|
TALK/SHOW
The Power to Empower: Film and Philanthropy
BY John Austin, Contributing Writer
The ability to deliver quality entertainment and, at the same time, deliver a meaningful
message is a balance that is not always easy to achieve; when that balance is struck,
though, wonderful things can happen.
The power and the potential for popular media, particularly film and television, to effectively
engage its audience to get involved either physically or financially was the topic of
yesterday's AFI FEST TALK/SHOW, Filmanthropy: The Power of Film to Inspire American
Philanthropy.
Moderated by Michael Guillen, executive in charge and producer of the Philanthropy Project,
the event featured a panel of artists and industry professionals, each of whom knows a
bit about using the power of moving images to move people to action.
"At their best, movies and television help to broaden our horizons and take us beyond our
daily existences," Guillen said. "We certainly know they can inspire consumerism, but can
they inspire the opposite as well?"
Kevin Wall, founder and executive producer of Live Earth and executive producer of the
Live 8 concerts, believes they can. The continuing convergence of technologies -- television
and the Internet, for example -- has paved the way for events such as Wall's "concerts
for causes" to effectively reach out to a global audience.
"If I know how to do anything, it's create an event," Wall said. "Live Earth was just the
starting point for what has become a powerful and growing call to action to address climate
change -- an awareness campaign to promote the greening of the world."
Actress Crystal Chappell, who plays Olivia Spencer Lewis on the daytime drama Guiding
Light, represents the other end of the philanthropic spectrum. The show's "Find Your
Light" campaign urges fans to participate in making a difference in their corners of the
world.
"We team up with our fans in different communities to rebuild homes and clean up neighborhoods,"
she said. "We wanted to show people that donating time is a simple way to give
back and that it can mean so much. I think when you get out there and volunteer, it changes
who you are. It has definitely changed my life."
|
