Playing Soon in a Red State Near You

The first annual “Liberty Film Festival” gave liberal Hollywood a piece of its mind recently at the Pacific Design Center. Celebrating “the rebirth of conservative artistic expression,” the three-day event showcased a slew of independently produced films aimed at evils such as gun control, moral relativism, the nanny state and the corpulent director of “Fahrenheit 9/11.” We stopped by during the West Coast premiere of radio host Larry Elder’s debut feature, “Michael & Me,” to take the temperature of the fire on the right.

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Jan Powell

Human Resources Assistant

Ellensburg, Wash.

Why did you come for the festival?

I have a full pass. I screenwrite, so I was interested in the conservative filmmaking session this morning.

Most liberally biased film?

I hardly go to movies anymore because I’m tired of being assaulted with gratuitous sex and that kind of thing. I would say, “Runaway Jury” and those movies based on Tom Clancy novels. The bad guys are Middle Eastern [but] they turn them into other nationalities because that was more politically acceptable.

Your thoughts on Michael Moore?

I don’t hate Michael Moore. But I’m a Christian, and I think he’d be much happier if he found God.

What’s your favorite movie?

“To Kill a Mockingbird,” because of Atticus Finch as a father figure. I get chills watching that relationship he has with Scout. That’s the emotional, touchy-feely liberal side of me coming out, I guess.

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Dan Jacobs

Publishing Research Director

Pomona

Why are you here tonight?

I’m a conservative Arab American.

I have Muslim heritage. I’m also a gun owner. But I came earlier to see “WMD: The Murderous Reign of Saddam Hussein,” which is about weapons of mass destruction.

Do movies affect people’s reaction to politics?

Yes. Not only am I Arab American, but a portion of my family is Jewish. All we have to do is ask Leni Riefenstahl about the impact.

Are there any films that frame the conservative viewpoint?

I think conservatives have lost the PR war. What you’re seeing [at the festival] is a rebirth of what Ronald Reagan and Cecille B. DeMille did in the ‘40s.

Your all-time favorite film?

“Night of the Living Dead.” I like old B-movies. I sing for a conservative punk rock band, and I think a lot of the old horror flicks are great.

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Gene Champagne

Respiratory Therapist

Lakewood

Why are you here tonight?

I went to a luncheon at the Hollywood Congress of Republicans and heard about it.

What did you learn tonight?

Larry Elder’s movie was good on the right to self-defense. My father was murdered when someone was stealing his car. The thief stabbed him with a screwdriver. If he’d had his gun, he would be alive today.

Are Hollywood films biased?

Yes. They portray guns as evil. The bad guys use guns to rob or kill, but they never show anybody shooting a robber that’s coming into their house.

What films show conservatism positively?

The John Wayne movies or Ronald Reagan movies. They were about individual responsibility, like the one where John Wayne wore the eye patch, “True Grit.”

Your all-time favorite film?

Probably the “Star Wars” trilogy. Good triumphs over evil.

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Chris Moritz

Student, Chairman of UCLA Bruin Republicans

Santa Monica

Most liberally biased film?

HBO’s “Angels in America.” I thought it was terribly unfair to the Reagan administration. It placed way too much blame for AIDS on conservatives, for apparently hating gay people, which is not true. There are Republicans and conservatives who are gay.

Is Hollywood biased?

A lot of creative people tend to be on the left. There’s a group-think where everyone says, “Republicans want to see your children starving.” In “The Contender,” a Republican congressman was made into this horrible villain.

What film portrays the conservative viewpoint positively?

Niall Ferguson, a Harvard historian, wrote “Colossus: The Price of American Empire,” about American imperialism. He argues that’s a good thing. He uses “The Terminator” as a parallel for America.

Your favorite movie?

“The Godfather.” The first one. Wonderful acting. Family values!