Community Development Through The Involvement Of Outdoor Theater
World peace through outdoor theater? Not likely — but here at Open Air Cinema we have a chance to contribute. Seriously. Here’s a great example: Eric Kabera, founder of the Kwetu Film Institute in Rwanda. Eric and his team help local film enthusiasts develop practical filmmaking experience and careers in outdoor cinema event production.
Eric has teams of open-air event producers who screen comedies and other light-hearted content to reduce ethnic tension. His optimistic personality envelops those he meets with an excitement for life, and his projects help heal the scars and memories of genocide — an example of the power of film and community outdoor cinema. Watch Finding Hillywood to see the details of Eric’s impressive efforts.
Personal, Local, and International Application
Community outdoor cinema can create opportunities wherever you live. It’s an effective public-communication tool for advancing social causes, and there are organizers, institutions, municipalities, and nonprofits you can team up with to promote important issues. Awareness is the first step toward solving community problems.
If there’s a health risk in your area, homelessness, a need to serve veterans, or support for an under-served hospital or school, awareness through outdoor cinema is a great first step.
There are countless useful contemporary documentaries. Food, Inc., directed by Robert Kenner and reminiscent of The Jungle, calls for an awakening about how we view health and handle our food resources; An Inconvenient Truth, directed by Davis Guggenheim, promotes Al Gore’s campaign to demand courage in the face of climate change; Baraka, directed by Ron Fricke, is a collection of photos and time-lapse sequences that beautifully paint the grandeur of the earth and our interaction with it.
Fittingly, the title Baraka means blessing. Outdoor theater can be a public forum with memorable impact — our outdoor theater systems can reach your local book club or excluded communities in Central America.
Your Passions Seen through Outdoor Theater
What causes are you passionate about? Honestly, we would love to hear them. We believe Eric Kabera’s use of outdoor theater is a model worth following. In the USA you may already have all the tools you need: passion, parks, and community groups. An outdoor cinema setup and your drive to contribute can make a difference in your community.
If you’re making a difference in your community through outdoor cinema, we’d love to feature your event and cause on our blog. Contact us by clicking here, and we’ll share your outdoor theater community initiatives with the Open Air Cinema community.