NewportFILM Screening Makes "Impact" at Sweet Berry Farm

NewportFILM's latest screening, "No Impact Man," could not have been set in a more perfect venue Wednesday night.

The documentary about one man's struggle to live "off the grid" in the middle of New York City, eating only local farmers' market foods and living without electricity, among other challenges, was screened before an appreciative audience of more than 100 people who sat on the grassy field at Sweet Berry Farm surrounded by abundant farm fresh food sources all around.

The film was the second in a series of NewportFILM-sponsored screenings this summer as the newly-formed group begins a year-round run-up to a film festival planned for the Summer of 2011. So far, the community has responded strongly to the first two screenings. NewportFILM's opener, a free screening of "Nowhere Boy" at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport last Friday, drew 690 people to register for the event, while 350 people registered for the screening of "No Impact Man" at Sweet Berry Farm.

The crowd that turned out Wednesday night also got to meet the title character of this latest film, during a post-screening discussion with filmmaker, Colin Beavan, a.k.a. "No Impact Man," whose main goal in the documentary was for him and his family to live one year in New York City without having a negative impact on the planet.

Besides Beavan, the film follows his wife, Michelle Conlin, who describes herself as having "an intense relationship with retail" and a "reality TV expert," as well as the couple's now-5-year old daughter, Isabella.

For one year their goal was to eat only food from the local farmer's market (no take-out or dining out), buy nothing new, watch no television, buy no magazines or newspapers, take no elevators, use no cars or planes, and—for the last six months of the project—go without electricity.

Throughout the film, Beavan struggles with the criticism that his project is irresponsible because it makes people who are "green" appear as extremists and that his efforts are merely a gimmick for his new book. In fact, Beavan never denies that his experiment is conducted with the intent to write a book, but we get to see his self-doubt arise about whether one man truly can make a difference.

There are many personal insights and humorous moments throughout the film when, for example, Conlin struggles with caffeine deprivation because she can no longer drink coffee. Another illuminating moment comes when Conlin shares her dislike for nature when her husband brings worms into their apartment to compost their food scraps. They experience a few slips here and there, but overall the family truly sticks to the program. Additionally, we witness many touching family moments born of their project.

In the discussion that followed the film screening Wednesday, Beavan explained that his ultimate goal was not to take away common luxuries, but see if he and his family could obtain them in a more sustainable way. Overall, he wanted to see if it's possible to live on this earth while giving more back than taking away.

"I'm someone who was too stupid to know one man can't make a difference," Beavean told the audience. "But I hope we stay that way and I hope other people are too stupid as well."

If enough people do whatever they can to make a difference, he suggested, then they will hopefully inspire others to do so as well and eventually there will be change.

Beavan said that he and his family no longer live with such extreme restrictions in their lives, but have incorporated some key aspects into their lives, such as eliminating television from their home and continuing to buy locally grown food from farmers' markets.  

And, added Beavan, "The biggest gift was that I became a better dad." 

NewportFILM founders Nancy Donahoe and Andrea van Beuren brought "No Impact Man" to Sweet Berry Farm as part of the group's goal to bring in "intelligent, thought-provoking films that help create a dialog between the filmmaker and the audience," Van Beuren explained following the film. She added, "I am passionate about documentaries and the series will have a strong documentary focus."

NewportFILM has four more films planned this summer and hopes to hold a larger event in 2011. The group is also seeking volunteers and sponsors. For more information, visit www.newportFILM.com.