A movie night can be an effective, relatively easy, and fun event for any type of group to hold. It can raise awareness about a particular issue through the screening of a documentary, or it can be a feature movie with conservative themes. It's also a good social group building event which can be ideal for groups with a low budget or a large influx of new members interested in getting to know each other. It can be held at any time.

Click here to view "How to Present a Public Program," one of CampusReform.org's most valuable Activism Resources for a more detailed explanation of the process of successfully hosting a large scale movie night.

HOW TO TAKE ACTION

1. Select a film. The movie you choose should probably be a documentary appropriate to your group’s focus. However, you could also consider a dramatic film with a generally patriotic or conservative message. Some documentaries to consider are:

a. Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West.  To learn more: www.obsessionthemovie.com

b. Call of the Entrepreneur.  To learn more: www.calloftheentrepreneur.com

c. America: Freedom to Fascism.  To learn more: www.aftfmovie.com

d. Mine Your Own Business.  To learn more: www.mineyourownbusiness.org

e. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.  To learn more: www.expelledthemovie.com

f. Indoctrinate U.  To learn more: www.indoctrinate-u.com

g. Not Evil Just Wrong.  To learn more: www.noteviljustwrong.com

2. Collect the materials needed for the event. The supplies you will need for this event are pretty basic: Besides the obvious requirement of a viewing screen, the film, and a media player, you may also wish to acquire food and refreshments, informational flyers, a table, seating, and a group signup sheet.

3. Choose a time and location. After selecting a time convenient for your group, choose a location on or near your campus to show the movie. If you select an on-campus location, this can be arranged with the Student Activities Office. Depending how many people you expect to attend, this can range from an auditorium to a classroom or even a member’s residence. Whatever location you choose should have reliable video equipment and ample seating area.

4. Invite allied organizations. Ask other organizations on campus or in the outside community you think would be interested celebrating conservatism to contribute to the purchase of supplies or attend your event. This is a great way to strengthen cooperation between different groups in the conservative movement, and to increase attendance and volunteers in the form of members of the other groups.

5. Advertise! Success depends on how well you publicize your event, so you should advertise early and often. This doesn’t necessarily mean paid advertising; “earned media” may work even better for you. Click here to learn several important publicity measures to use before, during, and after the event.

6. Watch the movie! On the day of the event, show up to your location approximately one hour early to set up. Ensure that the video equipment is working properly and that you have everything you need. Also begin to set up an information table with pamphlets and literature relevant to your film and group. Include a signup sheet for those interested in joining the group. If you have chosen to have food and refreshments, set up an area for this as well. As people begin to arrive, pass out any information that is relevant to understanding the film.

7. Advertise! (again) The fact that your event is over does not mean that your public relations work is done. Earned media can be extremely useful to you. Click here to learn several important follow-up publicity measures to do after the event is finished.