Not the sort with dancing, leaping horses. I mean the type where you wine and dine guests
Image from John Harwood’s flickr page
under the thinly veiled guise of a not-to-be-missed high profile social occasion which of course we all know is really about selling or fundraising.
But your event doesn’t have to be a soulless sell out. The swell of emotion that can grow in a room of people reacting and experiencing something together as they feed off each other is extremely powerful if harnessed and used positively.
The importance of an exclusive shared experience that can be generated at such events shouldn’t be underestimated, and how better to create such an atmosphere than through screening a film.
Last night Minty Films was proud to have played a small but hopefully significant part in a fundraising exhibition, ‘Aftershock’ by photographer Chris Gravett. The private view at Espacio Gallery kick started a week long exhibition of limited edition prints which detail the work of small charity Kidasha.
- Copyright Chris Gravett
(Other notable works by esteemed documentary photography Chris Gravett include the aftermath of the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh and the documentation of life in a small American town dubbed the Heart of Hometown America.)
Kidasha is an incredible organisation that works to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged children and families in Nepal. After the earthquake exactly one year ago yesterday, their work was impacted heavily. The risks the children they were already supporting increased dramatically, and moreover a whole load of new families suddenly were in need of the organisation’s assistance.
So last night saw a big fundraising push to keep the post earthquake aid flowing. Minty Films was asked to produce a film primarily using the stills produced by Chris, intercut with an informative yet impassioned interview with Kidasha CEO Janice Miller.
But here’s the thing, how best to use the film?
It could be been shown on a loop in the corner.
It could be put in a dark room with headphones for individuals to watch at their leisure.
It could just be on a website and a link provided in the brochure.
Of course had this been the case, most probably wouldn’t have bothered to watch it.
To turn the mini screening of the film into an event within the main event is key. Its no coincidence that at many high profile charity events the charity auction is held directly after showing a short film. Fresh in the minds of the captive audience are the real reasons they’re there.
And often a short film will be shown at an event after or preceding the keynote speech.
A film can galvanise an audience, get them on side, tap into their soul and subconsciously they feed off each other’s reactions. Ultimately it’ll help them dig in their pockets a bit deeper.
A number of prints were sold last night with all profits going to Kidasha, the silent auction seemed to be getting wildly competitive and it doesn’t close until the end of the week! The Exhibition runs until Sunday 1st May and the film (above) can now be viewed across various social media and websites and of course can be seen on a loop in the gallery for quiet private digestion!
https://www.kidasha.org/aftershock/
mintyfilms 