FILM SCREENING GUIDE
Tools and methods for constructive discussions
I. WHY HOSTING A SCREENING?​
We all have cherished memories of film screenings that hold a special place in our hearts. It’s not just about the film itself;
it’s about the people who join us, the venue, the connection to our personal experiences, and — perhaps more than we realise — the methods and the way we organise these sessions. How can we ensure that a screening becomes an unforgettable, meaningful moment for those who take part?
The power of community and the social experience
We often hear that watching a film in a group setting is the best way to appreciate cinematic works. Whether you watch it alone on your phone or in a crowded cinema, the film is the same. However, the shared experience of a public screening, where the film takes center stage, can be life-changing. The reasons that brought us there, our unique mindset, whether we attended alone or with friends, and everything that happens before, during, and after the screening, including the encounters and events, create a context in which the film exists. This context fosters a one-of-a-kind social experience that wouldn’t have happened without that public screening. You might meet the love of your life, make a career change, or simply find lasting enrichment in that unforgettable, unique moment.
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The theme, underlying connections, and context
The theme you choose for the film (or lineup of short films, films for a series, a festival, etc.) should have meaningful ties to the current context in which we find ourselves. For example, a teacher might want to take their students to see a film that aligns with the school curriculum, whether it’s for exploring aesthetics in a French or art class or delving into historical events in a history class. A librarian may schedule a film related to a theme proposed by the city or showcase a rare feature to highlight the richness of the library’s collection. An avid poetry student looking to build a community might opt to organise an evening or a series of lunchtime screenings featuring intriguing and lesser-known experimental films. Without them, these films might have remained undiscovered by their fellow students.
The key is sharing your passion. A public screening is a subjective of fering. It’s this subjectivity that forges a connection and entices people to participate
II. CHOOSING A FILM
How do you go about picking the right film or films for a successful screening? How can you ensure the film will engage potential viewers? Should you foster a love for cinema? Should you highlight the theme, the filmmakers, the genre, or the actors? Do you lean towards fiction, documentary, experimental cinema, or musicals? Lastly, what films can you screen in public, and under what conditions?
Setting the stage​
What kind of experience do you want to create around one or more films? For instance, do you want to organise an annual themed film festival? It could revolve around love stories, literary adaptations, set design, or special effects. In the world of fiction cinema, you might also explore films from a particular era or genre like suspense, dark comedy, or a unique female perspective. You could dive into a documentary series with a focus on society, customs, history, politics, intimacy, health, and more. Depending on your context, you might even lean towards a more contemporary art-driven selection.
Aligning your framework with other activities beyond cinema only serves to enhance the experience. For example, if your emphasis is on film music, you can partner with a music conservatory to host cine-concerts, conduct talks on the intersection of cinema and music, foster collaborations, mix audiences, and bring together individuals you might never have reached otherwise.
Photo: Été 96 (Καλοκαίρι 96) by Mathilde Bedouet I France
Psaroloco Educational Classroom
Of course, your starting point is the Psaroloco platform, which offers you the fantastic opportunity to discover and enjoy a range of selected films them within an educational context. If you're curious, you can find more than just films on this platform. Its community of users posts all sorts of contributions and you can access special educational kit.
III. PROMOTING THE SCREENING
Communication goes beyond advertising; it’s about providing potentially interested individuals with the information they need to attend the screening. It’s about fostering a relationship and sharing information effectively to help build a meaningful connection. Always operate under the assumption that nobody can guess information that hasn’t been clearly expressed and communicated.
Communication strategy
There are countless ways to communicate, depending on factors like the age of your audience, their preferences, habits, and the nature of your event—film screenings are no exception. Sending regular newsletters and maintaining a well-curated email list is the most effective method, provided you have obtained consent from recipients to receive these messages. In some cases, with the consent of the recipients, creating a WhatsApp group where people can be invited is a powerful and grassroots way to communicate and spread the word. In other contexts, the most useful communication tools may be posters, flyers, or even word of mouth!
Assess your communication strategy to avoid wasting effort. For instance, if you regularly post updates on your event’s Facebook page, but attendees didn’t actually receive the information through that channel, it’s likely not worth continuing to invest time in it.
Think about communication in terms of quality, not quantity. Avoid overusing communication channels.
Naming your event
Communicate clear information through the name of your event: is it a screening? A discussion-screening? A cine-concert? What’s your focus, the director, the theme of the evening, the attendees? Have others review your communication and test it with several people before making it public.
Communication allies and partners
Don’t handle communication in isolation. The more partners you involve, the more communication channels you’ll have—meaning, more people involved in the success of your screening, and a wider audience reached. For example, if you’re organising a screening of short films created by stu￾dents from your university, engage the filmmakers in your communication efforts. Remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all “audience”; it’s a group of individuals attending your event, and each person matters.
Collecting contacts
At every public screening, be sure to gather contact details from the attendees (email or phone, depending on your communication strategy). Building “loyalty,” tracking participation from one screening to the next, is the key to fostering a “community.” It takes effort to connect with others, and it’s always rewarding. Collecting this information is often overlooked,
yet it’s crucial.
Documenting your journey
Preserve and organise your communication materials, along with any records of the events you’ve organised (photographs, recordings, testimonials). It may seem somewhat trivial in the moment, but crafting a narrative of what you’ve organised is crucial. It serves your project, yourself, and proves valuable for assessments, funding requests, and the venues that
host your events.
Photo:THE BIG GIRL by Anastasiia Chikerlan I Russian Federation
IV. THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF SCREENINGS
Pay close attention to the technical aspects of your screening. It’s the accumulation of small details that, individually, may seem unremarkable, but when combined, they transform the overall experience.
Dimming the lights
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Having a dark screening room is critical. If your small multipurpose room has windows without blinds, achieving total darkness may seem like a challenge. However, adding more darkness, even just a bit, can be a game-changer. In fact, if you try projecting an image in a well-lit room and gradually dim the lights, you’ll literally watch the image come to life. The darker the room, the sharper the image. Because our goal is to convey images and sounds, optimising the quality of the picture is essential. If complete darkness is impossible, making the room even a bit darker makes a big difference.
The sound experience
Cinema is often celebrated as a visual art, but the importance of sound is sometimes overlooked. While we dissect the visual aspects, sound is often taken for granted. However, a significant part of the cinematic experience for the viewer is being immersed in the sound, which requires two key conditions: a quality sound playback system and a volume level higher than our daily life. Don’t assume that small computer speakers are sufficient. Try this experiment: compare the sound of the same film in the same location played through small computer speakers and a high-quality sound system. You’ll notice a world of difference in the physical sensation. Cinema is about audience enjoyment, and sound contributes immensely. Fortunately, finding a powerful and quality sound system is easy. A basic stereo setup or some larger Bluetooth speakers will do the job. Don’t neglect the sound; it can truly transform the experience!
Photo:GARFIELD SEASHELL by Paul Marques Duarte I France
Setting up the projector
If your projector is portable, take the time to find the optimal placement. You can project onto a screen, but sometimes a plain wall will suffice. Aim for the largest possible image (which may require moving the projector farther back) to maximise its impact. Take the time to achieve a perfectly level horizontal picture (which can be a bit time-consuming). Then adjust the keystone correction: when the projector is positioned higher or lower than the screen, it naturally distorts the image into a sort of trapezoid shape. This keystone adjustment corrects the distortion to ensure that the image’s edges are vertically aligned.
Maintaining aspect ratios
Pay close attention to preserve the original proportions of the image (both with the projector and the player), and remember that this adjustment may vary for each film. Too often, we see films distorted, squeezed in width, or stretched in height. This does a great disservice to the film and should be avoided at all costs.
Rehearse the screening to ensure a magical experience
A screening is a magical moment, a ritual. Make sure that your screenings are technically seamless: prepare the film playback so that when people enter the room, the screen is black, and all it takes is a press of the space￾bar on your computer to start the film. Similarly, ensure that after the film ends, the screen remains black. If you encounter difficulties, place a card in front of the projector’s lens at the beginning and end; it will create the same effect. Take the time to run tests, both in advance and just before the screening, and allocate this time in your planning.
V. HOSTING THE SCREENING AND MODERATING A DISCUSSION
Screening a film is a cultural ritual that elevates the importance of the shared moment. You’ll need to craft your distinctive ritual, one that defines the identity of your screening and provides the framework for the film. By implementing this playbook, you’ll be sure to organise an exceptional screening unlike any other everyday viewing experience.
Preparing the venue
You can host a top-notch screening in just about any venue. While a fully equipped theater will make your job easier, even a basic classroom can be turned into a high-quality cinematic screening space with some time and attention to detail. Consider all the elements of a theater, including the waiting area, entrance, seating arrangement, and sound quality.
Before the screening
What happens before the screening? Perhaps you’re showing a Korean film, and you have a connection with the Korean community at your uni￾versity. Before the film, there could be traditional music, K-pop, and a tasting of Korean cuisine. Your Korean partners would be delighted to share their cultural treasures, and such a warm welcome is unforgettable and puts the audience in the best mood to ap￾preciate the film. Additionally, this would draw in attendees who might not have come solely for the film.
In any case, it’s always crucial to provide context, even if only through a speech given before the screening. Often, this responsibility falls to you. Prepare your speech carefully and aim to enrich the audience’s understanding by sharing insights about the subject matter, the country, the director, and more.
After the screening
The post-film discussion, the famous “debate,” is not mandatory. If a debate does take place, it should focus on a specific issue and be well-moderated. For instance, if the film centers on an ecological theme, you can invite an ecology expert to lead the discussion, beginning with sharing their insights. If it’s an arthouse film, you can have someone well-versed in that aesthetic movement facilitate the conversation. Alternatively, you can opt for a casual, open-ended conversation over drinks, which is also a fine choice.
You should always kickstart the discussion with some guidance. There’s nothing worse than the phrase “Who has questions?” followed by awkward silence... Instead, lead the conversation and sprinkle in questions for the audience, encouraging them to join in. After watching a film, people aren’t usually ready to jump into discussion immediately, but you should be prepared to guide them.
