NewportFILM Debut Makes 'Impact' on Community

NewportFILM's effort to bring "intelligent, thought-provoking film" to our area kicked off this week as the newly-formed group hosted two screenings in Middletown and Newport.

"This is a gift to the community," newportFILM co-founder Nancy Donahue said Sunday to the crowd that showed up to the International Tennis Hall of Fame to see "Nowhere Boy," a film adaptation of John Lennon's youth.

The event was originally scheduled for Friday, July 23, but got postponed due to rain. Sunday was another drizzly evening, but the skies cleared just in time for the film, leaving a rainbow in the sky. Donahue thanked those who turned out for "having faith" in their effort, and the weather.

"We believe in discussing films," Donahue said of why she and co-founder Andrea van Beuren started their group. NewportFILM began shortly after the end of the Newport International Film Festival, which became extinct this year due to financial woes. NewportFILM's mission is to "nurture discovery, creative achievement and community dialogue through the art of film" in the coming year. Several more screenings are scheduled, all leading up to a full-scale festival they hope to put on in 2011.

Their efforts continued on Wednesday of this week with the screening of "No Impact Man," a 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. More than 100 people sat on the grassy field at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown for the outdoor showing, surrounded by abundant farm fresh food sources all around.

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, viewers 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 to 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," Beavan 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 of the key aspects, 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." 

According to organizers, 350 people registered for the screening of "No Impact Man." "Nowhere Boy" had 690 registrants. The group has four more films planned for this summer, including future outdoor screenings at the Norman Bird Sanctuary and Ballard Park. It's all part of their attempt to "connect with our audiences from the comfort of their favorite spots in and around Newport."

"I am passionate about documentaries and the series will have a strong documentary focus," van Beuren said of what's to come.

The group is still seeking volunteers and sponsors. For more information, visit www.newportFILM.com.