Action Tips: Host a movie screening of Dirty Dancing

Confront the Issues through Film

This is an easy and effective way to spread the word while keeping students engaged. The film exposes issues regarding illegal abortions, healthcare, race and class.

Find Your Space

A school auditorium or a study hall with a large screen and projector would be ideal, but any classroom with a projector or school TV is just as effective. Try your community center, movie theater, or religious organization. Wherever you decide, ask if you can add the event to the the group's calendar or bulletin. But remember, if you’re showing the film in a public place, you may need to obtain screening rights. Some documentaries have special nonprofit or educational editions you can purchase that include the screening rights. If that option is unavailable, contact the producer of the film you want to screen to ask if they will donate the rights just for this day.

It's all about Timing

Maybe you can show it in class over two days. Just ask your teacher’s permission first and arrange for the equipment to be ready ahead of time. Or the best time for the screening may be during lunch or after school. Either way, you should make sure the equipment is prepared ahead of time and ensure you're allowed to use the space. It would be best to speak to a teacher to learn how to book the room so it's guaranteed to be free for the screening.

Know your Audience

This screening should be catered to other students, but parents and faculty should also be welcome to check it out and help supervise the event. Let your teachers and classmates know, and if this turns out to grow into a large event, flyers can be used to help advertise.

A Smooth Talk

After the movie make sure you hold a discussion where everyone voices their opinions on the issues. In order to start things off, have a list of questions prepared that relate to the movie. Watching the movie on your own beforehand or finding a summary online can give you some ideas. Here are some sample questions:

• What are the main characters' struggles?
• What aspects of this movie relate to the cause?
• What sides of the issue does the movie focus on?
• What do you think the director/screenwriter wants the audience to take away from this movie?
• After watching this movie, how do you feel about the cause? Has your opinion changed?
• What can we do about this issue in our specific community? What resources do we have?

Also, think about how you want your conversations to be structured. Do you want to have everyone sitting in a big circle or in smaller groups? Do you want a moderator or not? Or maybe your audience should break into smaller groups and then share with everyone else later. What would be the best format for what you’re trying to accomplish and for the size of your event?

If you feed them, they will come

A good way to get people to stick around, whether in your school gym or your living room, is food! Arrange for there to be some kind of snack and drink (cookies and juice work great!) at your event. If it’s a small gathering with friends, make it a potluck where everyone brings a snack, drink or condiment for all to enjoy—that way you won’t end up dishing out too much cash.

Following Up

Before everyone goes home for the night, give them the option to leave their name and e-mail if they’ve been inspired to do something about the cause. This is a great way to find people who you can team up with for a project. Or ask all attendees to take a specific action, such as signing postcards or petitions that can be sent to the UN or state or national governors to advocate for your cause. Also give them a simple fact sheet on issues to think about later.