Films for Family Viewing
Recommended for Families with Younger Children
Screen each of the following films with your family. After watching each film, discuss the film’s content using the discussion questions below.
How does this film relate to heroism?
Who is the hero or heroic organization in this film?
What is the issue raised in the film?
Does this film motivate you to take action about an issue?
Does the film elicit an emotional response?
A story about two friends and their discovery of the relationship between our cities' storm drains and the world's oceans, lakes and rivers. (9:55 minutes run time)
Our world has a serious ocean plastics problem. There are now a higher number of plastics in the ocean than the number of fish. (4:39 minutes run time)
Plastic pollution is threatening the ocean's ecosystems, but we can work together to prevent further damage!
Milo Cress is concerned about the millions of straws that pollute waterways, waste fossil-fuel resource and harm ocean creatures. He convinces restaurants to “go straw-free.”
Stefie Gan recounts her experiences with culture shock, racism, and activism after moving from Malaysia to the United States.
Take it One Step Further: After watching and discussing the films, consider the following criteria for judging each film. Feel free to rewatch films and discuss after each one.
CRITERIA FOR JUDGING SHORT HERO FILMS
Originality - Is this film an original idea or concept? Is the theme or point of view unique compared to other films?
Creativity - Did the filmmaker use creative approaches to storytelling? How creative is the camerawork, sound & editing? Emotional Effectiveness - Were you deeply moved emotionally? Did you feel connected to the story? Are you motivated to take action?
Directing - How well is the overall film put together? Is the story cohesive? Is there a clear beginning, middle and end? Do you sense a unique voice in the director’s style?
Technical Quality - (Editing, Camerawork, Sound) Evaluate the technical quality of the picture, sound, and editing.
Picture - Is the camerawork steady, in focus, and framed interestingly? Rate the quality of the image - Is it stunning? captivating? breathtaking?
Sound - Is the sound quality clear, and easy to hear, is the dialogue distinguishable? Does the use of music move the story along or does it distract from the narrative?
Editing - Does the pace of the editing work with the story? Were you ever bored? Does it seem as if the film needs more editing - is it too long? Does the editing rhythm leave you feeling satisfied and connected to the theme of the story?
Organizer created on 5/20/2024 11:32:50 AM by Laura Nietzer
Last edited 5/20/2024 2:04:58 PM by Laura Nietzer
