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Chris Knowles

Submitted by tom_flannery on 25 November 2009 - 3:19pm

Film screened on a hot sunny Sunday afternoon in one of the most beautiful places in England. 50 people attended, nevertheless, and a lively discussion took place for nearly an hour afterwards. Hopefully we will get more members of SusKes to help us promote the cause!

Did you make a profit?: 
Don't know

Claire James

Submitted by tom_flannery on 25 November 2009 - 3:13pm

Hey, just wanted to tell you about the screening my mum and I organised back in July, in her village.  My mum did most of the donkey work to be honest, and I just came down from London for it and chaired a discussion afterwards.  There were about 25-30 people, but the best thing was that she managed to get Peter Ainsworth along who is the local MP, and he gave a brief talk after the film (not a political one), which was great as he really knows his stuff on climate change.
 

Did you make a profit?: 
Don't know

Martin Davis

Submitted by tom_flannery on 25 November 2009 - 3:10pm

"Stupid" was the meat in the usual fortnightly meeting of the St Gregory's Church 55 Club.  The members of the club have an average age nearer 75 than 55, and I'm sure some of them fell asleep, even though the film was shown at 10:30 in the morning, and the seating was unforgiving.
 

How many people did you expect?: 
25
How many people came?: 
40
Did you make a profit?: 
No
Would you hold another screening?: 
No

Bridged Hall

Submitted by tom_flannery on 25 November 2009 - 3:03pm

We showed the film as part of the Streatham Festival. The Sunday Times Environment Editor, Jonathan Leake (who lives in Streatham) talked afterwards, highlighting some of the higher level obstacles government and world leaders are doing to maneuver around the issue and maintain confusion/ignorance.

How many people did you expect?: 
40
How many people came?: 
50
Did you make a profit?: 
No
Would you hold another screening?: 
Yes

Vikki Parker

Submitted by tom_flannery on 25 November 2009 - 2:54pm

Free beer, Free curry, Free film. FULL HOUSE!

How did the audience react?: 
100% positive. The highlight of my night was the grown man beside me in tears at the end. Sorry Phil, but it was great you were so moved. We got 40 signatures on the coach form and we now have just 7 seats left on our coach to London for the Wave in December. Lots of people signed up for info on the insulation/electricity supply forms too. We had a wide age group attending. Pensioners were donating to the Snitterfield Actioning Climate Change pot on the table and teenagers promising to come on the coach. Some people did feel totally helpless in the face of it all, but hopefully, motivated to do something.
How many people did you expect?: 
75
How many people came?: 
65
Did you make a profit?: 
No
Would you hold another screening?: 
Yes

Ben King

Submitted by tom_flannery on 25 November 2009 - 2:49pm

On the Tuesday evening, 75 people paid a mimimal amount (just £1.50 for students who paid in advance) to watch the film; 90 people attended the Friday evening showing.

How did the audience react?: 
There was a very positive reaction from most people who expressed an opinion.  One teacher has pledged to 'down-size' to just one fridge and one car, plus to turn off her home spa more often.  Other people found specific parts of the film (notably about glacier melt and anti-wind-farm protests) so overwhelming that they struggled to concentrate for the rest of the film; they simply had to come again for the Friday screening!  There were tears from a number of people and many left at the end visibly shocked and upset.  Two members of staff independently told me that they felt that The Age of Stupid was anti-American propaganda - which I found to be an especially interesting viewpoint, as I feel that this is under-stated, if anything.  However, it was the reaction of my (highly educated and informed) sixth form students that got me thinking the most: they were very impressed with how the film draws together some of the major issues in an understandable way.
How many people did you expect?: 
120
How many people came?: 
165
Did you make a profit?: 
Yes
How much?: 
£100.00
Would you hold another screening?: 
Yes

Patrick Smith

Submitted by tom_flannery on 25 November 2009 - 2:42pm

Having known Franny since the heady days of McLibel I was determined that The Age of Stupid would rock Nottingham. There was sadly no People's Premiere in Nottingham (format issues?), but a bike ride through Leicester got me to the Premiere there.

Following our Indy Screening of the film and the simultaneous webcast, Stupid finally saw its mainstream Nottingham launch at Broadway Cinema with a week long season from 24th April.

How did the audience react?: 
Though a small audience, the Indy Screening audience was perfectly formed, with climate campers, vegan campaigners, Transition Town members and community activists, some of whom went away to organise their own Indy Screenings in the following months and all of whom went away ready to redouble their efforts to tackle climate chaos.
How many people did you expect?: 
40
How many people came?: 
30
Did you make a profit?: 
No
Would you hold another screening?: 
Yes

Monika Agoston

Submitted by tom_flannery on 25 November 2009 - 2:14pm

We had some refreshments (always a good pulling power) before the screening then had a little speech (by myself). I had 16 people turning up for this screening (which wasn’t bad, considering the people who accepted the invite for this day, already watched it the previous day) and watched the 90 minutes film  in silence. After I stopped and switched off the laptop / projector, etc. I have asked what they thought about it. I turned and I had 16 faces with such shock on them. They could not say a word……it was that influential.

How did the audience react?: 
As I said it was very powerful and eye opening experience for these people. Most of them said it has changed them immediately and wanted to do something; some are still sceptical and blame the government and the organisation not providing enough help towards turning more environmental friendly.
How many people did you expect?: 
20
How many people came?: 
16
Did you make a profit?: 
No
Would you hold another screening?: 
Yes, 3rd December (10.00am & 14.00pm) and hopefully more – different location though.

Cathy Newbery

Submitted by tom_flannery on 25 November 2009 - 2:01pm

Riversmeet is a cooperative of active citizens supporting community networks in the Cockermouth catchement areas. We chose the Age of Stupid film to engage a wider section of the local community in the debate about climate change and what we can each do to live more sustainably.  We worked with the Kirkgate Arts Centre, another voluntary run group, to host the screening as they run a weekly film night but did this as a free screening to maximise on audience. A digital projector was borrowed from the Keswick Film club and a debate held after with local beer.

How did the audience react?: 
We had about 30 people stay for a drink and debate which Riversmeet hosted. Themes in the film were discussed and that people knew alot already but they wanted to discuss what they could do personnaly and as a town as a result e.g  a  revival of the LETS scheme,  delegation to Copenhagen and practical action such as communtiy food growing, recycling, upcycling and eco teams. The wind farm touched as nerve as we have wind farms going up on the edges of the Lake District so the aesthetic debate is had and in small numbers and on a larger scale off shore. We also have the nuclear debate as Sellafield employs lots of people in the area where the wind farms don't and are built by companies based in Oxford.  We are labelled the energy coast but we as individuals can't create our own and sell it back to the grid as conservation areas and planning restrict prevent solar panels and wind turbines etc. So a lively debate followed on various merits.
How many people did you expect?: 
50
How many people came?: 
80
Did you make a profit?: 
No
Would you hold another screening?: 
Yes but different film.