Posted on 06/26/2004 11:00:29 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Hundreds fill East Naples theater to see 'Fahrenheit 9/11'/Register Voters By LAURA LeBEAU, lalebeau@naplesnews.com June 26, 2004
A line of people waiting to see "Fahrenheit 9/11" wraps around the parking lot at Town Center 6 on Friday evening. Two screens were opened to accomodate approximately 700 movie-goers.
Hundreds of moviegoers, young and old, turned out Friday at the Naples Towne Centre 6 to see the first showing locally of Michael Moore's movie "Fahrenheit 9/11."
The midday heat and long lines didn't bother patrons as they nearly filled the 350-seat East Naples theater to capacity to view the much-talked-about, controversial film in which Moore criticizes the Bush administration for its response following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and its actions resulting in the war in Iraq.
These weren't just fans of film, though.
John Jenkins hands out blank voter registration forms Friday at Town Center 6, located on U.S. 41 East, before the first showing Friday of "Farenheit 9/11," Michael Moore’s newest film. "I feel there is a need to change the agenda," Jenkins said. "I think that there will be enough people incensed by this movie that it will change the number of voters at the polls."
Just outside the ticket booth, one man passed out voter registration forms to patrons as they entered and left the theater.
Ed Hummelstein, volunteer coordinator for Collier County Democrats, stood by in the parking lot to pass out Democratic Club fliers, sign up volunteers to further the party cause and draw support for presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry.
The scene outside the theater was calm, Hummelstein said.
"An occasional gesture, but they don't hurt," he said, smiling.
Patiently waiting, Kathleen Avalone of North Naples was excited about the theater being the only one in the area to show the film.
Mark Clemont, owner of Town Center 6 theater in East Naples, takes a picture of the crowd gathered outside the theater Friday night for the first-day showing of Michael Moore’s controversial documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11."
"I believe in freedom of speech and I want to support the movie and Moore's effort to get the truth out," she said before entering the theater.
A visitor from Los Angeles, Robert McCray, is a fan of Michael Moore.
After seeing Moore's last movie, "Bowling for Columbine," McCray said he liked the filmmaker's perspective. He said he hopes the movie furthers conversation to change the political landscape.
Some, like Naples resident Steve Carver, had never seen a Michael Moore movie, but was drawn to his newest film by the publicity.
Publicity is what drew Anne Lewallen of Naples to the viewing, too.
"I've read about 10 reviews, and I just wanted to see what it's about," she said.
By mid-afternoon, as people filed out from the 12:30 p.m. showing, reactions were mixed. Emotions ran strong.
"Better than I expected. I am so thankful I came," said Carol Yaklich, a Naples resident who also went to the movie out of curiosity.
"It informed me of things I really didn't know," she said. "I was to the point of crying."
Nancy and Sam Shafer commented on the movie's revelations and said it unfortunately reinforced what they already believed.
"I was sitting there weeping," Nancy Shafer said.
"I can't say I enjoyed it. It's not a good feeling," Sam Shafer said. "Two unfortunate things are the wrong people are seeing it, and because only one theater is showing it, a lot of people who wanted to see it couldn't, or had to travel all the way here to see it."
Lora Jean Young of Naples and her friend T.J. Brown of Marco Island found the movie more intense and explicit than they had anticipated.
"I called T.J. and told her I was going to the first showing because I had to see if all this is true, what they're talking about on television," Young said. "It substantiates what I already thought, but substantiates it very well."
Rick Quinn, along with Young and Brown, all commented on the audience reaction throughout the film. People were laughing, crying, cheering and applauding, Quinn said.
He said he saw three people walk out during the movie, but he remained riveted throughout.
"This movie will be with me for the rest of my life. It touched the soul," Quinn said.
Several of the people interviewed said they are Democrats; some said they are independent. Others, though not Republican, had voted for President George W. Bush and said they wouldn't do so again.
Carol Yaklich said, "I'm a Democrat, but I've voted Republican before. You know, I vote for who I think I'd want. I just think it's a shame all these soldiers are being killed, and for what?"
"You just don't know nowadays what to believe, but if these facts were all true, then this country is in a heck of a shape — bad shape," Yaklich said.
John and Karen Dwyer passed out fliers outside the theater to spread the anti-war message to the dozens of people in line for the 7:15 p.m. showing of the film. Their peace group, PAX Christi Naples, supported Moore's movie and protested the way people were "misinformed about the information we were fed to lead us into this war," Karen Dwyer said.
Their group planned an ice cream social next door at Mario's Ice Cream Shop afterward. Karen Dwyer invited moviegoers to "discuss more, and talk about further actions we can take to change the direction of our country."
The Dwyers are also welcoming people in their home at 1111 Euclid Ave., North Naples on Monday at 8 p.m. for a live national teleconference with Moore. John Dwyer said three computers will be set up with high-speed Internet so people can talk with the filmmaker. For more information, contact the Dwyers at 594-5754, or the group's Web site: www.pcnaples.com.
While a few people walked away from John Dwyer and his fliers, he was pleased with the conservative community's response to the liberal movie.
"It exposes a subset of Naples that nobody thought was here," he said.
Jeff Richardson, manager of Towne Centre 6, was pleased with the turnout. So much so that he has ordered another copy of the film to be shown on a second screen at the theater, one which has a 290-seat capacity.
"We're the only ones showing it. We're not taking any stance for it or against it, but we thought it should be shown. That's what we do," he said.
Public reaction has been favorable, Richardson said.
"Even Republicans are saying, 'Thanks for bringing it. At least people can see it.' You can't argue unless you've seen it," he said.
Staff Writer Julian Benbow contributed to this report.
Sure it is easy to ignore Moore and wish him away..but with tactics like these..Republicans better be out there as well with flyers and other means to show the facts. Being cocky right now is the worst thing to do.
Naples is a Republican stronghold, the district of Rep. Porter Goss on the House Intelligence Committee (he may even be the chairman; I forget exactly). I'd wager half the people in that are all of the Democrats in that district, and the other half came to heckle.
I lived in Naples for almost 4 yrs until a few months ago...I know the area very well. There is a huge liberal part of the population moving in...trust me..it becomes very hard to find Republicans in certain parts of the city.
Maybe we can call Moore a fat slob - that seems to be all we have in our arsenal these days and seems to win us converts - not. Secondly, wre Republicans skinnier than Moore for us to call him fat? Moore seems about the size most Red State Americans are these days.
And the sheeple speak... Maybe Boortz is right. Most Americans now are dumber than stone.
People that register to vote on an impulse because a form was shoved in their face don't show up on election day. Don't worry about them.
If we saw a line outside a church would we assume these are all unbelievers coming to be saved?
Moore's movie preaches to the choir. If you are so uninformed this movie gives you insight you must be a liberal democrat already.
As much as it makes me angry, I've gotta give them credit when it's due. The last few years they've outdone us on registration and get-out-the-vote drives.
Since it is completely legal, what is the problem? Don't be such a worry ninny.
As if these no life simpletons were going to vote for the GOP in the first place!.
Bush in a landslide!!!
So which is it? Does she want to support Moore, or does she want truth?
Hype isn't votes. We've watched media hype and bias all year long and Bush shows no sign of a collapse in the polls. There is at least a 60% chance this film will have no impact at all on voting. I know a number of committed liberals who think Moore is "worse than Limbaugh".
Frankly, both preach to their choirs.
registering isn't the same as voting
Unless the Democrats send a van to pick up these new voters on voting day, they won't bother to vote.
I know it is legal..my point is the GOP did nothing and is doing nothing to counter it. The youth vote is what I am looking at here because it is the youth vote that is so impressionable...I do believe I know what I am speaking about. Bush does not have this election locked up and letting propoganda out there like this run for weeks and months WILL cause a shift...mark my words.
I know that...but you seem to be missing my point. What is the GOP/RNC doing right now to counter this? Read my post above about the youth vote and MTV/Rock The Vote registering 20 million voters off of a pure left agenda.
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