Organizers of the Rotary Creative Technology Center Lecture Series are welcoming filmmaker Pamela Tanner Boll to the school on Dec. 7 for a showing of her documentary, “A Small Good Thing.”

WINCHESTER - Exploring the uses of technology and finding happiness might seem unrelated, but that isn’t the case at Winchester High School. Organizers of the Rotary Creative Technology Center Lecture Series are welcoming filmmaker Pamela Tanner Boll to the school on Dec. 7 for a showing of her documentary, “A Small Good Thing.”

The film focuses on the possibility that a simpler life might be more likely to make us happy than one defined by the philosophy “more is better.”

“We invited Ms. Boll to present during our speaker series because the CTC is about more than understanding how things work or the best ways to use technology,” according to Library Media Specialist Andrea Zampitella. “We want students, educators and parents to view the CTC as a place where art, science, design and even fashion meet. This maker space is meant to allow all of us to push boundaries.”

The CTC was created as part of powerED UP!, an initiative funded by the Winchester Foundation for Educational Excellence.

The community is invited to visit the CTC on Dec. 7 between 6:30 and 7 p.m. and stay for a free screening of the documentary in the auditorium at 7 p.m. Boll will host a Q&A session after the screening.

Shot in Massachusetts, the documentary follows six people struggling to find their own definitions of happiness and success. Critics have noted that this award-winning documentary offers “…perspectives on happiness without pontificating…without taking a religious avenue but more of a spiritual one.”

Wider release

Mystic Artists announces that its documentary A Small Good Thing has been acquired by Kino Lorber. The documentary by Pamela Tanner Boll explores the disparity between material wealth and personal happiness by following several individuals as they seek to lead more meaningful lives, forming strong bonds with their families, communities, and the natural world around them.

A Small Good Thing explores what it takes to live a good life at the beginning of this new century. This film follows six people who, despite economic concerns and high levels of stress, have found more meaning in their lives, a closer bond with their families and communities, and a deeper connection to themselves and the natural world. The surprising discovery at the heart of A Small Good Thing is that hard ­­ but not impossible ­­ is a crucial part of a good life. The stories inspire us to make small, good changes in our daily lives.

A Small Good Thing will be released by Kino Lorber's Alive Mind Cinema label, specializing in documentaries in the areas of enlightened consciousness, secular spirituality and culture. The film will become available on VOD platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu on Dec. 20, 2016, to be followed by a DVD release in early 2017. The deal was negotiated by Boll, the film’s director and executive producer and producer Paula Kirk, and Wendy Lidell on behalf of Kino Lorber.

"A Small Good Thing does not pretend to have all the answers," said director Pamela Tanner Boll. "However, the film asks whether we can change our larger goals as a nation and learn from the rest of the world about the small truths that are the sources of human happiness. We're so thrilled to be partnering with Kino Lorber in bringing the film to much wider audiences to help them explore how working in small but meaningful ways, people can overcome obstacles to happiness."

For more information about A Small Good Thing, please visit the film's official website.

This article originally appeared in Woburn Daily Times: http://homenewshere.com/daily_times_chronicle/news/winchester/article_c37fcaf8-b64b-11e6-a7ea-f3941fda39c9.html