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July 30, 2005'Faith-based' crowd cheers Freedom FilmFestByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - It was a star-spangled, red- white- and blue-fangled start to the Traverse Bay Freedom FilmFest. The festival, which organizers say presents the flip-side to the Michael Moore-founded Traverse City Film Festival, opened Friday with a salute to veterans and a film screening. Genie Aldrich of Suttons Bay co-founded the two-day event that continues through Saturday at Horizon Cinema. Friday's festivities were held at the Park Place Hotel, where film devotees were greeted by T-shirt-clad volunteers and bunches of patriotic bunting. About 150 attended the first screening of the day, the documentary "Confronting Iraq." "I wouldn't say this has anything to do with Michael Moore," said volunteer Brandon Darin, 24, of Traverse City. "This is supposed to be uplifting." Darin said the Freedom FilmFest isn't about politics, or simply movies. It's a "pro-American" event, he said. The Iraq documentary and "In the Face of Evil," a film about former President Ronald Reagan, topped the list of must-see movies for attendee George Galic. "... They are putting out a point of view that might not be available in mainstream media," the Traverse City resident said of the two films. Galic said a few of the films shown at the rival festival caught his eye. "It's not like we are against everything being shown," he said. The reason he doesn't plan to go to those movies isn't partisan. It's because he expects them to be shown shortly on cable channels. "When you've got good cable and a big screen TV, you get to be house-cats," he said. The day of films started with a rally celebrating the festival's tagline: "Faith, family and freedom." "I'm so moved to see all of you here right now," Aldrich said, singling out veterans, families and "people that lead faith-based lives." One of the speakers, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joe Cooper, thanked Aldrich for organizing the festival and "for having the courage of her convictions," a line that drew applause from the audience. Cooper is the chief executive officer of American Pride Films Group, a new film production company that makes movies with pro-American themes. He criticized the media for not fully reporting stories in Iraq that show strides the country has taken since Saddam Hussein was ousted. About 50 people were in attendance at the 3 p.m. showing of "Echoes of Innocence," a contemporary Joan of Arc film. Co-founder Cheryl Felicia Rhoads said the turnout was good considering it was in the middle of a workday. Prior to the film, actress Morgan Brittany, who has acted in "Dallas" and "The Andy Griffith Show," talked about how Hollywood has changed over the decades. "There's such a backlash among people in Hollywood against conservatives and people of faith," Brittany said. "We need to make a stand and say we don't want to see the garbage." Darin, who volunteered as stage manager Friday, said he noticed that many in the crowd were veterans. "They are proud Americans ...," he said, adding that they want to see movies that reflect that pride. The Freedom FilmFest is scheduled to show five films today beginning at noon with "America's Heart and Soul" and concluding with a 9:30 p.m. showing of "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Staff writer Lindsay VanHulle contributed to this report. See Related Stories: Crowd is small, thankful at Freedom FilmFest - August 1, 2005 Glitch puts R-rated film onscreen at Traverse Bay Freedom Festival - August 1, 2005 Anti-Moore festival to open - July 29, 2005 Traverse Bay Freedom Film Fest schedule of events - July 29, 2005 Anti-Moore festival to open - July 29, 2005 Traverse Bay Freedom Filmfest: 'Mainstream' against 'extremist' - July 26, 2005 FilmFest is 'one-woman show'; Donors prefer to remain anonymous - July 26, 2005 TC Film Fest movies AFR objects to - July 26, 2005 Coming back to her roots: Aldrich motivated by Moore's politics - July 25, 2005 AFR Freedom FilmFest opens next Friday - July 22, 2005 Conservatives offer alternate film festival - July 7, 2005
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