Theater nixes anti-Moore film's run

By VANESSA McCRAY
vmccray@record-eagle.com

January 07, 2009 12:00 am

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TRAVERSE CITY -- The Traverse City screening of a movie critical of documentary filmmaker Michael Moore has been shelved.

"Shooting Michael Moore" was scheduled to start a one-week run Friday at Carmike's Horizon Cinemas. But the company halted plans to show the movie late Tuesday, on the eve of a press conference organized by Moore supporters to protest the movie's local debut.

The movie is directed, produced, narrated and largely financed by Kevin Leffler, a Davison native and schoolmate of Moore. He learned the film would not be shown but was not told why. Leffler blamed the Oscar-winning filmmaker for pressuring the theater chain to yank the film and "silencing a voice that he did not want to come out."

"It was listed, and now it's not, and, obviously, the pressure got to them. Wow, amazing -- that he (Moore) was able to move a national theater chain like that," Leffler said.

Leffler's movie drew criticism from some local Moore backers who thought its title went too far. The title is a "thinly veiled call to violence," said Jeff Gibbs, who worked on Moore's films "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Bowling for Columbine" and also knows Leffler from school.

"It's a relief, because Michael's a member of our community," said Gibbs when he learned of the film's cancellation. "He's a friend and a real person."

Gibbs had planned a press conference for today and a possible Friday protest to show support for Moore but said he didn't see any reason to meet since Carmike had canceled the film's screenings.

The movie is sharply critical of the Traverse City Film Festival founder, his movies and his public persona. Moore has a worldwide reputation as a controversial filmmaker. In northern Michigan, where he makes his home in Antrim County, it's not unusual to spot him at the summer festival or glimpse him at the State Theatre, the East Front Street movie house he helped revitalize. Moore could not be reached for comment.

A Carmike spokesman did not know why the company pulled the movie. The chain's Traverse City cinema was to be the first of its theaters to show the movie, said Dale Hurst, director of marketing for Carmike Cinemas.

"Shooting Michael Moore" has been shown in Miami and in the Detroit area. Leffler, an accountant and college professor, acknowledged Moore was well-liked in Traverse City.

"I know I am going right in Mike's backyard, and I know that many view him as very favorable," he said, before the screenings were canceled.

Leffler defended the film's title, saying it is a reference to "shooting with a camera" and the movie contains "no violence."

"I wish Mike no harm, and the movie itself has literally zero implications," he said.

One part of the film follows Leffler as he travels to Moore's Antrim County house. Leffler traces the route for viewers and arrives holding a sign that states "From Flint? You're Family!! Stay Free!!"

Gibbs has not seen the film but objected to the inclusion of directions to Moore's house. Leffler said a laywer reviewed the movie and a specific address is not shown, though street signs are visible.

"I'd like to see the title of the movie changed, and the call to ... basically hurt Michael to be recanted," Gibbs said, prior to the cancellation. "Anybody can make whatever movie they want...; it's not OK to promote violence to anyone."

Leffler said he's a Democrat who was inspired to make the movie because the Moore known by him and others who appear in his film doesn't match Moore's image as a "generous speaker of truth" or an "all-American sort-of-guy."

"The reality is that who's Mike out for, is Mike, and that's OK, but he's dumped on a lot of people," Leffler said.

Leffler said he would tweak the film's title to "Shooting Michael Moore, Not" if that is the only hindrance to showing it. The decision to cancel the show suppresses free speech, Leffler said.

It's not the first time Moore has fended off local attacks. In 2005, an Elk Rapids gun club tried to raise funds by selling Moore's DVD and videos as shooting targets. Also that year, the first for the film festival, Moore's detractors held an alternative film festival in Traverse City. The counter film festival did not return the following year.

Record-Eagle staff writer Melissa Domsic contributed to this report.

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