Using our POWER for GOOD

[John Conn]

Good morning!

One of the things that's been really present to me in the last couple of weeks is just how much power I (and many other filmmakers that are in my circle of influence) wield in our ability to communicate powerful and world changing messages.

If you're like me, much of my time is being spent creating media that promotes an idea, product or concept (Our company focuses on nonprofit fundraising / corporate videos). Many times I don't have the time, energy or desire to do anything for myself or my community when I'm done with our client work. To be honest in 20 years in this profession I've not really ever or often poured myself into something that had the possibility of changing my world.

As I watch our communities grapple with COVID, the protests and many more difficult social struggles I'm aware of how on the sideline I've been over the years and so I've been playing around with an idea and wanted to see what you all thought:

Looking at this planet the one thing that really is standing out to me is the distinct lack of compassion and kindness for people who are different from us. Different ideologies, politics, football teams, races... you name it. Sure we'd happily help an orphan or an old woman across the street but see a MAGA hat, Obama t-shirt or a different skin tone... and for many people the compassion for their fellow man disappears. As a community I've seen all of us (myself included) become more tribal, centrally focused in our ideologies and less open to alternate viewpoints and we're seeing the impact of that way of being in ways that cause real pain for so many in our world. (I personally am more aware of my lack of compassion for many in my community (even fellow filmmakers) and for the last year I've been taking on a new way of being towards others).

And so... my idea is as follows:
What if we, as independent and small studio filmmakers, took on shifting the conversation, even ever so slightly, towards a kinder, more loving world?

I don't know what this looks like but one idea I theorized was creating a virtual film festival where independent small studios from across the globe could create 2 minute films in ANY style and topic they choose (Narrative, documentary, music video, stop motion, who knows?!) that would demonstrate or promote a kinder, more compassionate world. These films could then be shared by all of us in the body and with all of our social media channels (again we wield incredible influence in our community). Perhaps it's a contest like a 30 day film challenge. Perhaps RED releases one of the films on their channels or throws a shiny new Komodo in as a prize for a winning short? Who knows?

The ultimate goal - creative self expression within our community that transforms OUR way of thinking as individuals, brings us together powerfully and perhaps even has the possibility of shifting the world around us in some small way. Again I don't have it fleshed out but would love to jump into a conversation with a few of you to brainstorm what we could create together.

I'm hosting a ZOOM call with a few filmmaker friends on Tuesday 6/16 at 3pm MDT (Mountain time) and would love to invite any of you that would like to be a part of the conversation or see something for yourself to be on the call. Email me at john@stage2studios.com and I'll send an invite link for Tuesday (Note I'm out of touch Thursday through Sunday so the invite will be sent on Monday).

I know... it's not curing AIDS in Africa nor will it single handedly transform racism in our community. But... it's something I can do with my power to impact my world so it's time to clean the lenses and start charging batteries.

Thanks for reading and I acknowledge all of you for the powerful creativity you bring to our world.

I'm blown away by all of you.

John Conn
Stage 2 Studios
www.stage2studios.com

 

[Andy Roberts]

GREAT IDEA JOHN!

I probably don't have the skills to participate, but I do have an idea... a friend of mine said it seems in these times that all sense of genuine doing right (compassion, kindness, humility, love) has largely been replaced by "belonging to the right tribe." And hating other tribes has been normalized as long as you subscribe to the "beliefs" of your own tribe. As a Christian, I fully realize the Christian community (a large part) has been guilty of such crimes far too long. It grieves me to see the hate done in the name of God. But to show genuine compassion and kindness to someone, even if I do not agree with their moral or political or environmental "beliefs" is at the core of real faith, though it rarely finds authentic and practical outlet in the real world. But I have seen it and it is possible. So my idea: I think a modern telling/showing of "the Good Samaritan" would be an awesome thing to film. When Jesus said that the greatest commandment (along with loving God) was to love your neighbor as yourself, he was asked, "Who is my neighbor?" And the story of the Samaritan was his reply. He understood the power of storytelling. He knew the hate that existed between those two "tribes." Jew and Samaritan. Black and white. Republican and Democrat. Different sides of the track can care for one another. This tribal hate has gone on for millennia. But the volume in the last decade has reached deafening levels. I wish we could all take a sabbath rest from social media, commenting on news articles, and step back from the venomous vitriol that happens on the internet and see if we can all just calm down and love each other instead of devouring each other. And yes, I know it is ironic that I say that even as I "comment" here. But maybe that would be another idea... a short PSA on stepping back from contributing one more trolling, hateful comment, choosing to not hit submit after typing out a jab, accusation, or snarky opinion. If no one else does these, maybe I'll at least TRY to capture them if I'm fortunate enough to get in the early wave of Komodo ownership.

 

[David Rasberry]

I'm interested. I've seen a lot of interesting things going on in my area as millennials are reaching maturity and starting their own businesses. They are rebuilding old neighborhoods in some novel ways and there is a lot of voluntarism in new ways too.
One volunteer organization I've been wanting to document is a bicycle shop in an old mill village that is gradually being gentrified, but still has a lot of low income families. The Village Wrench accepts donated bikes, repairs them, and gives them to kids unable to afford to buy them. Not a novel idea in itself, but instead of just giving the bikes away, kids earn them by learning to build their own bikes from the ground up under the direction of master bike mechanics. Several teenagers have become decent bike mechanics and gotten jobs at other local bike shops. They are now involved in the larger biking community participating in clubs, organized ride events, and racing.
There are so many similar stories of young families rebuilding these old mill villages into vibrant communities. I feel they are literally building the next human civilization from the ground up as the current one crumbles around them.

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

Any excuse to be creative is a good excuse. That huge BLACK LIVES MATTER road painting is cool, and I'm sure you've all seen it (the statement I agree with; the movement I do not). I'm not a Christian but I love Christmas and all the associated creativity that goes with it.

But this idea of yours is not going to change much, if anything. Imagine trying to do something like this during WW2. Would you have any effect on the conflict at all? I would say no. I think people just want to be told good stories. They don't want to hear our "message to humanity.".

 

[David Rasberry]

Depends on the audience, but documenting positive change can have modest influence if people are inspired to act in similar ways for their own communities.

 

[Stuart Hooper]

Interested and email sent!

 

[Andy Roberts]

Storytelling, especially true stories or stories that really express TRUTH can get into people's imaginations and help direct their motivations and will. It can give them the courage to make a choice that they may not have previously been strong enough to make. It may not be BROAD change but like the story of the guy tossing the starfish into the water, it can change the few it touches.

 

[Hrvoje Simic]

I don't know what this looks like but one idea I theorized was creating a virtual film festival where independent small studios from across the globe could create 2 minute films in ANY style and topic they choose (Narrative, documentary, music video, stop motion, who knows?!) that would demonstrate or promote a kinder, more compassionate world. These films could then be shared by all of us in the body and with all of our social media channels (again we wield incredible influence in our community). Perhaps it's a contest like a 30 day film challenge.

Perhaps RED releases one of the films on their channels or throws a shiny new Komodo in as a prize for a winning short?

Changing the world and winning the contest/camera are two different goals and underlying states of mind.

Pick one.

Also...why dictate the 2 min form and set 30 day challenge ? Not enough challenges in indie production and today's insane world ?

The ultimate goal - creative self expression within our community that transforms OUR way of thinking as individuals, brings us together powerfully and perhaps even has the possibility of shifting the world around us in some small way.

Good time for that.
Hats off.

Storytelling, especially true stories or stories that really express TRUTH can get into people's imaginations and help direct their motivations and will. It can give them the courage to make a choice that they may not have previously been strong enough to make.

Exactly.

There are fantastic stories everywhere, one needs to notice them.

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

The one book that affected my life those most - what was it, do you think? Was it a comic book? The Bible? Something by St. Augustine, Thomas Acquinas, Bertrand Russel, or Joel Osteen? The 35mm Handbook? Leviathan?

It was Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy. His aim was not to change the world, or to promote brotherhood, or to do good, or to save lives, or to give hope. And yet for me, that book is the one book which made me what I am today.

 

[John Conn]

Hey there Karim,

Agreed - we're not likely going to "move the needle" in massive ways. However, I do believe powerful, well told stories have the capacity to impact people. Most importantly, they'll impact us, the creators. Becoming a voice for kindness and connection is a pretty big shift for many of us (myself very much included). So, not looking to transform the planet but definitely looking to transform my immediate world. But love the perspective for sure! Oh and again I have no idea what we're creating or even if it's going to go somewhere but... you never know!

 

[John Conn]

Also I've not read "Confessions of an Advertising Man". I'll check it out.

 

[John Conn]

Love all the engagement and conversation. I think I've connected with everyone via pm but if not feel free to email me to get a link to tomorrow's zoom call.

john@stage2studios.com

 

[John Conn]

So... this idea has morphed from my original idea to a much larger, more interesting concept. We're having a zoom call tonight to continue the conversation and I wanted to let everyone here know that we're connecting tonight at 6pm Mountain (8pm EST / 5pm PST).

Here's a description of what we have so far (again this is a work in progress):
We're building a team / coalition of film and video producers across the planet who are aligning to take on a singular project called the 8:46 INITIATIVE (working title). The goal is to have a variety of creators, big and small, create short films around the topic of breaking through the "barriers" that divide us. The films can be in any style, format or content that the producer wants (stop motion, animation, live action, documentary, romantic comedy) but the only requirement is that they be exactly 8 minutes, 46 seconds and promote a kinder, more connected world. The 8 mins, 46 seconds is in reference to and designed to remember the amount of time that George Floyd was in restraints before he died and is a remembrance to that moment as impetus to create this.

With the current world situation the concept of 8:46 is a powerful hook and is gathering attention with everyone we're sharing it with.

Our next meeting is tonight (7/9) at 6pm MDT. Email me at john@stage2studios.com to get a link to the meeting. See you tonight!