Box-office politics: CONSERVATIVE Liberty Film Festival in HOLLYWOOD 11/10-12, L.A. Chapter invited!

The Jewish Journal ^ | 10/20/06 | Rob Eshman, Editor-in-Chief

[RonDog]

2006-10-20

Box-office politics

by Rob Eshman, Editor-in-Chief

The first person I met at the Liberty Film Festival preview was a riled up Asian American man with a pompadour, who quickly explained to me what was wrong with Hollywood: It is a vast liberal conspiracy.

"But the founders of the studios were conservative," I said, thinking of the Goldwyns, the Warners and the Mayers.

"Yes," he said. "But their children are communists."

The Liberty Film Festival, now in its third year, aims to present and promote the work of conservative filmmakers who, according to the organizers, are ignored, persecuted and otherwise absent from "Hollywood."

I put Hollywood in quotes because its meaning, as the evening at the Luxe Bel Air Hotel wore on, was elusive.

The Festival, said Mike Finch, executive director of the David Horowitz Freedom Center that sponsored the event, "is a voice for sanity. [Hollywood's] not just for the far left. All these viewpoints deserve to be heard in Hollywood."

For him, Hollywood seemed to mean Westsiders who work in the entertainment industry and read the Huffington Post.

"It's really important that we have films going out with the conservative viewpoint," said actress Govindini Murty, who organized the festival with her husband Jason Apuzzo. "Because Hollywood is making a major effort on the left to undermine the war on terror."

For her, Hollywood seemed to mean documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. But Moore himself railed against "Hollywood" when Disney refused to release his controversial documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11." A bit later, Murty referred to "Hollywood's" love of documentaries "that undermine the military. They are all extremely radical, very anti-Israeli."

Here she had me stumped. This clearly wasn't the Hollywood of "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Marine," which opened this week. And I couldn't think of any anti-Israel Hollywood films. Which made me think that for Murty, "Hollywood" means anyone who won't make movies she likes, or, perhaps, that she's in.

This is the festival's third year, and it has grown substantially since its founding, last year attracting some 3,500 viewers. This year's event will be held Nov. 10-12 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

About 100 people gathered at last week's preview to meet the organizers and get a taste of the 28 films on offer.

If the trailers are telling, I suspect there will be a lot of documentaries and some uneven features with a kind of look-ma-I-have-an-Apple quality. There will be some violence -- I saw terrorist body parts splattered in something resembling POM -- but no sex or nudity. At Liberty, "conservative" means Christian, and Christian means Family Research Council.

The most promising documentary appears to be "Suicide Killers," by the Algerian-born Israeli filmmaker Pierre Rehov. The Arabic-speaking Rehov infiltrated a terrorist cell to provide a firsthand look at the people who perpetrate such inhuman crimes.

But the night's preview was less about these movies and more about why "Hollywood" would never want to make them.

It took me a beat -- as they say in Hollywood -- but eventually I realized where I'd heard that same complaint: from liberals in Hollywood, from Asians in Hollywood and Latinos in Hollywood. From screenwriters and actors and union members and women and newcomers and old-timers in Hollywood. Heck, I'd even heard it from Jews in Hollywood.

Because here's the truth: Hollywood doesn't make anybody's film.

Zillions of people dream of making a movie. But the studios only release a couple of dozen each year.

Chances are excellent your film -- whether it's about a Chinese lesbian dockworker who stands up to a right-wing corporate conspiracy, or about a blogger from Duluth who brings down a left-wing Washington conspiracy -- isn't going to be one of them.

The five top-grossing films of 2005 were "Star Wars-Episode III," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "The War of the Worlds" and "King Kong." There's not a political plotline in the bunch -- unless you count Narnia's Christian polemic.

Hollywood's primary, overriding focus is on making movies that do big box office. That explains how this week, Paramount Studios tapped Oliver Stone, the bane of the Michael Medved School of Wholesome Cinema, and Cyrus Nawasteh, whom Clintonites despise for writing "The Path to 9/11" to make a movie version of "Jawbreaker," about the CIA in Afghanistan. Ideology, shmideology -- go make us a hit.

But none of this realmovietik puts conservative tushies in the Liberty Festival seats, so Murty and the other speakers resort to victimhood and conspiracy. Several speakers referred to left-wing Jewish billionaire investor George Soros' reported interest in buying the 59-film library of Dreamworks. "Soros has taken over the Democratic Party," said Finch, "and is now making a major play to take over Hollywood. But [Murty and Apuzzo] are gonna beat George Soros."

Since when is buying the DVD rights to "Gladiator" "taking over Hollywood"?

All these ill-defined, overheated intimations of evil Hollywood are where the Liberty folks lose me. They begin to join thematic forces with the Internet cuckoos, for whom "Hollywood" means only one thing: the Jews. For centuries Jews were kept outside society's gates. But in the industry they created and in which they are still heavily represented, Jews are often the gatekeepers. And though the Liberty folks stand with Israel and against anti-Semitism, their antagonism toward an amorphous, conspiratorial "Hollywood" has a discomfiting resonance.

The conservatives at Liberty should ease up on the rhetoric. The twin gods of Hollywood are talent and a track record. If you have those, you're in, no matter how repellent your ideology, or your actions. Just ask Mel Gibson.

---

© 2004 The Jewish Journal, All Rights Reserved

[RonDog]

Note: I am posting this article in the ACTIVISM side bar, since last year's festival NEEDED FReeper "activists" in the audience (from the L.A. Chapter, of course) to help protect David Horowitz from attack by leftist goons -- who charged the stage.

We may also need some FReeper help THIS year, although I understand that the 3rd annual Liberty Film Festival **is** hiring PROFESSIONAL security.

See also, from www.reason.com (October 26, 2005):

WEST HOLLYWOOD—For a few seconds, the only thing separating David Horowitz from the two heavyset protesters bearing down on him was Melrose Larry Green, a semi-regular on the Howard Stern show who had leapt to the stage to defend his hero. Horowitz is a red-diaper Republican who's made a name for himself as a refugee from the left, right-wing pundit and provocateur; he had come to the second annual Liberty Film Festival to introduce the documentary Brainwashing 201.

The protesters were there to stop him, yelling "You have no right to speak!" as they stormed the stage and "Traitor!" as they were dragged away...

[RonDog]

Note: I am posting this article in the ACTIVISM side bar, since last year's festival NEEDED FReeper "activists" in the audience (from the L.A. Chapter, of course) to help protect David Horowitz from attack by leftist goons -- who charged the stage.

And, I am ALSO posting this also because Liberty Film Festival co-founder Govindini Murty is a FRiend of this forum, and she ASKED me to help spread the word. :o)

See also:

NEW photos!
ANN COULTER joins the U.S. Marines [and L.A. FReepers] at party after "Late, Late Show"
Ann Coulter pics from Craig Ferguson's Late, Late Show ^ | May 24, 2005 | RonDog [and FRiends]
Posted on 05/24/2005 9:11:20 PM PDT by RonDog

Govindini Murty and Ann Coulter

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[RonDog]

Tickets are available online NOW, at:

www.libertyfilmfestival.com

[reaganandme]

And for those who don't already know, the Liberty Film Festival has one of the greatest blogs around:

libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas

[RonDog]

And, I am ALSO posting this also because Liberty Film Festival co-founder Govindini Murty is a FRiend of this forum...

See also:

Discover the Secret Right-Wing Network Behind ABC's 9/11 Deception
Huffington Post via Yahoo News ^ | September 8, 2006 | Max Blumenthal

Posted on 09/09/2006 10:45:19 PM PDT by Lorianne

Less than 72 hours before ABC's "The Path to 9/11" is scheduled to air, the network is suddenly under siege. On Tuesday, ABC was forced to concede that "The Path to 9/11" is "a dramatization, not a documentary." The film deceptively invents scenes to depict former President Bill Clinton's handling of the Al Qaeda threat...

-- snip --

...In fact, "The Path to 9/11" is produced and promoted by a well-honed propaganda operation consisting of a network of little-known right-wingers working from within Hollywood to counter its supposedly liberal bias. This is the network within the ABC network. Its godfather is far right activist David Horowitz, who has worked for more than a decade to establish a right-wing presence in Hollywood and to discredit mainstream film and TV production. On this project, he is working with a secretive evangelical religious right group founded by The Path to 9/11's director David Cunningham that proclaims its goal to "transform Hollywood" in line with its messianic vision.

Before The Path to 9/11 entered the production stage, Disney/ABC contracted David Cunningham as the film's director. Cunningham is no ordinary Hollywood journeyman. He is in fact the son of Loren Cunningham, founder of the right-wing evangelical group Youth With A Mission (YWAM). The young Cunningham helped found an auxiliary of his father's group called The Film Institute (TFI), which, according to its mission statement, is "dedicated to a Godly transformation and revolution TO and THROUGH the Film and Televisionindustry." As part of TFI's long-term strategy, Cunningham helped place interns from Youth With A Mission's in film industry jobs "so that they can begin to impact and transform Hollywood from the inside out," according to a YWAM report...

-- snip --

...Early on, Cunningham had recruited a young Iranian-American screenwriter named Cyrus Nowrasteh to write the script of his secretive "Untitled" film. Not only is Nowrasteh an outspoken conservative, he is also a fervent member of the emerging network of right-wing people burrowing into the film industry with ulterior sectarian political and religious agendas, like Cunningham.

Nowrasteh's conservatism was on display when he appeared as a featured speaker at the Liberty Film Festival (LFF), an annual event founded in 2004 to premier and promote conservative-themed films supposedly too "politically incorrect" to gain acceptance at mainstream film festivals. This June, while The Path to 9/11 was being filmed, LFF founders Govindini Murty and Jason Apuzzo -- both friends of Nowrasteh -- announced they were "partnering" with right-wing activist David Horowitz. Indeed, the 2006 LFF is listed as "A Program of the David Horowitz Freedom Center..."

[ConservativeDude]

With regards to the early guys, Cecil B. DeMille was a fantastic conservative, fiscally, religiously, foreign policy, gun owning. He led the right to work movement for many decades in Cali, and could have had the GOP nomination for Senate once but turned it down. He worked the natl convention in 1952 for Taft. He was great.

And his final film set up another legendary conservative, Heston, for best actor.

Those were the days.

[ZGuy]

BTW - NewsTalk 870 KRLA (www.krla870.com) will broadcast "The Michael Medved Show" live from the Reagan Library on Wednesday, November 1st from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. The broadcast is free to attend (regular admission rates apply to visit the Museum exhibits), however reservations are required. To reserve your seat, call 805-522-2977.

[riverrunner]

"The five top-grossing films of 2005 were "Star Wars-Episode III," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "The War of the Worlds" and "King Kong." There's not a political plotline in the bunch -- unless you count Narnia's Christian polemic."

Maybe, but I had never seen the original King Kong, so I rented it and saw it and the latest remake. There is a huge political difference between them.

The original is pro-capitalist, with the filmmaker a risk taking merchant adventurer who sails with the full knowledge of the crew and their support. He carefully orders his men to "fire over the heads" of the natives to prevent bloodshed.

The remake shows the filmmaker as a lying, scheming scoundrel who cannot be counted on for anything. He lies to the crew, to the actress, and is generally despicable.

Needless to say, I liked the original much better.

[MHGinTN]

So, is there a market developing for conservative values stories regarding embryonic stem cells and abortion?... Evil Interrupted may have a future after all, if I can find the right venue.

[RonDog]

See also, from www.libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas:

Tickets for the 2006 Liberty Film Festival are now on sale here!

The 2006 Liberty Film Festival promises to be the most sensational yet, featuring films on: The Iraq War, 9/11, Illegal Immigration, Israel and The War on Terror. Outstanding festival speakers this year include (in alphabetical order):

author David Horowitz,
producer Ron Maxwell ("Gettysburg"),
film critic Michael Medved,
producer Jerry Molen ("Schindler's List, "Minority Report"),
Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson ("Dereliction of Duty"),
Frank Price (former President of Columbia Pictures & Chairman of Universal),
KFI talk show host John Ziegler,
producer/director David Zucker ("Scary Movie 4"), and many others!

Plus The Liberty Film Festival will present a special Freedom of Expression Award to The Production Team of ABC's "The Path to 9/11."

The 2006 Liberty Film Festival will be held this November 10-12, 2006 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, CA. The Liberty Film Festival showcases films that celebrate the traditional American values of free speech, patriotism, and religious freedom. Please note that festival tickets are only available for purchase on-line at The Liberty Film Festival website.

Full Festival Passes sold out last year within days, so be sure to buy your passes right away! We're also selling a limited number of VIP Full Festival Passes that include a ticket to our exclusive VIP Opening Night Party! Individual tickets also sold out very quickly these last two years, especially for our Opening Night and Saturday night screenings, so be sure to buy those tickets early too!

Here are the festival pass options...

CLICK HERE for more information

[RonDog]

The 2006 Liberty Film Festival will be held this November 10-12, 2006 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, CA.

From www.architecturetoursla.com:

Pacific Design Center

8687 Melrose Ave. West Hollywood, CA 90069 Phone: (310) 657-0800 Map  Website

[Victoria Delsoul]

Bumpity bump!

[RonDog]

Hi, Victoria! Are you related to Govindini?

You two seem to share the same "sultry" expression. :o)

From your profile page:

And, from www.libertyfilmfestival.com:

Govindini Murty Festival Co-Director Actress/Writer Govindini Murty is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Liberty Film Festival, Hollywood’s first conservative film festival. Govindini also co-writes and edits LIBERTAS, the premier weblog for conservative thought on film.   She is currently a guest film critic for AMC TV’s 'The Movie Club,' and Govindini’s 'Hollywood Confidential' columns on film and Hollywood history are featured on Newsmax.com.  Govindini has also appeared on Fox News, MSNBC’s “Scarborough Country,” Fox 11 News LA, The Michael Medved Show, The Al Rantel Show, The Jim Hirsen Show, the Steve Yuhas Show, The Inga Barks Show, and numerous other talk shows. She’s otherwise worked in film, TV, commercials and theater in Vancouver and Los Angeles. Govindini came to the US to attend Yale University, where she received a BA in East Asian Studies.
Jason Apuzzo Festival Co-Director Jason Apuzzo is a writer/director living in Los Angeles, currently with several film projects in development. He is also the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Liberty Film Festival, Hollywood’s first conservative film festival.  He also edits LIBERTAS, the premier weblog for conservative thought on film. Jason graduated from the USC School of Cinema-TV in 2001 with an MFA in Production. Prior to USC, Jason received his Ph.D. in Germanic Literature from Stanford University, and a BA in Philosophy from Yale University. Jason writes a weekly 'Hollywood Confidential' column for Newsmax, and has appeared on CNN, Fox News and numerous radio talk shows to discuss contemporary film.

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL! Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ron.

Long time no see. How are ya doing?

[RonDog]

I have been working a lot OFFLINE...

..but I keep getting pulled back here to promote worthy causes --- like the Liberty Film Festival. :o)

It is hard to get excited about the local elections here in "deep blue" California.

[peggybac]

I don't know Rob Eshman but it's apparent he doesn't know the insides of Hollywood. I know first hand the hatred of conservatives in the industry and have many times had to bite my tongue so I wouldn't lose a job. It is there and it is real.

[Victoria Delsoul]

It is hard to get excited about the local elections here in "deep blue" California.

LOL! I don't blame you, but keep up the good work!

Gotta go.

Nighty night, Ron. :-)

[RonDog]

And for those who don't already know, the Liberty Film Festival has one of the greatest blogs around:

libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas

See also, from www.libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas:

...Otherwise, from now until the festival I will be spotlighting here at LIBERTAS different festival films and programs, but you should visit the The Liberty Film Festival website to see the full list.

Director Leigh Scott’s The 9/11 Commission Report, featured below, is a gripping, fast-paced, stylish suspense thriller based on the events leading up to the 9/11 attacks.

The film is shot in a pseudo-documentary style, and really picks up where Path to 9/11 left off … you’ll want to get tickets for this one soon because we expect it to sell out quickly!

CLICK HERE to see the streaming video TRAILER

[RonDog]

:o)

[TASMANIANRED]

Dark and lovely meets blonde and beautiful.

[RonDog]

I don't know Rob Eshman but it's apparent he doesn't know the insides of Hollywood...

From what I can tell, he is a MAROON...

...but I wanted SOME kind of recent article about the third annual Liberty Film Festival -- to build this thread around...

...so that it would not be an unsourced VANITY thread. ;)

[xp38]

How can he say that Star Wars episode 3 has no political plot? The whole thing is about power and politics...oh and some light sabre duels for sure.

[RonDog]

LOL!

That picture of Govindini meeting Ann (for the first time, I think) is from the most popular thread that I ever posted on this forum:

NEW photos! ANN COULTER joins the U.S. Marines [and L.A. FReepers] at party after "Late, Late Show"
	Posted by RonDog On News/Activism 05/24/2005 9:11:20 PM PDT · 193 replies · 192,924+ views

[peggybac]

I'm glad you posted it. I'm only sad that I never got to attend the festivals when I lived in LA.

[TASMANIANRED]

You did good.

[Arizona Carolyn]

As hollywood announces they are cutting back on films, NBC is going to let their eight o'clock hour go to cheap game shows, etc., I would love to see conservative films kick butt at the boxoffice.... wonder how long the Hollywood elite will keep throwing it in our faces if they find there is no audience for their political rhetoric?

[RonDog]

You did good.

LOL!

Thanks!

It helped that I had very popular SUBJECT for that thread -- new photos of Ann Coulter! :o)

[RonDog]

...A bit later, Murty referred to "Hollywood's" love of documentaries "that undermine the military. They are all extremely radical, very anti-Israeli."

Here she had me stumped. This clearly wasn't the Hollywood of "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Marine," which opened this week.

And I couldn't think of any anti-Israel Hollywood films. - Rob Eshman

Thr looking HERE, from www.townhall.com:

townhall.com

Hollywood's New War Effort: Terrorism Chic
Jason Apuzzo

August 10, 2005

Slow to awaken after the 9/11 attacks, Hollywood has finally come around to contributing what it can in the War on Terror: namely, glossy, star-studded movies that sympathize with the enemy.

Hard to believe? Here's the pitch: with box-office numbers trending down, studio executives are suddenly greenlighting movies they can describe to shareholders as 'controversial' or 'timely.' Whether the films are anti-American or otherwise demoralizing to the war effort is apparently immaterial. Its appetite whetted by "Fahrenheit 9/11"'s $222 million worldwide gross, Hollywood thinks it's found a formula for both financial security and critical plaudits: noxious anti-American storylines, bathed in the warm glow of star power.

Here are just a few films already in the pipeline:

-  "V For Vendetta." From Warner Brothers and the creators of "The Matrix" comes this film about a futuristic Great Britain that's become a 'fascist state.' A masked 'freedom fighter' named V uses terror tactics (including bombing the London Underground) to undermine the government - leading to a climax in which the British Parliament is blown up. Natalie Portman stars as a skinhead who turns to 'the revolution' after doing time as a Guantanamo-style prisoner.

-  "Munich." Steven Spielberg directs this film about the aftermath of the 1972 Olympic terror attacks that killed eleven Israeli athletes. "Munich"'s screenplay is written by playwrite Tony Kushner ("Angels in America"), who has been quoted as saying: "I think the founding of the state of Israel was for the Jewish people a historical, moral, political calamity ... I wish modern Israel hadn¹t been born." The film focuses on the crisis of conscience undergone by Israeli commandos tasked with killing PLO terrorists - rather than on the barbarity of the terrorists themselves.

- "Untitled Oliver Stone 9/11 Project." Paramount will distribute Oliver Stone's new film recounting the rescue of two Port Authority officers after the 9/11 attacks. The film will star Nicholas Cage and Maggie Gyllenhaal - who recently suggested that America was responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

As for Stone, he had this to say only a month after 9/11: "This attack was pure chaos, and chaos is energy. All great changes have come from people or events that were initially misunderstood, and seemed frightening, like madmen."

"Syriana." Starring George Clooney and Matt Damon, this Warner Brothers film - set during the first Bush administration - features a plot by American oil companies and the U.S. government to redraw Middle East borders for greater oil profiteering. The film even depicts a handsome, 'tragic' suicide bomber driven to jihad after being fired by an American oil company! The film's climax comes with the jihadist launching an explosive device into an oil tanker as American oil barons and Saudi officials look on...

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread

[Landru]

"At Liberty, 'conservative' means Christian, and Christian means Family Research Council."

Just as Hollyweird means communist.
Of course I cannot draw such a conclusion, eh? :o)

"But the night's preview was less about these movies and more about why 'Hollywood' would never want to make them."

Doesn't make 'em, period.
This Rob Eshman guy's a real *gem*, Ron.

"Because here's the truth: Hollywood doesn't make anybody's film."

Rob?
You wouldn't know the "truth", Sir, if it kicked ya in the posterior.

"The five top-grossing films of 2005 were..."

They were "top grossing" because that's all Hollyweird offered, not the best they could've made, though.
There *is* a difference.
Rob's blurrs *things*, doesn't he.

"All these ill-defined, overheated intimations of evil Hollywood are where the Liberty folks lose me."

HA!!
Gee, y'think?
The understatement of the year.
So much has lost Rob the fact he finds his way home qualifies for the Eighth Wonder of the World.

"The conservatives at Liberty should ease up on the rhetoric. The twin gods of Hollywood are talent and a track record. If you have those, you're in, no matter how repellent your ideology, or your actions. Just ask Mel Gibson."

Unbelievable.

I periodically watch the Independent Film Channel on my satellite system.
One morning watched an obscure, virtually unknown motion picture called simply, This Is Not A Film.
Is written, directed & produced by a fella named Michael Nickles (who may or may not be a "Jew". Don't know, don't care).
Really enjoyed it.

Went to Amazon to see if it's offered for purchase & lo' & behold I found it.
Was claimed to be the *last* copy for sale, so I bought it right there & then.

Next thing I know -- that very day -- I receive an email from Michael Nickles thanking me for purchasing his film & giving it a chance.
I was & remain impressed.

Mike & I had a wonderful exchange of emails, he was genuinely surprised a person from Wisconsin connected with his motion picture. (~the only person from WI according to him, and he should know since he hand ships every copy)

Point is This Is Not A Motion Picture would never stand an ice cube's chance in hell being backed by a major Hollyweird studio.
The film's simply an entertaining (love) story with no hidden/subliminal socio-political/ideological message(s) (whatsoever), gratuitous sex (per se) or vulgarity (to speak of), so forgetaboutit.
Too "risky" for the Hollyweirdos.

But I for one (beyond the personal treatment I received from this most talented -- albeit broke -- artist) will watch for Mike Nickle's work for the remainder of my days, and, purchase it.
99% of the rest may continue to do as they have been doing: pound sand.

Really wished I could participate with you, Ron.
I sincerely do.

...we'd have a *ball*. ;^)

[MHGinTN]

The alphabet networks are hard at work redesigning this Republic into a leftist socialist haven, didn't you know? They won't stop the mutation process until their is no more money with which to carry out their bilge ... in othe words, the advertisers are on the same page and things will only get worse in the coming years, especially if/when the democrap party gets back into control, at least until the terrorists bring about our slaughter because of demcorat appeasement and feckless societal engineering.

[TET1968]

"Because here's the truth: Hollywood doesn't make anybody's film."

And Joseph Goebbels coined the phrase "Truth In Advertising" .

[reformjoy]

bump!

[L.N. Smithee]

I am wondering why nobody seems to be interested in a film about the distressing and compelling true story of Charles Jenkins, the U.S. Army deserter who walked away from his unit into North Korea thinking he would simply be sent home in a prisoner swap. Instead, he was imprisoned, beaten, indoctrinated, and forced to star in Kim Il Sung propaganda films leading Americans to believe he was staying of his own free will.

Jenkins was forced into regulated sexual relationships with two women -- the second woman having been one of many kidnapped from other Asian nations by the NorKoms -- and grew to love her despite the circumstances of their coupling. She and Jenkins managed to raise a family within the repressive environment, but she was freed along with other women after the DPRK admitted the kidnappings many years later. She returned to Japan, still loyal to Jenkins, who was able to return to a USA he didn't recognize after 40 years in a Stalinist black hole. He went home in-uniform to his still-alive, still-waiting mother (I'm tearing up just thinking about it), served a short sentence for deserting, and joined his wife in Japan, where they live with their children.

Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes did a story about Jenkins even though Jenkins' book is only printed in Japanese and is only available in Japan. Jenkins' story is so powerful and verifiable, it defied CBS News spin. Talk about triumph of the human spirit! Put in the hands of the right director, a picture about Jenkins -- a man who can tell first hand what North Korea is about and the reasons not to take America for granted -- could be legendary.

[RonDog]

This Rob Eshman guy's a real *gem*, Ron.

That was Govindini's concern also.

She was not happy that I posted such a NEGATIVE commentary about the Festival here.

I have assured her that FReepers are a rather discerning lot, and MOST of them are VERY aware of liberal bias when they see it on display, as here.

Still, I plan to post much more POSITIVE commentaries on the EXTRAORDINARY third annual Liberty Film Festival -- soon!

[RonDog]

Really wished I could participate with you, Ron.
I sincerely do.

...we'd have a *ball*. ;^)

LOL!! No doubt!

As we often say out here in "target rich" Los Angeles:

There is ALWAYS a "next" time.

Perhaps Liberty 4.0? :o)

[VOA]

bump

[pray4liberty]

The protesters were there to stop him, yelling "You have no right to speak!" as they stormed the stage and "Traitor!" as they were dragged away...

I'm surprised they didn't call him a F**ing J*w B**d -- Hillary's favorite phrase.

(Or did they?)

[CyberAnt]

Well .. how come this idiot didn't "ask Mil Gibson" himself. Mel was totally shut out of Hollywood with his movie .. and yet this guy seem to get that.

[Joy Angela]

I will be there!

[RonDog]

Me, too!

See you there!

[RonDog]

Here us the FIRST part of the 3rd annual Liberty Film Festival schedule, from www.libertyfilmfestival.com:

EVENT 1 Fri., Nov. 10 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM BUY TICKETS NOW!

FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT - Friday (11/10/06) 6:30PM Welcome + Surprise New Short Films from David Zucker and "24"'s Joel Surnow, with Special Guests David Zucker and Co-Producer Myrna Sokoloff! 6:40PM Festival Director Intro. by Govindini Murty & Jason Apuzzo 6:50PM Special LFF Freedom of Expression Award Presented to The Production Team of ABC's "The Path to 9/11"; Presented by Frank Price, Former Chairman of Columbia Pictures, President of Universal Pictures, Chairman of MCA Motion Picture Group 7:00PM "This is DNN" - World Premiere! (29 mins., 2006) Directed by: Bruce Wittman. Produced by: Bart Ely. A satirical look at how today's mainstream media might cover a typical day during World War II, complete with FDR protesters, war protesters, hurricane protesters - and a mockery of FDR in a Hollywood blockbuster titled "Fahrenheit 12/7." "This is DNN" is a hilarious and long overdue lesson in historical perspective. (Comedy, 29 minutes, 2006) 7:30PM Break Watch the "Border War" trailer above! 7:45PM "Border War" (95 mins., 2006) Written and Directed by: Kevin Knoblock. Prod: Kevin Knoblock and David N. Bossie. "Border War: The Battle Over Illegal Immigration" looks at one of the most explosive issues of our times - illegal immigration. "Border War" presents the true life stories of 5 people on the frontlines of this issue: a Border Control agent, an immigrant rights activist, an anti-illegal immigration activist, the widow of a slain police officer, and Congressman J.D. Hayworth. Although there are no easy answers, the compelling stories and incredible visuals will leave viewers demanding one. A Citizen's United/Peace River Company LLC Production. (Documentary, 95 minutes, 2006) 9:20PM Q&A with "Border War" Filmmakers Kevin Knoblock & Dave Bossie

[RonDog]

7:45PM "Border War" (95 mins., 2006)

See also, from www.humanevents.com:

Conservative 'Border War' Movie Gets Backing of Weinstein Brothers

by Robert B. Bluey
Posted Aug 22, 2006A new documentary called “Border War,” produced by conservative filmmakers in the Arizona desert, has won the backing of liberal Hollywood icons Bob and Harvey Weinstein, whose Genius Products has purchased the film’s rights.

The movie, which chronicles the lives of five people affected by illegal immigration, is making waves in advance of its big-screen debut next week in Los Angeles. Following its theatrical release, the Weinstein-owned Genius Products will control its DVD and TV rights, according to a source helping to publicize the film.

The documentary was produced on a $350,000 budget by Citizens United Productions, a Washington, D.C.-based conservative organization that made a splash in 2004 with “Celsius 41.11,” a film made to counter Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11.”

Citizen United President David Bossie said the concept behind “Border War: The Battle Over Illegal Immigration” first came to him last September as the group considered its next major project. It just so happened that in the course of the past year, illegal immigration has skyrocketed to one of the top political issues in Washington and across the country, especially among conservatives.

“I’m hoping our film really will create a discussion of the issues and give people a viewpoint of what really is going on at the border and how illegal immigration impacts the American people—from Teri March, the widow of the L.A. County sheriff’s deputy, to Congressman J.D. Hayworth, who is frustrated trying to put immigration reform on the agenda in Washington,” Bossie said.

“It really is a snapshot of the problem,” he added. “I’m hopeful that ‘Border War’ will do for border patrol agents what the television show ‘Cops’ did for your average, everyday police officer.”

The Los Angeles premiere will be on August 31, followed by theatrical premieres in Phoenix, San Diego, Nogales, Ariz., Washington, D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, Dallas and Houston. Bossie said depending on the success of the documentary, it could open on more screens. “Celsius 41.11,” for instance, played on 130 screens.

The documentary features Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R.-Ariz.), U.S. Border Patrol agent Jose Maheda, open-borders advocate Enrique Morones, Lupe Moreno, a Hispanic-American member of the Minuteman Project, and Teri March, the widow of a patrol officer murdered by an illegal alien.

A trailer of the documentary is available at BorderWarMovie.com/test.

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Copyright © 2006 HUMAN EVENTS. All Rights Reserved.

See also, from www.humanevents.com:

Conservative 'Border War' Movie Gets Backing of Weinstein Brothers

by Robert B. Bluey
Posted Aug 22, 2006A new documentary called “Border War,” produced by conservative filmmakers in the Arizona desert, has won the backing of liberal Hollywood icons Bob and Harvey Weinstein, whose Genius Products has purchased the film’s rights.

The movie, which chronicles the lives of five people affected by illegal immigration, is making waves in advance of its big-screen debut next week in Los Angeles. Following its theatrical release, the Weinstein-owned Genius Products will control its DVD and TV rights, according to a source helping to publicize the film.

The documentary was produced on a $350,000 budget by Citizens United Productions, a Washington, D.C.-based conservative organization that made a splash in 2004 with “Celsius 41.11,” a film made to counter Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11.”

Citizen United President David Bossie said the concept behind “Border War: The Battle Over Illegal Immigration” first came to him last September as the group considered its next major project. It just so happened that in the course of the past year, illegal immigration has skyrocketed to one of the top political issues in Washington and across the country, especially among conservatives.

“I’m hoping our film really will create a discussion of the issues and give people a viewpoint of what really is going on at the border and how illegal immigration impacts the American people—from Teri March, the widow of the L.A. County sheriff’s deputy, to Congressman J.D. Hayworth, who is frustrated trying to put immigration reform on the agenda in Washington,” Bossie said.

“It really is a snapshot of the problem,” he added. “I’m hopeful that ‘Border War’ will do for border patrol agents what the television show ‘Cops’ did for your average, everyday police officer.”

The Los Angeles premiere will be on August 31, followed by theatrical premieres in Phoenix, San Diego, Nogales, Ariz., Washington, D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, Dallas and Houston. Bossie said depending on the success of the documentary, it could open on more screens. “Celsius 41.11,” for instance, played on 130 screens.

The documentary features Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R.-Ariz.), U.S. Border Patrol agent Jose Maheda, open-borders advocate Enrique Morones, Lupe Moreno, a Hispanic-American member of the Minuteman Project, and Teri March, the widow of a patrol officer murdered by an illegal alien.

A trailer of the documentary is available at BorderWarMovie.com/test.

---

Copyright © 2006 HUMAN EVENTS. All Rights Reserved.

[RonDog]

The web site doesn't work.

Maybe it crashed?

See also from THIS thread:

Border War Movie Trailer
(The Battle Over Illegal Immigration)
http://www.borderwarmovie.com/ ^ | 8/28/06 | KEVIN KNOBLOCK
Posted on 08/28/2006 9:11:59 AM PDT by Lucky9teen

Trailer for new illegal immigration documentary "Border War"

-- snip --

...You can watch the trailer at You Tube...

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread

[RonDog]

7:00PM "This is DNN" - World Premiere! (29 mins., 2006)

Directed by: Bruce Wittman. Produced by: Bart Ely. A satirical look at how today's mainstream media might cover a typical day during World War II, complete with FDR protesters, war protesters, hurricane protesters - and a mockery of FDR in a Hollywood blockbuster titled "Fahrenheit 12/7."

See also, from www.clearglassproductions.com:

The answer lies within "THIS IS DNN," a sharp-witted parody of the Cable News Networks. While cleaning his attic, Harold (Scott Wathen) finds a mysterious dust-covered film reel labeled "Anne Siped -1944." After turning on the projector, he watches in disbelief - his grandma's a "news babe" (Anne Caitlin Donohue) and she is anchoring a DNN News Channel broadcast from February 1944! But this is only the beginning. It's what's in this newscast that shocks him even more: FDR protestors, war protestors, hurricane protestors, New Deal protestors, and a mockery of FDR in Hollywood's newest blockbuster - "Fahrenheit 12/7." Has the mainstream media of 1944 gone berserk? As the film reel spools out, a stunned Harold returns downstairs to his TV news junkie wife. On TV is our favorite curmudgeon broadcast commentator, Randy Mooney (Rowell Gormon).  After his harrowing attic experience, Harold is struck by the irony found within Mr Mooney's words. Featuring newcomers Anne-Caitlin Donohue, Rowell Gormon and Scott Wathen  "This is DNN " is a satirical yet long overdue lesson in historical perspective. At a time when we need it the most.

©Copyright 2006 Clear Glass Productions

[RonDog]

Here is the SECOND part of the schedule for this year's Liberty Film Festival - SATURDAY (11/11) morning/afternoon:

Sat., Nov. 11 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM BUY TICKETS NOW!

9:00AM "Curse the Darkness" - World Premiere! (78 mins., 2006) Watch a clip from "Curse the Darkness" above! Directed and Produced by: Curt Markham. A science fiction comedy in which a struggling New York artist creates a gateway to another dimension. This edgy, cinema verite, black and white parody of French New Wave style features hilarious scenes of politically-correct artists spouting left-wing/postmodern gibberish to justify their less than original art. You will never look at a black turtleneck the same way. Parental advisory: This film contains some profanity. (Comedy/Drama, 78 minutes, 2006) Q&A with Director Curt Markham to follow.

EVENT 3 Sat., Nov. 11 11:00AM - 1:15PM BUY TICKETS NOW!

NEW VISIONS PROGRAM A film shorts program featuring exciting new filmmakers! Watch a clip from "Winning the Race" above! 11:00AM "Good Luck in Her Eye" - World Premiere! (15 mins., 2006) Directed and Produced by: Jonathan Jedeikin. A nice young Jewish girl struggles with her parents' obsession that she marry a nice young Jewish boy. With advice from a friendly co-worker, our heroine navigates the perils of love and dating in L.A. Parental advisory: This film features some sexual situations, but no nudity. (Comedy, 15 minutes, 2006) 11:15AM "Liberating Dorothy" - World Premiere! (15 mins., 2006) Directed and Produced by: Fernando Allesandri. A young woman with the innocence of Dorothy from 1939's "The Wizard of Oz" appears today and is immediately put into therapy. The psychologist works to liberate her from her archaic notions of love and sexuality, trying her best to re-program Dorothy to suit modern standards. (Comedy, 15 minutes, 2006) 11:30AM "No I in Security" (13 mins., 2006). Directed and Executive Produced by: Eric Lee. Produced by: Susu Keepman Lee & Lewis Hill. A professional panhandler's life changes with the purchase of a new shirt. He learns to take on responsibility, and earns the love and respect of the community. (Comedy, 13 minutes, 2006) 11:45AM "The Hitch" (9 mins., 2005) Directed and Produced by: Daniel Morrison. A fast-paced adventure with amazing visual effects in which a team of covert agents must race against the clock to pull off a job without a hitch. Featuring car chases, plane stunts, high-tech gadgets and digital surveillance technology, "The Hitch" is an incredible roller-coaster ride. (Action/Comedy, 9 minutes, 2006) 11:55AM "Liberty01" - World Premiere! (5 mins., 2006) Directed and Produced by: J.D. Wilcox. A young woman stands up against government oppression when she confronts a corrupt official who is stealing private property via the misuse of "eminent domain." Parental advisory: This film contains some scenes of violence. (Action/Drama, 5 minutes, 2006) 12NOON Q&A with Filmmakers 12:10PM "Winning the Race" - World Premiere! (3 mins., 2006) Directed and Produced by: Michael Mandaville. A group of potential employees have to fill out their applications. But when it comes to filling out the section on Race, they have a few questions ... (Comedy, 3 minutes, 2006) 12:13PM "Democrats Unleash New Tool" - World Premiere! (3 mins., 2006) Directed and Produced by: Clark Baker. In their own words, Democrats present their strategic philosophy for 2006/2008. Parental advisory: this film contains veiled sexual humor. (Comedy/Documentary, 3 minutes, 2006) 12:16PM "Crystal Morning" - Theatrical Premiere! (7mins., 2006) Directed and Produced by: Evan Coyne Maloney. On a remarkably clear morning five years ago, New York City came under attack. This video memorial, taken from footage shot by an eyewitness, shows New Yorkers waking up to that grim reality. Parental advisory: This film contains potentially disturbing images of the 9/11 attacks. (Documentary, 7 minutes, 2006) 12:23PM "White Elephant" - World Premiere! (24mins., 2006) Directed by: Christopher Giardino. Produced by: Robyn Burnett. Jeremy's homecoming from his first months at university has been highly anticipated by his modern, progressive family. When he reveals an inconvenient truth, family hysteria erupts, turning a tolerant table upside down, and dinner cold ... (Comedy/Drama, 24 minutes, 2006) 12:47PM "Los Tabaqueros" (8 mins., 2006) Directed by: Francisco Gonzelez and Russell Griffin. Produced by: Nate Wood and Russell Griffin. Passion, love, and tobacco ... all rolled-up in into this documentary on the life and art of handmade cigars. A wonderful celebration of a traditional culture, filmed amidst the Cuban emigre community in Miami. (Documentary, 8 minutes, 2006) 12:55PM "The Baseball Card Shop" - World Premiere! (7 mins., 2006) Directed and Produced by: Kelly Kennedy. Opening day of the baseball season may be rained out, but in an empty baseball card shop the heroes of the past will play one more game. A heartwarming ode to a great American sport. (Animation/Comedy, 7 minutes, 2006) 1:05PM Q&A with Filmmakers

EVENT 4 Sat., Nov. 11 1:45PM - 3:10PM BUY TICKETS NOW!

1:45PM "A Hero's Love: The Daniel Unger Story" - World Theatrical Premiere! (68 mins., 2006) Watch a clip from "A Hero's Love" above! Producer: Vern Laney. The true life story of a U.S. soldier who knew no greater love than to give his own life so that two Iraqi civilianscould live. Daniel Unger was a beloved son and brother, a stellar student, a champion athlete with a blackbelt in karate, an ordained Baptist minister who worked to rehabilitate young offenders in prison, and an American hero who gave his life in Iraq to save two Iraqi civilians - all by the age of 19. His extraordinary story is a testament to the heroism of our troops overseas, and to the love and courage of the families who support them. (Documentary, 68 minutes, 2005)

EVENT 5 Sat., Nov. 11 3:30PM - 4:45PM BUY TICKETS NOW!

3:30PM "Between Iraq & A Hard Place" (65 mins., 2006) Watch a clip from "Between Iraq & A Hard Place" above! Director: Rex Pratt. Prod: Rex Pratt and James Michael Pratt. An emotional and moving look at a platoon of Marines serving two tours in Iraq. This film takes you inside the hearts and minds of a group of Marines who exemplify the phrase "honor, courage, commitment," and features combat footage shot by the Marines themselves in Iraq. The film explores the stress experienced by these Marines as they return to life in the US, and how the public can make their readjustment easier by offering them support, friendship, and thanks for serving their country. (Documentary, 65 minutes, 2006)

EVENT 6 Sat., Nov. 11 5:00 PM - 7:15 PM BUY TICKETS NOW!

IRAQ WAR SHORTS PROGRAM + HOLLYWOOD & THE MILITARY PANEL Watch clips from "Road to Ramadi" above! 5:00PM "Road to Ramadi" (12 mins., 2006) Directed and Produced by: Robert Ham and Mark Stampfli. After 9/11 a young Army private fighting in Iraq has to come to grips with the realities of war, and his belief in God helps him to pull through. Parental advisory: This film contains intense war scenes. (Action/Drama, 12 minutes, 2006)) 5:15PM "The Manual" (30 mins., 2006) Directed by: Ryland Grant. Produced by: Cynthia Graner. A young Marine Sergeant struggles to come to terms with the death of his estranged father. He is assigned to the Notification Unit and in the process of his first family notification begins to confront his own demons - and find his way back to his own family. Parental advisory: This film contains some profanity. (Drama, 30 minutes, 2006) 5:45:PM "The Verge of Greatness" - LA Premiere! (12 mins., 2006) Directed by: James Day. Produced by: Dana Mannion and James Day. Chuck knows he must respond to the devastation of 9/11. He just doesn't know how. His desire to change the world must first begin with the desire to change himself. (Drama, 12 minutes, 2006) 6:00PM Q&A with filmmakers 6:15PM Hollywood & The Military Panel Discussion The panel will focus on how Hollywood portrays the military in the Iraq War & War on Terror today - by contrast to how Hollywood portrayed the military in World War I and World War II, and played a crucial role in American victory overseas. Moderator: KFI talk show host John Ziegler (author, "The Death of Free Speech"). Panelists: Jerry Molen (Producer, "Schindler's List," "Minority Report," "Jurassic Park"), Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson (author, "Dereliction of Duty"), and Ron Maxwell (Producer, "Gettysburg," "Gods and Generals"). Other guests TBA.

[liberallarry]

Hey, this article is good. The author knows what he's talking about. Thanks for posting it.

[RonDog]

Hey, this article is good.

The author knows what he's talking about.

Thanks for posting it.

LOL!

Yours seems to be the MINORITY opinion on this forum. :o)

The REST of us think that it is a "hit" piece.

I only posted this negative review to have a hook on which to post the REST of this thread, as it was the only current "news" article about this year's Festival that I could find.

[liberallarry]

Yours seems to be the MINORITY opinion on this forum. :o)

surprise, surprise :o)

[RonDog]

I see...

I should jave guessed, from your SCREEN NAME. :o)