Peace Officer – Event Intro Script
Thank you for joining us! My name is <insert name>, and welcome to Indie
Lens Pop-Up, presented by <your organization> and <your local PBS
station>.
Today’s sneak preview screening is Peace Officer by Scott Christopherson
and Brad Barber. The film premieres on Independent Lens on PBS
Monday, May 9 at 9:00/8:00c [NOTE: confirm with your local PBS station if
there is a different local broadcast date and/or time]. It will be aired as part
of two nights of special Independent Lens programming called Armed in
America, each followed by an engaging Town Hall discussion about the
film's subject matter. Peace Officer will air on Monday night, followed by a
town hall discussion on police and guns, and another Independent Lens
film The Armor of Light will air on Tuesday night, followed by a town hall
discussion about faith and guns. Please tune in, join the discussion, and
please be sure to spread the word!
[Pre-screening Audience Conversation Starter – Adapt As Needed]
Before we start the screening, please take a few minutes to fill out the front
page of your audience survey. Please only fill out page 1 of this survey –
the back, page 2, is for you to complete only after you’ve seen the film.
Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand the impact of Indie
Lens Pop-Up. We have Indie Lens Pop-Up pens available for you to use,
and everyone who completes a survey is entered into a raffle for the
chance to win a $100 Amazon giftcard!
While you complete just page 1 of the survey, we have a short
conversation starter up on screen that we’d love for you to consider and
then discuss with your neighbors to get to know each other better.
When you hear the term peace officer, what comes to mind? How is this
similar to or different from “police officer”?
[Provide time to complete the front page of the survey and for a short
discussion, and if time permits ask a few participants to share their
thoughts with the group]
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Today’s film, Peace Officer, examines
similar issues as you just discussed.
Peace Officer explores the increasingly tense relationship between law
enforcement and the public as seen through the eyes of someone who's
been on both sides. Former sheriff William “Dub” Lawrence established
Utah's first SWAT team, only to see the same unit kill his son-in-law in a
controversial standoff 30 years later. Now a private investigator, Dub seeks
the truth in his son-in-law’s case and other officer-involved shootings.
There is a special two-minute animated video that will play before the film,
which provides thought-provoking statistics around the increase of SWAT
units and deployment and how the issues explored in the film affect us on a
national level. We invite you to sit back and enjoy the film, but also to stay
with us after and join the conversation. <Insert more about your
engagement activity or special guests here. > Tell us what you think on
social media using the hashtag #IndieLens and follow @IndependentLens
on social media. Sign up for our newsletter in the lobby / follow us <insert
social media handle> to receive updates on local Indie Lens Pop-Ups!
A special thank you to our national partners: Independent Lens, ITVS, PBS,
and CPB, and our local partners <insert your venue and community
partners>. We hope you enjoy the show!
AFTER THE FILM SCREENS
We hope you enjoyed today’s screening of Peace Officer! And don't forget
to tune in to two nights of special Independent Lens programming called
Armed in America, with Peace Officer and The Armor of Light, each
followed by a Town Hall discussion, starting Monday, May 9 at 9:00/8:00c
[NOTE: confirm with your local PBS station if there is a different local
broadcast date and/or time]. Please join the discussion, and spread the
word!
Before we move into our [panel discussion, audience activity, etc.], we
would like you to fill out the back page of your audience survey. Please
make sure this is page 2 you are now filling out. Your feedback is
invaluable in helping us understand the impact of Indie Lens Pop-Up. We
have Indie Lens Pop-Up pens available for you to use, and everyone who
completes a survey is entered into a raffle for the chance to win a $100
Amazon giftcard! Don’t forget to turn in your completed surveys to
[collection box in the back, volunteer or staff member, etc.].