hi dennis I reread the article and actually thibk a lot of it is entirely relevant tody! Probably people could use some updates on the tech issues -- many places now use DVD (better than video at least) -- and oculd be encouraged to get GOOD projection screens, good sound equipment,etc. Also, clarifying the rights -- public performance vs bome video is always a good idea -- general public seems to find this endlessly perplexing. The marketing stuff could be a little updated to suggest ways of using the Web -- email blasts, sites for their series with interesting items to attract audiences... The funding part is of course harder than ever -- state arts ocuncils like to help small groups as do some state humanities councils. Local businesss of course. A partnership with a cultural institution and/or educational institution is a really big help -- sicne they can offer in-kind services for PR * marketing , space, maybe equipment, maybe postage, xeroxc, etc. In kind can go a long way , so any cash can be used for the things no one can contribute. I would also suggest a planning process -- deciding who audience is, what to show, how to market, etc,etc BEFORE -- always helps a lot when resources are small to be lcear and efficient about what to do and how. Finally -- in terms of your site -- probably it would be easier to read and use if it was divided up into things like Programming, MArketing, Fundraising, Audience Services,etc.. All that stuff is there -- but people don't necessarily know that. Hope this is helpful. all best regards Wanda B At 12:15 PM 6/3/05 EDT, you wrote: >Dear friends and programmers, > >I'm sorry to bother all of you, but I have a favor to ask. We have an article >on our website, "Ideas on Running a Film Society" that we wrote almost >fifteen years ago when we first started Milestone. You can find it at >http://www.milestonefilms.com/article.php?aID=1 > >It has come to our attention this morning that technologically this article >is now vastly out of date, so it has to be re-written. Even the title is >somewhat old fashioned as many don't even screen film anymore! HOWEVER, and this is >where you come in, this article started because we believe there's a need to >have an encompassing guide that will help the small library, college and >independent film societies grow since the this is the grassroots audience for ALL >theaters in the nation. If they're willing to see a foreign or documentary film >in college or a local library when they're young, it is much more likely they >will go on to see more later on in life. > >SO, if any of you would like to, I would really encourage those to read it >and come back to me with corrections, suggestions and any additions you may >think of. Funny stories and good promotional ideas are especially welcome and will >be credited. > >For those who are not interested, I apologize in advance. And of course, for >those who would like to be removed from our email list, please email me back >and I'll do so immediately. Thanks! > >Best, >Dennis Doros >Milestone Film & Video >PO Box 128 >Harrington Park, NJ 07640 >Phone: (800) 603-1104 or (201) 767-3117 >Fax: (201) 767-3035 >Email: [log in to unmask] >Website: http://www.milestonefilms.com > >---- >For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives: >http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html > Wanda Bershen RED DIAPER PRODUCTIONS 451 East 14 Street 8F NYC, N.Y. 10009 tel/fax: 212-598-0224 www.reddiaper.com ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.ScreenSite.org