FRC Blog - Something New – A Film About ‘You’

[cgmv123]

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...film-about-you

I’ll tell you, I love movies. This is not to say I know much about them, because I don’t, but I love them, and I know when I’ve seen a great one.

I saw a great film last Thursday at the New Hampshire Film Festival. It’s called ‘Slingshot’ and was directed by FIRST Executive Advisory Board member, and Friend of FIRST, Paul Lazarus. Slingshot is about Dean, about his water purification device, and, in no small part, about FIRST. This means, in a way, it’s about you. A vision of a better future? Impossible odds? Huge technical obstacles? Exhausting work schedules? Financial challenges? Incredible personal highs and devastating lows? (Any of this sounding familiar?) This film has it, and more. I learned much more about Dean than I expected to. I also honestly left the film with an expanded view of FIRST and our mission, and going in – since I thought my view was already pretty big! – I don’t know that I would have thought that possible.

Here’s a preview of the movie. This preview, a short version of the full-length film, was an award-winning entry in the GE/FOCUS FORWARD Filmmaker Competition.

http://vimeo.com/51890022

Does it sound to you like Slingshot may be worth seeing? How about being able to see the film and raise money for your team at the same time? Paul came to us a few weeks ago with a great idea – he would arrange for teams to be able to show the film in their areas as a fundraiser at essentially no financial risk. We said yes!

Teams sign up on a website to host a screening, sell tickets to the screening through a website provided to them, are sent a DVD or Blu-Ray copy of the movie so they can show the film, and send the movie back after the screening. They then get a check for the proceeds.

Here are some additional details:

• The screening fee is a flat $300, regardless of audience size
• Standard shipping of the DVD or Blu-Ray is $32, this is out and back combined
• If a team doesn’t sell enough tickets to cover these expenses, the screening is cancelled, the team is not charged, and anyone who already purchased a ticket is refunded their money. This is a pretty sweet deal!
• Teams set their own ticket prices for the film. $10 is recommended
• The service provider for the ticket sales will take 5% of ticket cost to cover credit card processing fees
• Teams are provided a website to sell tickets through. Websites are customized with team name, school, screening date and $ amounts for tickets

• There will be a ‘donate’ button on this website to allow ticket purchasers to make donations to the team beyond the purchase price of the ticket. The service provider has indicated – and they do this for a living with many films – that a not-insignificant percentage of ticket buyers will use that donate button to make additional contributions to a worthy cause

• Currently, this opportunity is only available for teams from the United States and Canada

You don’t need to rent a movie theater to show the film! As the film will be sent to you on DVD or Blu-Ray, you can show it anywhere you have the equipment and you think is appropriate. School auditorium? Community center? You backyard? Great. Want to sell concessions during the showing? Put out a ‘donation’ jar? Do a demo with your robot beforehand, and a little presentation about your team? Fabu. It’s all good. Once your event is confirmed, you’ll also be getting promotional materials to help you make your showing a success.

You can get started by going here, and clicking on the FIRST Teams button: http://www.slingshotdoc.com/host-a-screening/ Someone from Paul’s team will contact you directly and walk you through the rest of the process. You will also see a helpful FAQ on this page as well.

I want to thank Paul for making this wonderful opportunity available to our teams!

Frank

[Taylor]

This looks very intriguing.
Do hosts have to use the associated website to sell tickets, or can tickets be sold on-site?

[Brandon Ha]

Did it get hacked? All I get is a bad Link... Could we get a newer version for this?

Thanks

[Meredith Novak]

It is back: http://www.slingshotdoc.com/host-a-screening/

[whtdwf]

Dear FIRST teams - the SlingShot website has been hacked and we are working hard to restore it. We will have it back in operation shortly. Apologies to everyone.

If you would like information about the SlingShot Fundraising screenings, please email Jo Jensen at jensen.jo@gmail.com.

Thank you - paul lazarus FIRST Executive Advisory Board Member

[whtdwf]

Originally Posted by Taylor

This looks very intriguing.
Do hosts have to use the associated website to sell tickets, or can tickets be sold on-site?

Tickets must be sold via the provided website. Thanks - SlingShot Team

[whtdwf]

SlingShot website is back up and running.

http://www.slingshotdoc.com/host-a-screening/

[whtdwf]

We've heard from Frank Merrick that some FIRST teams are not entirely sure about what the SlingShot documentary is about. SlingShot focuses on our founder, inventor Dean Kamen, his fascinating life and his 15-year quest to solve the world's water crisis. This highly entertaining movie is both an intimate look at Dean Kamen's process and the evolution of the SlingShot technology. Here's a sneak peak where DK talks about his SEE Science centers and the importance of science and technology:

http://vimeo.com/97186489

This is a documentary that appeals to all ages and offers a viable solution to a problem that affects billions.

[whtdwf]

Packed house Monday night at Lake Forest High School in Illinois for our SlingShot/FIRST Screening. Get loud!