Many of our reports from the field over the next few weeks will be about screenings we are doing all over the country for I.O.U.S.A.. The primary idea behind the screenings is to reach colleges who weren’t in session when the film was originally released and other locations where the movie hasn’t been able to show.
Many of our reports from the field over the next few weeks will be about screenings we are doing all over the country for I.O.U.S.A.. The primary idea behind the screenings is to reach colleges who weren’t in session when the film was originally released and other locations where the movie hasn’t been able to show.
Sunday night’s screening of I.O.U.S.A. at Columbia University is a great example of why I love my job. The Conservative Forum packed almost 75 people into a basement to watch the movie on a pull-down projector screen. The audience was hooked, and I had to laugh as they stood up and swayed in their seats to read a subtitle or name at the bottom of the screen (we weren’t able to swing stadium seating rental in the basement).
At the end of the film people got ready to leave, but when we announced that the director, Patrick Creadon, was there to answer questions, most stayed. After a good Q&A session, Patrick sat down with a pen and a stack of I.O.U.S.A. posters. About 20 people lined up to get his autograph and gush about the film. I even had a number of people come up and ask how they can set up more screenings A.S.A.P.!
As if the night wasn’t already a huge success, I had arranged to meet with a group of dedicated New York City Concord Coalition volunteers after the screening to discuss plans for outreach and organization. I invited Patrick on the spot and he decided to join us for dinner. I think it’s so cool that the volunteers were planning on an organizational meeting with me, and ended up having dinner with the director of the movie. When deciding to take a job as a field director for a federal budget organization, you don’t necessarily plan on getting to do such things, and it really was a special night for everybody.
–Christine Hovde, Northeast Regional Director, (based in Kennett Square, PA)
