B ITTE R S E E D S: EVENT PLANNING TOOLKIT1

E V E N T P L A N N I N G T O O L K I T

B ITTE R S E E D S

B ITTE R S E E D S: EVENT PLANNING TOOLKIT1

Bitter SeedS

Raising critical questions about the human and environmental costs of genetically modified agricul-ture, Bitter Seeds offers an urgently needed perspective to the debate about the future of how we grow things. So far, this issue has been dominated by the biotech industry: Their full-page ads and corporate-image campaigns claim that genetically modified agriculture is the only solution to the food needs of the world’s rapidly growing population.

Bitter Seeds brings authentic, alternative and reliable voices into the conversation, ranging from the small-scale farmer to the global scientist and activist. We need your help in reaching audiences with this critical information and enlisting them in getting word out about the truth of genetically modifiedorganisms (GMO).

Be part of this robust debate sparked by Bitter Seeds and informed by our partners: leading interna-tional nonprofits and NGOs, educators and policymakers in the U.S. and abroad.

This toolkit will support your use of the film in public or at behind-closed-doors events, and suggest steps on how to align with the on-the-ground goals of our campaign, maximizing the success and impact of your efforts.

“Films like this can change the world.” — ALICE WATERS

“A tragedy for our times, beautifully told, deeply disturbing.” — MICHAEL POLLAN

B ITTE R S E E D S: EVENT PLANNING TOOLKIT2

Define your objectives & set goals! A screening isn’t just a chance to watch a great film, it’s an opportunity for people to get involved and do something! Thinking about how your event can support the broader movement or the events outlined above will help you plan and set the tone. Here are some examples of possible objectives:

Educate the public about genetically modified organisms on a global scale and close to home.

Inspire new activists by offering motivated viewers easy ways to get involved in national efforts. Here are some immediate actions supported by our partners that you could offer your audiences: Tell the FDA to label GMOs with the Just Label It campaign. Verify which of your favorite products are GMO free with The Non-GMO Project. And join Millions Against Mon-santo for news and action updates.

Spotlight the work of your organization and generate donations and press attention. As the host organization, you will have an excellent platform to highlight your own agenda and commitment. Identify someone from your organization to introduce the screening and to facili-tate the Q&A following the screening. This conversation should include time for the audience to respond to the issues raised in the film and to learn more about local efforts that are sup-porting the global campaigns.

Prompt coalition building between local and state groups working on sustainable agricul-ture and GMO labeling. Invite your allies doing similar work to co-host the event with you. This will allow you to reach a wide audience and to build coalitions.

Choose a Location Secure a venue that will be comfortable and have the right atmosphere. This could be a community center, a place of worship, a university theater or a cinema. You decide!

dON’t FOrGet — if you need to reserve a space, contact the venue at least two months in advance and confirm your reservation within two weeks of the screening.

Here’s what you’ll need: • A television or projector with a screen large enough for everyone to see. • Speakers that provide plenty of volume. • An accessible entrance for all people, including those with disabilities. • An information table for petitions, handouts and sign-up sheet for follow-up with attendees. • If you expect a large crowd, arrange for microphones for the speakers.

Although some venues often have rental fees, you might be surprised to learn that many organiza-tions, such as local universities and community centers, have screening rooms available for little or no cost. Find out if there are any organizations that do regular screening series, as they might be interested in partnering with you and including Bitter Seeds in their lineup.

B ITTE R S E E D S: EVENT PLANNING TOOLKIT3

Start on time (no later than 10 minutes from posted time)

Brief introduction to the film (5—10 minutes) Introduce the film and briefly introduce any speakers or guests you want to recognize.

Also make sure the audience knows that this is an action-oriented screening. If the group is small enough, ask the audience to make very brief individual introductions. Invite everyone to stay for the discussion and action session, and tell them an ending time.

Viewing of the film (88 minutes)

Discussion (10—20 minutes) This is a key part of the agenda. Folks will likely have strong emotions about what

they’ve seen and will want to know what they can do to make a difference. Make sure that everyone who wants to speak has a chance, but keep the conversation flowing.

Take Action & Wrap-Up (about 5—20 minutes) Now, this is the most important part: Make sure your audience gets involved in the

issues and your organization.

Share Tasks Consider teaming up with other people and organizations to make your event more dynamic. Split up the workload. Partner organizations not only help broaden your reach, but they can also lend credibility and contribute to your event planning. In some instances, event-based partnerships can even pave the way for longer-term relationships that will benefit your mutual efforts.

Partners can get involved in a range of ways depending on their interest and capacity. At the very least, they can help get the word out about the event on their listservs, Twitter or Facebook accounts, or websites. Some partners will be able to get more actively involved and contribute ideas, time, resources or panelists for the event.

Give People Tools to Act It is important to provide viewers with informational resources and ways to act on issues presented in the film.

We have a number of direct actions you can offer your audiences in addition to those identified above. Contact us at amyers@workingfilms.org to learn about other ways to join in on the campaign.

Plan the Agenda for the Event

B ITTE R S E E D S: EVENT PLANNING TOOLKIT4

Get The Word OutOnce your event is planned, you need to let folks know it’s happening! Below are a number of ways to reach beyond your immediate circle:

• Utilize social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and online calendars to let your friends and supporters know about the screening.

• Engage other groups and organizations that you know will be interested and ask them to co-sponsor the screening event. Then, reach out to the broader public by posting flyers, placing notices in newspapers or community calendars, and forwarding alerts to various email lists.

• Invite community stakeholders who are knowledgeable and affected by this initiative. • Create a press release that shares details on the screening event and co-hosts. Contact

reporters who cover community, environmental or political issues. Reach out to them as early as possible. Let them know that your event will be part of a statewide or national campaign, and give them the local angle.

Document the Event Take photos and record stories you hear from attendees. Document which news organizations attended and who printed or aired stories, and save your print stories. Send these to us at amyers@workingfilms.org.

Report Back.Please let us know how your screening goes, and share press or audience responses by filling out our evaluation form. Numbers are not all important; many powerful community screenings have had small audiences and great discussions or group commitment to follow up and take “next steps.”

Bitter Seeds Stories of Impact is a place to share stories about the impact of Bitter Seeds and its use for social change, farmers’ rights and the fight against GMO agriculture. Share your experience using this form.