Skoll’s initial success came with the documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Aside from winning an Oscar, the documentary got people talking.
But not all politicians can be as charismatic as Al Gore and his PowerPoint slides. So, Participant began looking for different box office draws without sacrificing social message.
In North Country, Oscar-winning actress Theron played a woman suing a mining company for gender discrimination. Foxx starred as a homeless man in The Soloist alongside Robert Downey Jr. in a film that shed light on mental illness and poverty in America. Matt Damon stared in The Informant!, a dark comedy which focuses on the man who blew the whistle in a 1990s price-fixing conspiracy.
These films not only entertain, they share a valuable message that both you and your child can learn from. By discussing issues as a family, you can help spark your child's interest in taking action on what they just learned.
Social justice and entertainment don't have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, together they can be powerful in a getting a message across. So tonight, rent a socially conscious movie and gather the family around the television.
Just make sure the kids pick up their books again later on.
Tips for Parents:
1. Be selective: There are lots of options out there. Start choosing programs with a more socially-conscious message. Stick around when your kids watch.
2. Pause: Challenge the points you are watching and encourage your kids to do their own research. This way, you can help teach critical thinking.
3. Vote with your remote: If you don't like what you're seeing, turn it off. Model this behaviour and your kids can learn to do the same.
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