June 26th RAPP Movie

[anni]

“ ‘No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You can not serve God and wealth.’ “ Matthew 6:24

We have an exciting selection lined up for our next screening. “The Corporation” is an insightful quick moving documentary that looks into the rise of the dominant institution of our times. Since corporations have been given the status of personhood by the Supreme Court, film makers set out to examine their psychological health. The outcome is an award winning film that includes interviews from insiders and critics. We think you’ll appreciate a topic that is so relevant to our daily lives and the ways in which the film sheds light on who is being served in our society.

“The Corporation” is over two hours and we want to savor it, so we are going to divide it into two parts. Part One on Friday, June 26th, and Part Two on the following Friday, July 3. Since corporations’ power is encroaching on that of nations, it seems a fitting way to spend the 4th of July Eve. We will have conversation and refreshments afterwards on both nights.

I hope you’ll join us as we learn together. Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church, 2700 Montrose Ave., Montrose. Doors open at 7, film at 7:30.
Here's a link to the trailer:

vimeo.com/ondemand/thecorporation10/128316649

[Oss Rae]

I saw this at a showing in Highland Park some years ago (I believe it was divided into two showing there as well). Very informative and worth repeat viewings--there's a lot to absorb.

[anni]

That's a clip from "The Corporation," which was released in 2003. The filmmakers later divided the documentary into 23 segments and posted them on You Tube.
Here is the playlist page:

YouTube Playlist

[Sharon W]

Thank you so much Anni for posting this. We can watch the first half prior to July 3 and come to the church to see second half!

[Brian]

Anni and I were at last Saturday's vigil in Eagle Rock.  The regulars there were joined spontaneously for the last half hour by a young activist named Chris.  I told Chris about this screening of "The Corporation," and he said that after he saw the documentary when it came out in theaters in 2003, he was "depressed for a week."  I noted that RAPP and Montrose Peace Vigil were offering the opportunity to be depressed for two weeks by showing the film in two parts.  Actually, the RAPP screenings draw a mix of church members, peaceniks and all kinds of others who get together afterwards to talk about what they just saw and heard.  Because of them, I always leave the church feeling better.

Ironically, portions of the McCain-Feingold act prohibiting corporations from financing political advertising went into effect the year before "The Corporation" was released and, as we all know, were struck down by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in 2010.  I will be watching the documentary this Friday, mindful of how much more ground the biggest corporations have gained since.

[Oss Rae]

I think The Corporation is one of those movies best watched in a group. I've had my own copy for some years now, but I haven't gotten to rewatching it probably for that very reason.

[Oss Rae]

Last night's mention of Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times reminded me of a clip I recently came across--Charlie Chaplin appearing on the Oscars in 1977. (This is supposed to be queued up, but if it isn't, the clip starts at 12:47:

[Sharon W]

We watched The Corporation on Netflix and it's very interesting. We'e not going to make it to the vigil or RAPP tomorrow night after all - XM/Siris radio is live streaming the Fare Thee Well tour from Chicago - it starts at 5:15 pm our time and will be over around 10 pm here. If there's an action recommended by RAPP regarding corporations we'll be happy to participate in that.