Thank you for your purchase of If These Halls Could Talk (Copyright 2014). To utilize the Film Guides associated with this package, you should first download and/or print them out the Film Guides at: www.ifthesehallscouldtalk.org. On the homepage of this site, there are two Film Guides: 1) The Director’s Cut Film Guide and 2) The Classroom Edition Film Guide.
In the DVD case of this package, there are two discs. Disc 1 is the featured documentary film (97 minutes); Disc 1 is not for use with the Film Guides. Disc 2 is the DVD you will use in conjunction with both Film Guides.
You will see that your printed Film Guides (from www.ifthesehallscouldtalk.org) as well as Disc 2 with DVD footage has:
44 Chapters for The Director’s Cut
and
22 Chapters for The Classroom Edition
Total: 66 Chapters
Both the DVD footage and printed Film Guides are labeled the same and correspond with one another. For example, Chapter 9 of The Classroom Edition on Disc 2 is labeled “Breaking Our Stereotypes” on both the DVD as well as on the printed Film Guide.The idea is that a professor/ facilitator will show a “Chapter” of either The Director’s Cut footage or The Classroom Edition footage to an audience and utilize the printed Film Guide to assist in the carry-out of a diversity discussion. The printed Film Guides have questions and classroom activities related to the content of the DVD footage.
If you insert Disc 2 into a DVD player, on the Title page, in the bottom right corner, you should see The Director’s Cut on top and The Classroom Edition below. Let’s say you were looking for DVD footage for The Classroom Edition Chapter 9, called “Breaking Our Stereotypes.” To access this, go to The Classroom Edition, click on “Chapter Selections” and you will see Chapters 1-11 on the first page. If you were, alternatively, looking for Chapters 12-22, you would hit “Next” on the first Chapter page, to get to Chapters 12-22.
Please walk through these steps and contact our office at 510-204-8840 x 100 if you need further assistance.
Facilitator Tips
When using the If These Halls Could Talk Film Guides for group discussions, classroom study or trainings, it is best to be prepared for the possibility that many intense emotions and conflicts may arise. The Film Vignettes taken from the Director’s Cut as well as in the extended Classroom Edition are extremely intimate and require a skilled facilitator to lead the discussions after participants view them. We would like to support your growth as a facilitator so that you are comfortable leading and engaging participants in these important diversity dialogues; and, so, I would like to remind you of a few facilitator tips.
1. As a facilitator, there are many ways to approach a group. Try to be flexible and sensitive to the ‘pulse’ of the group and its needs. Too often, facilitators become overly involved or committed to completing a task or achieving a particular goal and miss what is happening in the room and in the moment. Move at their emotional pace and temperament. I am often reminded of the statement by Abraham Lincoln, “Where are my people so that I may lead them?”
2. The emotional, social and political histories within a group can be enormous. Be patient and look for ‘signs’ to let you know where to go next. Notice the intent and impact of every communication, be it verbal or non-verbal. What is happening will always present itself when we are open and willing to listen not only with our mind, but with our hearts.
3. Support the group to notice when they are connected or disconnected with each other. The definition of facilitation is to be a ‘bridge’. If you model how to stay connected, to listen and to respond with compassion and curiosity, the group will learn from your example. Buddha once said, “We do not learn from experience, but rather by our willingness to experience.” Often resistance and denial is about fear.
4. When someone asks a question, you can either answer or you can ask them why they asked their question. You can also ask them what is the statement behind their question or if they are really talking about themselves. Beneath many questions are many subtexts waiting to be revealed. Your work as a facilitator is to notice what is being said and what is not. Sometimes the silence can be deafening.
Facilitator Bonus Materials
HANDOUTS
- The Art of Mindful Inquiry
- 9 Healthy Ways to Communicate
- The Art of Listening
- Facilitating a Conflict
- Conversation Starters
- 9 Ways to Begin a Diversity Conversation
- 10 Points of Entrance
BONUS VIGNETTE ON CLASSISM & ACCOMPANYING FACILITATOR QUESTIONS/EXERCISES
StirFry Seminars also offers workshops that can help individuals foster/grow their facilitation skills. For example, in the summer we offer intensive courses such as, “Cross-Cultural Facilitation Skills for Diversity Trainers,” that we welcome you to join us for. StirFry Seminars also has diversity training materials such as books and DVDs that could support you. I wrote an excellent in-depth facilitation guide to prepare you for challenging diversity dialogues called The Art of Mindful Facilitation (2005) that you may find helpful. Information about our workshops as well as our diversity training materials can be found on our website at: www.stirfryseminars.com.
Thank you for your support of If These Halls Could Talk and for bringing these important dialogues to your communities.
