It’s no secret that U.S. culture, amplified by the media, can cause harm to women and girls. What is less obvious but no less prevalent is the culture’s impact on boys and men. This is the reason BendFilm, Cascades Academy and Moementum, Inc. are hosting a local screening of The Mask You Live In on November 10 at 6pm at the Tower Theatre.
Local child development experts will engage the community audience in a post-screening panel discussion.
The Mask You Live In follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity. Written, produced and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2015.
The documentary presents the personal narratives of young boys and men and features experts in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, sports, education, and media, further exploring how gender stereotypes are interconnected with race, class, and circumstance. The Mask You Live In ultimately illustrates how we, as a society, can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men.
“We are engaging our entire school community – students, faculty, and families – in important conversations about gender issues this year,” said Julie Amberg of Cascades Academy. “Our hope is to spark conversation in both our school community and beyond around masculinity. Our goal is to encourage boys and men to stay true to themselves instead of buying into limiting stereotypes.”
“Films like this have the power to change the way we think about ourselves and how we raise our children,” added BendFilm Director Todd Looby. “We welcome any opportunity to invite the community out to see films expressing interesting points of view and to participate in thought-provoking conversations.”
Tickets are available online for $12 and $14 at the door. Proceeds from the event will benefit BendFilm and Cascades Academy. Media interested in attending may contact judy@campbellconsulitng.com for complimentary passes to the event.
About The Representation Project
Using film as a catalyst for cultural transformation, The Representation Project inspires individuals and communities to challenge and overcome limiting stereotypes so that everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation or circumstance can fulfill their human potential.
Newsom’s first film Miss Representation premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was shown in Bend in October of 2102. The film exposed the ways in which mainstream media contributes to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. In response to overwhelming public demand for ongoing education and social action in support of the film’s message, Newsom founded the organization that has become The Representation Project a few months later.
About Cascades Academy
Cascades Academy is an independent, PK-12 college preparatory school in Central Oregon committed to preparing students to be ready for a diverse and changing world. The school offers a challenging college preparatory curriculum that integrates experiential learning, outdoor education, arts, and service learning. All grade levels have instruction in language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, Spanish, art, music, and technology. In addition, Cascades Academy offers a variety of specialty classes including Storyline, fitness, electives, and internships. Small class sizes allow teachers to discover every student’s unique potential – finding the right balance of challenge and support to help each student excel in a caring and dynamic community. The school is an accredited member of AdvancedEd and a Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) Candidate Member.
About Moementum, Inc.
Bend, Oregon based Moementum, Inc. believes each organization has a culture, and having a healthy culture is tantamount to sustained success. Coincidentally, many of the Firm’s primary clients are men who have little or no awareness of the impacts of their own culture on their organizations, hence the desire to elevate the discussion about male culture in communities and organizations across the U.S. Moementum is a boutique organizational development firm with clients around the world. The Firm’s fundamental goal is to help people lead and partner with character and truth, in ways that benefit them, their organizations, their communities, and the world at large. As a certified B-Corp, Moementum believes that business has the potential of business to be a force for good in the world, joining more than 1200 other organizations leading a global movement to redefine success in business.
About BendFilm
BendFilm celebrates the brave voice of independent cinema through films, lectures and education. The organization was designed to enrich the cultural life of Central Oregon and provide an economic stimulus to the region through our annual fall festival and our year-round education programs and film screenings. In its 12th year, BendFilm is proud to bring diverse voices, perspectives and visions to the Bend community. BendFilm is made possible by a dedicated crew of volunteers and generous sponsors. For more information, call (541) 388-3378 or visit www.bendfilm.org. You can also find BendFilm on Facebook.