group would like to host us for an evening. To add a local context for environmental concerns, we like to start the show off, whenever possible, with a local speaker, performer, or representative from your group. Perhaps you know of a folk musician or well-known activist in your area. Following the 15-20 min. introduction is a special sneak preview of "Tree-Sit - The Art of Resistance". A traditional question-and-answer with the filmmakers will follow the screening, in addition to a chance to talk about ways people can get involved.

* 3 -The first step is to choose a date and a hall. Any kind of theater, lecture hall, community center, student center, gallery or church could likely hold the 50-200 people we hope to average at each event. Student groups may be able to book a lecture or assembly hall free or low-cost. The most important things you can do are book early, and check that no similar events are scheduled for the same night in your area (Noam Chomsky speaking across campus will definitely lower attendance at "Tree-Sit"). Our on-line calendar will be available at www.earthfilms.org . Total show time includes speakers, 2 hr. film and Q&A. Booking the hall for 3-4 hours should be adequate.

* 4 - We are self contained for the screenings, with our own video projector, sound system PA & speakers, as well as our own drop-cloth screen. If the hall/theater you book is already is equipped with a large screen - or a PA system and speaker - that is obviously much easier for us. Campus lecture halls & theaters are usually equipped in this way. We can project on large blank white walls, (coffeehouses, art galleries, or warehouses may be ideal - but you know an appropriate venue in your community better than us.) Please Note: the big screen projection works best at night, or in a windowless/curtained dark room! Most campuses have lecture halls or theaters equipped for daytime film shows, but community centers, churches or warehouses may not.

* 5 - Media workshop
We hope to link up with activist groups along the tour to organize skill sharing workshops for 5-20 people at a time. Ideal times include the afternoon before or the day after the show. The first half of the workshop will include video activism and independent media organizing. This will cover the range of media organizing possibilities: guerrilla low tech to high tech gear, video use in lawsuits, documenting direct action, witnessing police violence, and making quality low-budget documentaries. We will cover the use of the Web/internet, print, radio, TV and tips on how to deal effectively with the mainstream media. The second half will be skill sharing with workshop participants. We may ask for a sliding scale donation from participants.

* 6 - SPONSORING ORGANIZATION AND FUNDS
We ask for a honorarium from Universities, colleges or large group events. For those doing benefits for local environmental groups as well as our nonprofit a straight 50-50 split at the door is fine, with the hall rental taken out first. It is possible for multiple organizations to sponsor the event . We suggest a sliding scale of $5 to $10, ($5 avg.) at the door.
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IIf you want to screen the film but are not able to have us come to screen it in your town, here are the guidelines for you to set up the screening. (Only outside of Northern CA).

* 7 - Screening Guidelines
The production and distribution of TREE-SIT The Art of Resistance is an entirely non-profit, all-volunteer effort. Screenings are our only way of generating the revenue necessary to make distribution possible. Proceeds from screenings contribute to such important aspects of distribution as: creating versions of the film; organizing tours to mobilize for upcoming actions and campaigns; creating curriculum materials to accompany educational screenings; making copies available to low-income organizations (where people are less likely to know about the film); and renting theaters and/or projectors for screenings.

IIf you or your group wants to host a public screening, we ask that you send us 50% of the proceeds from the screening. If you cannot charge admission or a donation at the door, we ask that you pay a one-time rental fee for permission to screen the video.

For non-profit organizations, the rental fee is $100.00.

For large institutions (universities, government institutions, unions), the rental fee is $200.00. This rental fee includes a copy of the video and publicity materials. The fee applies even if you already have purchased the video at the personal use price. The cost of the personal use video purchase does not allow for public screenings.

You can also sell tapes at your screening, which is a good way to raise funds for your organization. We can arrange to sell tapes to your organization at a wholesale price, or we can consign them to your organization if you are unable to pay for them in advance.
Always contact us before organizing a screening.

We can let you know if there is already a screening planned in your area, post your screening event on our calendar and website, and maybe help put you in touch with other organizations in your area that are interested in helping with screenings.

Your support, understanding and cooperation with our screening guidelines is appreciated. At the same time, we do not want our screening guidelines to discourage any one from screening the film.

Please contact us if you have financial concerns about hosting a screening.
A successful event starts with your commitment.
Call or email us with any questions, problems or concerns
707-923 1121- office/studio
415 820 1635 24 hour Voice Mail info@havc.org
We will post events to this site as we book them. http://www.treesit.org.

* 8 - Tree-sit Poster