The Inspiration:
The idea was inspired by a group in New York called Improv Everywhere. Props to them! The following is a brief description behind their idea:
“Improv Everywhere is, at its core, about having fun. We’re big believers in “organized fun”. In the process we bring excitement to otherwise unexciting locales and give strangers a story they can tell for the rest of their lives. We’re out to prove that a prank doesn’t have to involve humiliation or embarrassment; it can simply be about making someone laugh, smile, or stop to notice the world around them.”
The following is a sample of Improv Everywhere:
Our Twist to the Idea:
Our twist to this idea would be to use this creative method for drawing attention to social injustices around the world.
The Basic Concept:
For our Freeze Project moments, we would like to draw a couple of hundred people at a time to participate in drawing attention to some of the social injustices of the world. Instead of protesting, we would like to create an experience that is fun, non-intrusive (in your face activism), and inclusive. We believe that we could use “the Freeze” to draw attention in a crowd, which will then be followed up with a brief handout to people about a particular social injustice in the world.
How a Freeze Project Moment Looks:
- Participants will be asked to show up a designated time and place.
- Participants will then proceed to the “Freeze” space and blend themselves into a crowd as if they were regulars in that particular environments (e.g., malls, events, outdoor shopping areas, etc.).
- A cue will be given by the director of the Freeze moment.
- Participants will then stop what they were doing and stay frozen for the next 5 minutes until they receive another cue telling them that the freeze is over.
- Following the freeze, participants will handout a couple of print material each to people observing them (with or without conversation).
- That’s it! Enjoy the rest of the day at the venue where the Freeze takes place.
We just ask that participants give us feedback after the experience by visiting our website/blog: www.thefreezeproject.com.
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Great idea! Can’t wait to see how it goes…
[...] I just saw this on my friend Charles Lee’s Facebook update and clicked over. Looks way cool! They are a group of Christians taking the idea of having a pre-determined group “freeze” in public places — made popular by Improv Everywhere — and putting a twist on it to bring awareness to social injustice issues. Nice! Check out their site at thefreezeproject.com. [...]
Thanks Sean for the plug!
By the way, this is not a Christian event. Everyone is welcome to bring awareness to reality of slavery around the world.
The goal for the freeze project is to bring awareness and opportunities for mobilization for anyone interested (whether of faith or not).
Should be great tomorrow!
[...] groups on Myspace and Facebook. For more information what and how the Freeze Project works, click here. Please help us get the word out and we hope to see you [...]
We are planning to do something like this and just found out you guys are doing this! The cause we are raising awareness about is human-trafficking. We are in San Diego County and have a vision to get into the malls here. Is there any way to connect with you guys to do a freeze here?
Sure. Give me an email with your contact info and I will be in touch.
My email is: charles@just4one.org
Look forward to connecting.
[...] Project groups on Myspace and Facebook. For more information what and how the Freeze Project works, click here. Please help us get the word out and we hope to see you [...]
Hello, I am living in Queretaro a lovely city in Mexico. I was thinking in bring freeze project to the city. What do you think about that… Maybe I can organize it. Gretings