The Bicycle As A Vehicle For Change Presented With Outdoor Theater
Open Air Cinema has proudly partnered with The Bicycle Collective; we are jointly hosting and producing a screening of the film My Own Two Wheels, a 45-minute documentary by Jacob Seigel-Boettner that profiles the empowering uses of bicycles all around the world, we are presenting it on an outdoor theater system at Reservoir Park.
The outdoor theater screening will be bicycle-bound: we're using bike trailers to bring the screen, projector, and speakers to the outdoor theater, after rolling around town with the Bike Party, a monthly gathering of around 100 cyclists who ride en-mass through the city.
Outdoor Theater Screening of With My Own Two Wheels
In the award-winning documentary film, With My Own Two Wheels filmmaker Jacob Siegel-Boettner weaves together 5 stories of individuals using bicycles to change the world, one pedal stroke at a time. Fred, a healthcare worker helping with HIV/AIDS in Zambia.
He uses his World Bicycle Relief bike as a means to reach twice as many patients as he used to while walking. His average trips are 15-20 kilometers. The simple addition of a bike is a fundamental change to the way he can work and help the people he serves. Bharati is a teenager in India.
She uses her bike to access education. High School education for girls is not nearly as common as it is for boys. Sadly, the cultural stigma is that it isn't worth the investment of time, energy, and commitment. Through the use of bikes Indian girls are finding the independence and the ability to attain further education, pulling them and their families out of poverty.
For Mirriam, a disabled Ghanaian woman, working on bicycles is an escape from the stigma attached to disabled people in her community, as well as setting an example to other women.
For Carlos, who makes his living as a farmer in Guatemala pedal power is a way to help neighbors reduce their impact on the environment, and demonstrate ingenuity in the face of challenging situations.
For Sharkey, a young man in California, the bicycle is an escape from the gangs that consume so many of his peers. It has offered him a place to work and build relationships with those in his community.
The film clearly shows the world wide need for bikes and the positive influence that they can have on all walks of life. Open Air Cinema is committed to our community, both locally and internationally through the efforts of The Open Air Cinema Foundation.
Bike Party and Outdoor Theater
The bike Party kicks off on Friday, July 12th at 7:00 PM, check out their Facebook page for more info on starting location, we are aiming to arrive at Reservoir Park (42 University St, Salt Lake City) for a picnic at 8:30 followed by the outdoor theater screening at 9:00, once the sun sets. Come for just the ride, just the outdoor theater, or both!
The outdoor theater screening of "With My Own Two Wheels" is listed at outdoormovie.com, which is also a great source for many other screenings across the nation. If you are looking for an outdoor theater event near you, this is a great resource. The outdoor theater screening is free, but donations to the Bicycle Collective are appreciated! We hope to see you there.
