colorado
The Eyes Of Me Finishes February on A Strong Note: Colorado
Producing Partners are local community organizations that co-present Community Cinema screenings across the country. In Grand Junction, Colorado, Penny Mitchell describes a recent free event for the film The Eyes of Me by Keith Maitland.
“I know what it’s like to be sighted, and I know what it’s like to be blind. And I do think going blind has given me a different point of view.” Isaac, a subject in The Eyes Of Me
The film screening went quite well and was followed by a thoughtful panel. There was considerable discussion about, Isaac, the young man who lost his vision when the hospital would not operate because the family had no health insurance coverage. Several people thought that couldnt happen in Colorado because hospitals would have a mandate to operate in that situation. But one of our panelists gave several examples of similar problems she knew about in Colorado. She said that although he would be blind without the operation, it was not a life threatening situation and that may be one of the criteria.
The panelists also wanted to note that it was difficult to distinguish in the film which issues were rooted in socioeconomic problems and which were due to visual handicaps. The families in the film were from poorer communities and may not have access to advocates. That brought us to the advocacy groups available in our valley and the blind woman on our panel said that its incredibly hard to find these groups when they are generally only advertised in newspapers and she can’t read! The panelists noted that its been very hard to engage ophthalmology and optometry staff in a process to provide these resources to patients.
Read on for the details of our event in Steamboat Springs. › Continue reading
Community Cinema Beats the Winter Blues in Colorado
Rocky Mountain PBS
As a celebration of four years of Community Cinema at the holiday season, we asked our event producers and producing partners to share reflections on past events. Allison Inman is our ITVS National Community Cinema Coordinator based in Nashville…. now. But, Allison has also supported Community Cinema in Colorado and Louisiana. She shares what’s going on in Colorado these days and also a little of the history of the program.
Colorado loves Cinema! If you’ll pardon the pun, ITVS Community Cinema is snowballing in Colorado, which means more free documentary screenings every month across the state. Thanks to statewide network Rocky Mountain PBS and local libraries and colleges, Colorado’s Community Cinema offerings have grown from two cities to eight – from bustling downtown Denver to mountain hideaway Steamboat Springs.
When I worked at Rocky Mountain PBS in 2006, my colleague Kurt Christopher returned from PBS Showcase excited to do Community Cinema in Denver. As we put together our first season – documentaries about Sesame Street, democracy and the press, Israeli/Palestinian relations (and girl power), living with disability, hip hop, fair trade, and religious freedom – we loved showing viewers that PBS was more than just television. Community Cinema – an outreach project in a kit – helped us bring people together to not only watch but to share their opinions and be heard.
Starz Film Center in Denver
Free Community Cinema screenings now happen monthly in Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Montrose, Fruita, Steamboat Springs and Palisade. Screenings take place in art movie houses, on college campuses and in libraries. Some are elaborate events with receptions, panel discussions, performances and activities; others are intimate conversations over coffee. That’s the beauty of Community Cinema. It’s flexible. It’s fun. It’s a worthwhile trip out of the house when you’re snowbound. And it doesn’t cost a dime. If you live in Colorado, visit Rocky Mountain PBS online to find a screening near you. Don’t see one? Start your own. Learn how.
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