If there’s one thing that we can all be – we may not all be beautiful, we may not all be smart, we may not all be talented – but we can all be kind. – From Finding Kind
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| photo courtesy of www.findingkind.com |
Lauren Paul and Molly Thompson sometimes pinch themselves when they see how their idea for a film about girl-against-girl bullying has transformed into the Kind Campaign, an internationally recognized movement.
I had the opportunity to interview the two film makers and Paul told me, “We had an idea of what it could be, but we really didn’t know what it would turn into.”
The two friends decided to travel the United States in 2009, talking with middle and high school girls about the pain they’ve experienced from bullying and the pain they’ve caused others. They documented their conversations with women and girls, weaving them alongside interviews with respected experts and authors in the fields of psychology, education, and the interrelationships of women and girls.
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| Photo Courtesy of www.findingkind.com |
The Finding Kind documentary became part of a larger project to engage schools and communities in real, meaningful conversations about bullying. To date, Paul and Thompson have gone on three national tours, presenting the film, speaking at school assemblies, and encouraging people across the nation to take the Kind Pledge.
Through the school assemblies, Lauren and Molly are able to interact with audiences and focus on the message of kindness and being conscious of what we say and do. The idea is not to point a finger at anyone, Lauren explains, but instead to acknowledge that “we’ve been on both sides of the [bullying] issue.”
The film makers never tire of witnessing the transformation that occurs during their interactive sessions, where they introduce Kindocology and encourage participants to make an apology for what they’ve said or done.
“We’ve seen this be such a healing thing,” Lauren says, that “transforms friendships, starts informed conversations, and changes lives.”
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| photo courtesy of www.findingkind.com |
Molly and Lauren recognize that these sessions and taking the Kind Pledge are the start of a conversation that needs to continue after they are gone. They created the Kind Club Curriculum to help keep the momentum from assemblies and community screenings, Molly says. The curriculum has received positive feedback from schools, where administrators say they are witnessing change take place throughout the school year.
People continuously amaze Lauren and Molly with their positive feedback about the program. Audiences consistently call the film and the conversations that follow “this life-changing, uplifting, eye-opening experience” Lauren says. While the film focuses on female bullying, it’s “a universal issue,” Molly explains, and the message “transcends gender lines.” Everyone can benefit from the message that kindness and being conscious of the things we say and do can have a positive impact.
Indieflix screened Finding Kind for the first time outside of the community screening setting for a short period in May. Due to my moving and travel plans, I missed this screening. Speaking to these inspiring film makers and watching the trailer, I regret not taking the opportunity to watch Finding Kind.
I am going to look into how to bring a community screening to my area, however, since Lauren and Molly are beginning a new tour for the film this fall. They are also releasing Kind Kits as early as September, a new resource for schools. To learn more about how to host a screening in your school or community, visit www.findingkind.com.
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Disclosure: I received a free subscription to IndieFlix to try the product for review. No payment was received for this post.
This looks like a great video!