Popcorn & Chat
About Popcorn & Chat
In the Popcorn & Chat events, attendees watch a social-issue-focused movie and engage in facilitator-led discussion. The Popcorn & Chat program allows attendees to learn about important social issues through movie nights followed by discussions. All our events are geared towards entertainment, education, and analysis with a growth mindset. The social issues are based on topics such as avoiding food waste, productive discourse, LGBTQ+ pride, and the importance of small business. Similar to our other programs, Popcorn & Chat combines an entertaining activity with important social issues in the events
Click here to suggest any social issue topics that you’d be interested to see!
What to expect at Popcorn & Chat events?
Think Bookclub, but with Movies!
-
Similar to a book club where you read and discuss the topics related to the book as a group, in our events, we live-stream a movie related to a specific social issue and discuss it as a group!
-
You will be able to interact with other attendees through live chat throughout the movie and during the post-movie 30-minute discussion. Our movies are rated PG-13 or less, and we keep our genre options pretty broad! Our facilitator-led discussions are done on Zoom after the movie. Some events may include Zoom breakout rooms to allow more interactive discussions.
-
All of our Popcorn & Chat events are virtual and FREE to attend!
-
To sign up for our upcoming events, you can click here or go to Eventbrite.
-
IYC invites speakers to various events. Click here to see testimonials from our special guests and learn more about our reach.
Audrey Hepburn
British Actress
“Everything I learned I learned from the movies”
Alejandro Jodorowsky
Chilean-French Artist
“Movies have heart. Have mind. Have power. Have ambition”
Anthony Burgess
English Writer
“It’s funny how the colors of the real world only seem real when you watch them on a
screen”
Discussion Points from Program Attendees
"What they were showcasing in this documentary is what can you do on an individual level and that’s what I’ve been working through myself."
"I was infuriated by how much food is wasted at the farm and the supermarket. And it’s just like they showed us like “so what?” And I’m thinking about all the people that are hungry out here you know that could use that food or we could send it overseas where somebody needs that food. it’s disgraceful!"
"I recently found out that if you put strawberries unwashed in a mason jar with a paper towel in the bottom to absorb the moisture, put the lid on it, and put it in the fridge, it preserves those strawberries for the longest time. and I tried it twice already and I’m stunned!"
Popcorn & Chat FAQ
What is Popcorn & Chat?
The Popcorn and Chat program hosts movie nights and post-movie discussions related to specific social issues.
Who can attend the Popcorn & Chat events?
Our Popcorn & Chat events are recommended for adults.
Are the movies kids-friendly?
Topics, and the movie's treatment of these topics, vary in intensity and may be difficult for some children, though we work hard to keep discussion entertaining, endearing, and interesting.
How do I sign up for Popcorn & Chat event?
You can sign up here or on Eventbrite.
When and where are the Popcorn & Chat events located?
All events are virtual. Our events are on Thursdays from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm EST. For longer movies, 30 minutes may be added. Times will be accurately indicated with each specific event registration information.
What do I need to do to attend the event?
All you need is to sign up on Eventbrite or our site here. Eventbrite will send you instructions and links for the event! Eventbrite requires you to login in order to access the event sign on information. Once you sign on to the event, we will take it from there!
How much do the events cost?
All Inform Your Community events including Popcorn & Chat events are free to attend.
What kind of movies do Popcorn & Chat stream?
The movies are relevant to specific social issues. We keep our genres pretty broad when doing our research. Parents are advised to check parent guides on their own to determine whether to allow their children to attend.
Are Popcorn & Chat events virtual or in-person?
Popcorn & Chat events are virtual. So you can watch the movie in the comfort of your own home anywhere you are!
What do Popcorn & Chat events entail?
Attendees get to watch a live-streamed movie virtually based on a specific social issue. The movie and the issue are discussed on Zoom for 30 minutes after the movie with our facilitator. Our curriculum related to the issue being discussed is embedded into the discussion questions and facilitation. For many of the issues we cover, you can find our curriculum on our website at our Get Informed page.
Where does the post-movie discussion take place?
The discussion takes place on Zoom immediately following the event. The link to Zoom is shared in the live-stream chat box and is the same link that was shared through Eventbrite.
Who is the Director for the Popcorn & Chat program?
Henali Patel is our amazing Popcorn & Chat Program Director. To reach out to Henali about our Popcorn & Chat programming email: hpatel@informyourcommunity.org.
Can I suggest event topics and social issues?
Yes! We are open to suggestions. Click here to fill out our interest survey.
How can I learn more about other event topics and social issues?
Visit our Get Informed page to learn about other social issues we have discussed at our events.
How do I support Inform Your Community?
Your support is invaluable to us! Click here to learn more about how to support us and donate.
How do I find out more about Inform Your Community?
For our FAQ about Inform Your Community click here.
Special Guests
Jenny Rustemeyer
Jenny Rustemeyer is the producer and a writer for the documentary film "Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story."
"Something that we filmed that we didn’t put in the film was cauliflower - a field of cauliflower, huge heads of cauliflower, like so big that he said they’re actually too big for the market and they were plowed."
Click here to hear from Jenny when she was our guest speaker for our food waste Know-It-All event