COMMUNITY ACTION 



FILMS FOR COMMUNITY ACTION 



HANNAH WILLIAMS, Director 



Riverdale Outdoor Laboratories 



Bronx, New York 



When choosing films to serve varied groups and age levels in a 

 community, there are sometimes a wide range of choices on each 

 topic. The problem is to pick the right film for each audience within 

 a community. Therefore, each film mentioned here has been classi- 

 fied A, B, or C. The A films are intended as a general introduction 

 to a subject for use with groups where entertainment and quality 

 of production may have a high priority. B films are also of high 

 quality but may be more effective where the objective is to use the 

 film as a springboard for discussion or a catalyst to action. C films 

 are for the family audience for programs such as weekend presen- 

 tations at nature centers, and considerable attention has been given 

 to the elementary school level children in the audience. 



For example, if there is an immediate community need to take 

 action on preservation of one particular resource, such as a piece 

 of threatened marshland, a community conservation council might 

 well plan to coordinate a series of presentations on the same topic 

 designed to fit the needs of the different audiences. These could 

 include showing "World in a Marsh" to a family audience, "Between 

 the Tides" to a garden club, "Marshland Is Not Wasteland" to a 

 businessmen's group, and "Fish Out of Water" to high school stu- 

 dents. These groups added together might create an informed com- 

 munity ready to protect its valuable marsh from exploitation as 

 a garbage dump, an industrial complex, or a housing development 

 when sites less valuable as natural areas are available. 



Similar community programs might be built around water, air 

 pollution control, or population. 



OPEN SPACE: 



"Marshland Is Not Wasteland" (p. 29) A B 



good photography, making strong case for value of marshland. 



"World in a Marsh" (p. 38) AC 



beautiful presentation of drama of marsh life. 



"Swamp" (p. 32) A B 



points out way in which urban developments may encroach 

 on wildlife areas. 



"Between the Tides" (p. 33) A 



interesting introduction to tidal life. 



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