Plan "An Evening with Rachel Carson"
In March 2009, the National Women's History Project will honor women leaders who have 'taken the lead to save our planet' with a special focus on Rachel Carson for her vision and efforts to preserve the natural environment and stop ecological destruction.
To kick off Women's History Month and to celebrate Rachel Carson's legacy, the producers of the new film A Sense of Wonder are looking for local and regional partners to host screenings in early March.
A Sense of Wonder is the story of one woman's love for the natural world and her fight to defend it. It shows the extremely private Rachel Carson thrust into the role of controversial public figure after the publication of her book, Silent Spring.
Originally an award-winning play based on the words and writings of Rachel Carson, A Sense of Wonder has been touring the United States and the world for 16 years. Written and performed by Kaiulani Lee, the play has been the centerpiece of regional and national conferences on conservation, education, journalism and the environment. Now, starring Kaiulani Lee in her signature role, the film is beautifully shot in HD by Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler at Carson's cottage on the coast of Maine. (See the trailer online at http://www.asenseofwonderfilm.com/ ).
The goal is to create a memorable event to celebrate the visionary scientist Rachel Carson and reflect on her powerful message. Each screening event is imagined as a collaboration between local women's groups, local environmental organizations, the National Women's History Project, and Sense of Wonder Productions LLC. Sense of Wonder Productions will work with local event organizers to reach out to local environmental organizations and appropriate panel experts.
A Sense of Wonder: An Evening with Rachel Carson Event:
- a screening of Kaiulani Lee's 55-minute film A Sense of Wonder.
- special appearance by actress Kaiulani Lee for Q and A (where possible).
- brief panel featuring/celebrating local environmental leaders reflecting on Carson's legacy.
- free refreshments.
- DVDs of newly-released deluxe edition of A Sense of Wonder for sale.
Interested? To get started, contact Ian Cheney, Outreach Producer ( ian@asenseofwonderfilm.com ) with the following information: your name and contact information, proposed location/venue of potential event, potential event partners.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use the event as a fundraiser, or can I charge admission?
A community screening copy of the film, for free events in March, costs $84.95. For events used as fundraisers or charging admission, the screening license is $295 or 30 percent of the door, whichever is higher.
What will it cost to bring Kaiulani Lee to my event?
Because of the demands on Kaiulani's schedule, we ask for $1,500 plus travel/lodging as necessary.
Should our group seek out grants and sponsors for the event?
Absolutely! Carson's message has broad appeal, and there are tremendous opportunities to partner with other organizations to make this exciting event possible.
For more information about A Sense of Wonder, and to see a short trailer, visit www.asenseofwonderiflm.com.
To get started, contact Outreach Producer Ian Cheney at ian@asenseofwonderfilm.com .