Inspired to act after watching Black Gold? (film review here). This post’s part of a series for people who’ve seen (or want to see) the film and want to act. [Part III is here]

So often, we’re waiting to just jump on the bandwagon. Yes, we’d like to think of ourselves as innovators, as the forward thinkers, as the socio-enviromentally active. But we wait for others to take the first step.

Not that there’s anything wrong with jumping onto a worthy bandwagon! If someone’s started to DO something about an issue you care about, by all means, join them!

But by the same token, don’t limit yourself. If watching the film is what you can do right now, that’s cool. But if you can do more, DO MORE!

Need inspiration? Marc and Nick, the makers of Black Gold, said that they’ve been amazed to see what individuals and groups have done to promote the film and its cause — through their own volition!

For ex: I already wrote about the fact that Groundwork offered a free cuppa fairly traded coffee to all who went to see Black Gold in Los Angeles. But you’ll be impressed to know that other people have shown up at other Black Gold screenings, then returned with posters, flyers, and all sorts of other promotional material to help spread the word.

Action Step IV: Create your own action plan! If you’re in NYC or Seattle — where Black Gold will be out in theaters Oct. 6 — you can do all sortsa guerilla marketing, from emailing yr friends, hitting up e-listservs, and flyering or stickering your ‘hood, to buying out the seats to an opening show and giving the tix to the movers and shakers in your community (ok — that latter bit takes a lotta moolah).

Got ideas for independent action? Lemme know what it may be, and if / how I or my readers can help out –

Update, 9/26/06: Here’s part V!

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