Holding a “How to Die in Oregon” Screening

In 1997, Oregon became the first state where medical aid in dying was authorized. As a result, individuals who meet the strict requirements of the law can request a prescription to end their life if their suffering becomes unbearable. Since 1997, more than 1,000 Oregonians have utilized medical aid in dying to end their lives. In “How to Die in Oregon,” filmmaker Peter Richardson gently enters the lives of the terminally ill as they consider whether — and when — to use the law in order to bring about a peaceful death.

Richardson examines both sides of this complex, emotionally charged issue. What emerges is a life-affirming, staggeringly powerful portrait of what it means to provide an individual with a full range of end-of-life options. “How to Die in Oregon” features Compassion & Choices volunteers conducting their end-of-life support services and explores the organization’s roots.

“How to Die in Oregon” won the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, along with numerous other accolades. The film was acquired for television by HBO, where it enjoyed a lengthy run, and is now available on demand on Netflix.

Hosting a screening of this landmark film is one particularly visceral and engaging way to spark conversation with volunteers, partners and allies who are interested in medical aid in dying and other end-of-life issues. The film offers a rare opportunity to bring people together to witness the intimate, human dimension of dying, while still having enough distance for thoughtful conversations about end-of-life options.

Expert panelists or speakers from the medical profession, clergy, and even individuals and families who have been touched by a terminal diagnosis can provide deeper context and understanding of the issues as part of a discussion. Screenings can also be an opportunity to spark awareness and action around the medical aid-in-dying movement. In the pages that follow, we offer tips and tools to help make your screening a success.

What Do I Need to Host a Screening?

It sounds cliché, but it really is easy to host a small screening event in your home or at a local community space. Film events are always among the most popular activities, and this acclaimed documentary is a superb launching point for discussing important community issues like medical aid in dying and end-of-life care. That said, we do have a few tips to get you started and a handy checklist in the appendix of this toolkit.

• Make your list. Use your contacts to create an invitation list. If your list feels short (you should plan for a 50% or less response rate), encourage invitees to bring a friend and indicate the guest in their RSVP.

• Identify and reserve a space to gather. It could be your living room, your backyard, a meeting room at the library or a local community center.

• Choose how you will show the film. If you’re a Netflix member with DVD rental included in your subscription, you can order it from Netflix. The film is also available to stream on Amazon.com. Your local library may also have the film available for check out. Or, you can purchase or borrow a copy from Compassion & Choices. Make sure you have the appropriate equipment (TV, DVD player).

• Get a headcount. Try to get a final RSVP list several days before the screening to ensure you have enough materials, snacks and seating.

• Make handouts. You can print factsheets from Compassion & Choices’ “Understanding the Issues” webpage (CompassionAndChoices.org/understand-medical-aid-in-dying/).

• Provide refreshments. Drinks and light snacks make everyone happy; if the group is small you can even ask everyone to contribute something to share.

• Prep the space. Be sure to have ample seating, and place the TV, refreshments and materials in easy reach.

• Provide directions, including where to park or other relevant logistics.

• Have participants sign in. Make sure everyone provides an email address — particularly if they came with a friend or heard about the screening on social media (see below) so that you can follow up after the event.

• Get signatures. If you’re also gathering petition signatures (see Chapter 2: Petitions, Tabling and Canvassing), this is a great opportunity to get some John Hancocks! Use the petition template found in the appendix of this toolkit to gather signatures.
• Go social. Use social media to promote your screening and keep the momentum going afterwards. Use Facebook to invite friends and raise awareness several times before the screening (see image at right) and post photos from the event afterwards. Be sure to tag Compassion & Choices to help increase your reach and add photos if possible. You can share your post on local community pages and neighborhood apps like Nextdoor. Add hashtags like #medicalaidindying, along with our handle (@compandchoices) to Facebook posts and tweets.  

How Much of the Film Should I Show?

While in an ideal world we’d encourage you to show the entire film, we recognize that at-­home screenings can face time constraints, and “How to Die in Oregon” is nearly two hours long. When you add an introduction, special guests, and a discussion or activity, that could result in a long evening. Think about your goals for the gathering, and consider one of the three options below:

Option 1: Show the Entire Film, in Two Parts (RECOMMENDED)

We will provide you with several options for precisely where to pause the film. Inform your audience that you will resume screening the film after some additional discussion, then proceed to your panel discussion and other activities. Once your panel or activities are complete, resume the film to completion.

Option 2: Screen Only the Film’s First Half (About One Hour)

We will provide you with several options for precisely where to stop the film. Proceed to your panel discussion and/or other activities. Recommend that your guests finish watching the film at home (on Amazon or DVD).

Option 3: Show the Entire Film (1:43) in One Sitting

If you choose to show the entire film, you will need to limit your other speakers or activities as people will be restless after sitting for nearly two hours. Plan to have any remarks, materials, distribution or calls to action before the film begins. Don’t be alarmed if people leave during the film.

Managing the Conversation

When you gather friends, neighbors and family to view this film, a robust conversation about the issues is an important part of your evening. Consider the following tips for a respectful, engaging discussion:

• Make time. Plan your evening so that you have plenty of time for discussion, and ample opportunity for your audience to engage and share.
• Read the room. This film and the topics presented can be emotionally challenging for many people, especially those who may have had some experience with end-of-life issues themselves. It’s important to be aware of the energy in the room and to consider changing the focus, style or activity if it appears one or more of your guests is having difficulty.
• Provide a “break room.” In case either the film or the discussion become too intense for your guests, consider an alternate space (the kitchen, porch, etc.) for someone to take a break, if necessary. (Announce this option before the film begins.) Place boxes of tissues in both the viewing and break rooms.
• Plan activities. A good group conversation can be made even better with a group activity. Whether advocacy-oriented or educational, audiences will really appreciate the opportunity to apply what they have learned and express how they feel beyond just conversation. We provide a couple of examples for activities in the appendix of this toolkit.
• Share the air. Remember to give everyone an opportunity to offer their perspective.

Follow Up

No more than 3-4 days after the event, send a short email to thank your guests for coming. This is also a terrific opportunity to ask your guests to take further action with opportunities that are quick, easy, and in most cases don’t even require them to leave their computer! See below for a few easy opportunities you can offer your guests to support medical aid in dying on their own:

1. Like Compassion & Choices on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
2. Share posts and/or photos from the event on Facebook and Twitter.
3. Go to the Compassion & Choices website and sign up to volunteer or for email newsletters.
4. Tell your friends and colleagues about medical aid in dying and Compassion & Choices.
5. Make a contribution to Compassion & Choices online.

For more details on any of these action items, as well as other activities and opportunities to get involved, you can visit: CompassionAndChoices.org/what-you-can-do

Resources for Hosting a Screening

Screening Checklist

This worksheet offers a step-by-step guide to hosting an at-home film screening event in your living room, den or even the backyard. Give yourself at least four weeks to plan and promote your event.

Step 1: Plan and Secure (4+ Weeks Prior to Event)

• Select a timeframe for your event (mid-November, early June, etc.).
• Watch the film and review the discussion guide so you are familiar with the content (the film is available to stream on Amazon.com and on DVD either from Netflix or from C&C).
• Email [email protected] and let us know what you are planning.
• Select a date that is not too close to a holiday or local special event (weeknights or weekend afternoons are often ideal).

Step 2: Make Your List (3-4 Weeks Prior to Event)

• Compile your invitation list. Use your own address book; ask friend/colleagues for a list of their friends; ask permission to send an email to your colleagues at work or to organizations to which you belong.
• Make sure your invitation list is a reasonable size, given how many people you can seat. For an at-home event, perhaps one in four will be able to attend.

Step 3: Promote! (2-3 Weeks Prior to Event)

• Draft and send an email invitation to your list (online invitation services like Evite and Paperless Post make tracking RSVPs easy).
• Create and send a Facebook invitation (remember to tag C&C in the invitation and all posts).
• Create and maintain an RSVP list to track who is coming.

Step 4: Confirm Numbers (3-4 Days Prior to Event)

• Three or four days prior to the event, send a reminder to everyone you invited, and ask them to RSVP and/or confirm. If you use Evite or Paperless Post, reminders will be sent automatically (and you can set how many days in advance you’d like those reminders to go out).
• Mention seating is limited.

Step 5: Finish Prep For Screening (2-3 Days Prior to Event)

• Shop for snacks/pens/tissues/other needed supplies.

• Draft your event program or agenda (see examples on next page), including any guests invited as experts or speakers (hospice nurse, C&C staff, someone with an end-of-life experience).
• Print out enough agendas for everyone at your event.
• Print out materials or handouts you may need for activities (petitions, letter writing).
• If you are using a DVD, test the DVD in your own DVD player well in advance, in case you need to replace one or the other (sometimes certain DVDs and DVD players just don’t work together).

Step 6: Day of Screening

• Arrange your furniture in the best way for the event, and test your TV and DVD player again.
• Put out refreshments or reception goodies for your guests before or after the presentation.
• Put out your materials (agendas, petitions, etc.) and other supplies (pens, tissues).
• Have a camera/phone at the ready to take some snaps of your event for Facebook and C&C.
  

Sample Programs

Evening event with the film + discussion and activities:

6:00 p.m. Guests begin arriving; snacks and refreshments are available (circulate petitions and response cards)

6:30 p.m. Welcome from host and introductions

6:45 p.m. Screen first half of “How to Die in Oregon” (about 55 mins)

7:45 p.m. Q&A and discussion with group and/or remarks by special guest

8:25 p.m. Activities, group discussion, mingling …

8:45 p.m. Screen second half of of “How to Die in Oregon”

9:45 p.m. Allow time for your guests to decompress and chat informally about the film

10:00 p.m. Goodnight!

Afternoon event with full-length film screening:

1:00 p.m. Guests begin arriving; snacks and refreshments are available (circulate petitions and response cards)

1:30 p.m. Welcome from host and introductions

1:45 p.m. Featured speaker(s)

2:00 p.m. Watch “How to Die in Oregon” (about 115 mins.)

4:00 p.m. Activities, group discussion, mingling …

4:30 p.m. Good evening!