Increasing parishioner engagement is one goal that nearly all parish set. How a parish goes about this can vary, however. One way we’ve seen success is through hosting a parish movie night. Parish movie nights are a great and fun way to increase engagement by attracting people of different ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic groups. Everyone loves a good movie!
When hosting a parish movienight, it’s important to consider a few key aspects before you show up withyour bag of popcorn. There’s some planning involved, but don’t worry. We’ve gotyou covered!
Choosethe Right Movie
FromDisney to Christian-based films, movie choices are plentiful. The number onepiece of advice we can give you is to make sure it’s a movie that multiplepeople on your parish staff approve of and have seen. There is nothing worsethan assuming it’s a church-friendly movie only to be sitting next to yourGodly grandmother when an inappropriate scene surfaces. Don’t be that guy. Getthe movie approved and have confidence in your choice!
Bonus: If you choose aChristian-based movie like The Passion of the Christ, be sure toforewarn people of any suggestive material for young children. It’s better tobe open and honest about what they are walking into rather than shock themafter they are already there.
Purchasethe License
Before you can cast a moviefor all to see, you need to obtain the license for the movie you have chosen.Don’t fret, this is simple. Simply do an internet search containing the name ofthe movie and “obtain license.” Once you see the link to the productionwebsite, click on it and complete the steps it asks you to complete.
For example, let’s say you’ve chosen Finding Nemo for your parish movie night. Simply type “obtain Finding Nemo movie license” into your search engine and it will populate a list of results. One of the results will be the production company, which in this case is Swank Motion Pictures, Inc. You can then fill out a form to request a quote. It is as easy as that.
The fees for each licensevary by film and production company. Generally, there is not a flat rate foreach license. The rate will depend on the size of the facility, the anticipatedamount in attendance, and other key factors. On average, the cost rangesbetween $400-$900 per movie license. If you’re wondering if there is a discountfor nonprofits, the answer is typically no.
Promotethe Event
Next, it’s time to extend the invitation! One way to promote this event is by putting the information on your parish website. You can even create the form in ParishSOFT Giving using its flexible form create. Then add the form to your website so people can easily find the form and sign up. This will make it simple to direct everyone to sign up in one location.
You can also promote yourevent by announcing it from the stage, printing it in the bulletin or on flyers,and posting about it on social media. Encourage your parishioners to share theevent’s information so more people have the opportunity to hear about your parishmovie night!
HostYour Parish Movie Night
Finally, it’s the fun part!It’s time to host your parish movie night! Before your parishioners and guestsarrive, run through all the logistics to make sure the movie works properly,including the sound. By doing this you can eliminate any hiccups during theactual showing.
When people arrive, makesure they know who you are so they can find you if they have any questions.Ensure they also know the location of all exits and bathrooms. After youwelcome your guests, encourage people to put away their phones so they canenjoy a fun-filled night of popcorn and a movie!
NextSteps
If you need ideas onChristian-based movies, check out the top 25 Christian-Based Movies from our partner, Sharefaith! For more ideashow to engage your parishioners using our web-based church management,accounting, and giving software, contact our sales team at 866-930-4774 x6.