Recently, we saw a comment on social media that read:
Someone close to me is going to circumcise their son. I so badly want to ask them to reconsider. But I don’t no how to.
Starting a conversation about this issue can be challenging. It’s hard to know where to start. But…
Asking someone “hey do you want to watch a movie?” is much easier.
Part of the reason we made this film is to make having a conversation about this issue easier.
Many Americans don’t even know the most basic facts about circumcision. Early in our film an older man approaches a street activist and asks if circumcision is just an incision or if they actually remove tissue. This man is in his 60s. He still doesn’t know.
So having a conversation about this issue might mean that you have to impart hours of information to someone to even get them to understand your perspective. Activists tell us about sending people YouTube videos, books, long articles… It takes time to research and understand a new perspective.
Our film condenses five years of research into a two hour cinematic experience.
You don’t have to tell them “some people feel this way…” They’ll see those people when we interview them. You don’t have to say “some people have this experience…” We talk to those people on camera – and then interview academics who’ve done the research on how common that experience is.
Even making the request to join you at this movie could spark the conversation.
Again, which is the easier ask – “hey, do you wanna talk to me for 12 hours about circumcision, and read all these books and obscure articles?” or “hey, do you wanna come see a movie with me?”
Oh – and it’s an event better ask if you invite them to a festival screening.
Think of the way you’re framing the conversation if you take them to a prestigious event with lots of people who are there for the same thing. Now, you’re not one lone voice – you’re part of a movement. Plus, you can tell them, “the director will be there and you can ask him questions if you like.”
The conversation after a screening of our film will be completely different.
Here’s our ask of you: Invite three people to a screening.
Everyone in our audience knows at least three people who they want to have this conversation with. Now is your chance. Invite them to a screening.
If everyone who RSVP’d online invites three people, we’ll have a full house everywhere we go.
We say three, because if you want to get at least one yes, you might have to overshoot your goal. But by all means, ask ten people if you know them. Ask a hundred. A thousand. Three is just a manageable number that we’re pretty sure everyone can handle. It’s a challenge that’s doable.
We’re reaching out to people in every city we go to, but an asking one friend from another will always be more powerful. Word of mouth.
If you want to have a conversation about this issue, now is your chance.
Upcoming screenings:
- Lone Star Film Festival (Nov 11, Forth Worth, TX)
- Social Justice Film Festival (Nov 19, Seattle, WA)
To find out about future screenings, subscribe to our email list here.