Can you share some of the key films you are releasing this fall that you think would resonate with librarians/educators?
Project Z; War Peace Quantum Mechanics is a staggering film, asking who will win, what are the risks, and what will it mean for war and peace, as university labs, big-tech and major powers race for supremacy in new quantum technologies.
Written On The Landscape: Mysteries Beyond Chaco Canyon maps the astounding reach of Chacoan astronomy and spiritual traditions with buildings and "roads" aligned across 70,000 square miles of the American southwest, a complex culture, connected to the ancient cultures of Central America.
Single-Use Planet discovers the source of single-use plastic that is clogging waterways and polluting the ocean. Upstream are massive single-use plastic plants making use of ever more extracted fossil fuels in Pennsylvania and down-pipeline Louisiana, health and climate-busting plants approved by legislators flush with petrochemical money.
Will any of your films come with educational resources or guides that teachers can use in conjunction with the film?
Many of them. Written On The Landscape and Single-Use Planet both come with extensive Discussion, Coursework, and Resource Guides. When films are placed on our community screenings site, bullfrogcommunites.com, they are accompanied by resources, press stills, discussion guides, and posters useful for library and community public performance events.
How do you accommodate institutions with varying budget levels?
We have separate pricing for public libraries, K-12 schools, community colleges, and at the top with 4-year colleges we price our streaming licenses based on the institution's Carnegie classification.
Can you provide a list of the top films for 2024 that are particularly popular among public libraries?
So far this year most popular films in public libraries have been Orchestrating Change, about the Me2/Orchestra, the only orchestra in the world created by and for people living with mental illness and those who support them, and Becoming Animal, a journey to Grand Teton NP with influential writer and geophilosopher David Abram exploring how the written word and technology have shaped how we engage with the more-than-human world.
What are the best films for college campus screenings that promote student engagement and discussion?
Films that connect the choices student make in their daily lives to the world, such as The True Cost (Who really pays the cost for our "fast fashion"?), are always popular. Climate change has brought interest in understanding how The Oil Machine is embedded in the world's finance and cultures, and we think our new release Single-Use Planet will carry forward this direct connection. No matter how much we individually recycle, single-use plastic is everywhere. Why?
How do you envision your films contributing to long-term educational goals or initiatives in schools?
Bullfrog's curated releases of strong films informing climate change decisions will be important in many disciplines for the foreseeable future. Our parallel focus on human strengths (Crutch, Truth Tellers, Runner) and inspiring paths to justice, such as: Climate- Regenerating Life, Cooked: Survival By Zip Code; Racial- Crime On The Bayou and The Lincoln School Story; Native American- Ama and s-yéwyáw:Awaken.
How can your films engage public library patrons, and what themes or topics do you think will resonate with them?
Our films are current and timely. Cooked: Survival By Zipcode has been very popular in churches and libraries now, not surprisingly, as we confront excessive heat this summer, and the inequality of relief our cities offer. Another release coming this fall is Virulent: The Vaccine War, a scientific and compassionate understanding of vaccine hesitancy, and what it means for public health.
Are there any specific resources or support your company offers to librarians or educators to help them effectively incorporate your films into their collections/classrooms?
While many schools are now streaming Bullfrog films through Docuseek2.com, with all the clipping, link-embedding features, we also release DVDs with options included SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, and scene selection so faculty can highlight one part they wish to discuss in class. We have always maintained our replacement copy policy for physical media, so librarians need not fear the damaged, or disappearing DVD. Study guides are available linked from title pages on Bullfrog Films, and additional discussion questions and resources are available on the bullfrogcommunites.com pages.
What can you share about any exciting projects or films slated for release in 2025 that our readers should be aware of?
Every college department and every city trying to address the housing and homelessness crises will be able to use our new release, A Rising Tide, laying out a fundamental blueprint upon which solutions can be built.