Community Cinema Ends Its First Season

On August 13th & 14th, Community Cinema Vashon will be showing two films at Ober Park that speak out on social activism and choosing one’s life calling. For those who have not heard of this exceptional and FREE program, I encourage you to come and participate in this nationwide event. Community Cinema Vashon began in April of 2011 and will be ending the first season with two sensational films that will surely bring your consciousness to a new level.

Community Cinema premiers films that air on PBS – KCTS – Channel 9 – through the Award-winning Independent Lens Series. Community Cinema is located in more than 95 cities across the nation that bring together "leading organizations, community members, and public television stations to learn, discuss, and get involved in key social issues of our time." After the film we support participation and discussion. I think one of the most powerful aspects of this program is that Community Cinema is a way for us to share meaning and learn to live together in a changing world. Community Cinema, I feel, is a way for us to recognize that we cannot separate ourselves from the whole. To awaken to a broader truth means we need to see our part in it and Community Cinema is one avenue in which this participatory consciousness is taking place.

On Saturday August 13th, from 2:30-4:30, Community Cinema will be showing, Deep Down. Deep Down is set in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky and is about the battle over mountain top removal for coal. This film brings to the table an exceedingly important argument over energy in the 21st century. Bill Moyer will be the film’s discussion facilitator and The Backbone Campaign is a co-sponsor. This film echoes the very recent struggle over the Glacier Maury Island gravel project.

On Saturday, August 14th, from 3:00-5:30pm, the sixth and final film of the first season will be shown. The film is titled, The Calling. This film follows four young adults in their respected faiths on their dramatic journey to become professional clergy. This calling to serve a higher good is demanding and their sacrifice is incredible. This film provides a lens in which to view faith in America but more importantly it "calls" into question, "how can we best serve our communities?" Anyone can have a calling and it doesn’t necessarily mean it has to have a religious component, quite the contrary. How can we serve humanity and ourselves in a creative, humane, and passionate way?

What is your calling? Please come and share your experiences. We invite you to join us at a Celebratory Potluck out in the park after this event.

Mark you calendars for Community Cinema Vashon 2011-2012 season every 3rd Sunday at the Performance Room in Ober Park from 3-5pm. Watch for colorful filers about town and announcements in the papers and on island event calendars. All films are FREE and followed by moderated discussion.

Please visit communitycinema.org and vashonmovies.blogspot.com for more information or contact: Jane Berg @ 567-4532.