We’ve all seen or read about traumatic events or issues and wondered how we can help; but it isn’t a simple task to find the best organization, fundraiser or nonprofit.
Whether it’s a thought-provoking or timely video on Facebook or a documentary film, we’ve all thought or asked, ‘How can I help?’
One Denver startup is looking to shake up the documentary film model, encouraging educated discussion on social and emotional issues in post-movie panel discussions that identify ways to help.
As an avid documentary film watcher, Bill Byrnes often found himself wondering how he could get involved in issues.
“I was asking, ‘what can I do?”’ he said.
In a quest to answer that question for himself and others, Byrnes launched GoodCinema, a startup that brings together documentary films with local subject matter experts, in Denver last year.
GoodCinema’s model is designed to drive action in the community. Customers watch thought-provoking films, engage in open dialogue with a panel of experts and are told how they can act to support local causes. Tickets typically cost between $15 and $20 and events are billed for three hours.
Byrnes said GoodCinema gets people off of the couch or out from behind the computer and shows them concrete ways to help.
“What better way than to bring people together, to give them more information, more context, more connections and then show them a better path forward,” he said. “Whether that be internally, with things they can do to change themselves in their lives, or externally to be able to volunteer, donate or sign a petition. Rather than slacktivism, like posting on Facebook.”
Since launching in August 2018, GoodCinema has hosted nine events on a host of topics, from housing and immigrant detention to happiness and paid family leave. Byrnes said they’ve averaged about 150 attendees per event, with a host of repeat customers.
The startup has capitalized on buzzworthy issues, hosting an event in late-March centered around psychedelics, just before Denver voted on decriminalizing magic mushrooms in May.
Despite the initial success, Byrnes didn’t always intend to launch his own business, having earned a degree in hospitality with an eye towards bars and restaurants.
“I enjoy working and connecting with people, but I found that I need some purpose attached to things,” he said.
GoodCinema recently graduated from the 2019 Creative Startups Accelerator in Albuquerque, which is sponsored by Meow Wolf. The program is designed for creative oriented startups trying to achieve scale.
Byrnes said the accelerator helped him better identify his target customers, competition and potential partnership opportunities as the company scales.
As GoodCinema builds out its roster of future events, Byrnes said finding and programming films has become easier. He sees GoodCinema as an outlet for documentary filmmakers to showcase their work.
“Many of these impact films that are created don’t have the money and resources behind them to have a big distribution. Because of that, people aren’t seeing the films that matter,” he said. “We want to help be a conduit for filmmakers to not only show their films to an audience that cares, but help them drive the impact that was intended.”
Byrnes said he’s building a repeatable framework, similar to what TEDx has done, to spread the GoodCinema model across the country.
“We’re building a movement and we’re building a community,” he said.
For more on GoodCinema, including upcoming events, check out their website here.
