8A | SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019 | SIUSLAW NEWS CINEMA from page 7A The risk for City Lights is that locals who can’t wait for a movie such as “Green Book” to finally make its way to Florence go to Eugene to see the film. And sometimes studios flat out refuse to allow a movie to play in Florence. “That’s one of the more frus- trating elements for this business in Florence for us,” Falter said. “We thought that we wouldn’t have any competition, so we would be able to show whatever we want. But it’s really a matter of proving to distributors that we have an audience for that film.” Falter brought up the genre of faith-based films. “For instance, ‘Run the Race’ was a faith-based film we showed a few months ago,” he said. “We had a total of 31 people come the entire week. And that was three or four showtimes a day. Those are the type of comparables that distributors look at and decide whether or not to allow to show the film. Typically distributors look at grosses before they give a film to a certain theater.” If nobody comes to see one faith-based film in Florence, dis- tributors won’t bother to send fu- ture ones here. Earlier this month, City Lights began receiving requests for the faith-based film “Unplanned.” “‘Unplanned’ had a larger than expected opening, and nationally there’s been a lot of interest in the film,” Falter said. Because of that, the distribu- tor was willing to show the film in Florence. While it initially did well, with local church groups purchasing tickets at a group rate, the rest of theatrical run was small. “The other 21 screenings nev- er had more than a handful, and & shoppe play buy stay often no patrons,” Falter said. “Thus, there was no potential for a second week of business.” But “Unplanned” was an R-rated faith-based film about abortion, which may have turned off many viewers. “‘Breakthrough,’ which opens in Florence on May 3, is a less controversial film, but it appeals to the faith-based audience,” Falter said. “It’s based on a true story of a mother’s prayers and her son’s miraculous survival. It will be intriguing to watch. Will the fact that it has a more broad- based appeal work more effec- tively in Florence, even if nation- ally ‘Unplanned’ did much more business?” The success of “Breakthrough” could help determine the future of faith-based films in Florence. “We’re in a position right now where the community can help determine and tell us what niche films they’re interested in seeing,” Falter added. Ultimately, that’s what will help smaller theaters such as City Lights survive — audiences say- ing what they want to see, and going to see them. And some- times, seeing a movie that some- one generally isn’t interested in can actually help a community come together. “At the end of two hours, I’ll be tear strewn and think how lucky I am that I got to see that film, and it shined a light on something I didn’t know anything about,” he said. “People should try and see different films,” Tive added. “Just like trying different types of food, or when you go to see an art museum and you look at a variety of things. You don’t know what you’re going to like or don’t like until you expose yourself to it. It’s about people having access and a feeling of safety. There’s a place where you can try some- thing new and different and it’s not going to be frightening or overwhelming.” Falter brought the issue back to “Unplanned,” which was con- sidered controversial when it was released nationally. People called for it to be boycotted, and even City Lights got a few complaints for showing it. “I think it’s important for us to provoke ourselves,” he said. “The same week we showed ‘Un- planned,’ we also showed ‘Before the Flood,’ which is about cli- mate change. I think that climate Richard Beaudro Principal Broker 541 991-6677 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 EVENT CENTER Florence Events Center 715 Quince Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-1994 FINANCIAL SERVICES Hoberg’s Complete Auto Repair 345 Hwy. 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-2413 Edward Jones-Andy Baber, AAMS Financial Advisor 1010 Highway 101 541-997-8755 Petersen Auto Detailing Florence, Oregon, 97439 541-999-6078 Oregon Pacific Bank 1355 Highway 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-7121 www.opbc.com Florence Area Chamber of Commerce 290 Hwy 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3128 www.florencechamber.com CHARITABLE GIVING Salvation Army - Western Lane County PO Box 1041 Florence Or 97439 1-800-481-3280 CHURCH Cross Road Assembly of God 1380 10th St Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3533 Florence Church of Christ 1833 Tamarack St. Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3133 DENTURIST DentureMasters & Implant Center Dr. James Ridley,DDS 206 Nopal Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-6226 Denture Services 524 Laurel Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-6054 ESTATE SALES Cindy Wobbe Estate Sales 498 Hwy. 101 Florence OR 97439 541-999-0126 www.CindyWobbeEstates.com 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 Your Community By Supporting CHAMBER See Jim for your auto sales needs! 4512 Heceta St – One of the last close access beach area lots with incredible views! Property includes 3 lots total, over half an acre of usable land. White water and sunset views with easy beach access. $329,000. #2931-19251264 Keep it local. AUTOMOTIVE can learn through extended ex- aminations that films produce. Film is an empathy machine.” Whether it’s talking about the conclusion of a beloved superhe- ro franchise, hot topic issues such as abortion and climate change, or the complexities of history and race relations, seeing a mov- ie and talking about it afterward are a safe conduit to bring people together, according to Tive. “It seems to me more import- ant that people watch films in a theater in the physical presence of other human beings, whether they like it or not, or know them or not,” she said. “How isolated we are as a society. There’s so much division, and we’ve lost a sense of how to talk to one an- other. Film provides that safety to bring people together and talk to one another. And that’s some- thing our society desperately needs.” Price Reduced Support Florence Regional Arts Alliance 120 Maple Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-999-0859 about that period of time.” Falter pointed to the many ra- dio and newspaper articles about the controversy that came out after the film was released. If the film hadn’t been released, and the controversy hadn’t occurred, he most likely wouldn’t know anything about the actual story behind “Green Book.” “For me, watching the film, and then hearing about it on the news, my takeaway is a much richer one than if I had just skipped the film. My wish is that we can use our skills to think critically about everything we see. I don’t believe that not hav- ing those conversations is the answer. I think we plod along in this human story, and we try to make corrections when neces- sary, and we try to talk to each other. And I think films inspire talking to each other more than not. it’s amazing how much you Buying or Selling? I can help. ‘Film is an empathy machine’ “I make a living out of watch- ing documentaries for one of my other jobs,” Falter said. He helps choose movies for an annual documentary festival in Belling- ham, Washington. “There’s just some films that I don’t think I’m going to be interested in, and I don’t really want to see that film.” However, as the person in charge of picking the festival’s line up, Falter has to watch hun- dreds of submitted films to see which should be shown. ART ALLIANCE change is something that some people feel is politically loaded, but you can watch a film and not be ideological, with you going into your corner and me going in my corner. It’s something we can talk about. I think controversy, at its best, can inspire discussion. It can inspire examination. If peo- ple are open and interested in other points of view, then there are ways that we can talk to each other in this time of political and ideological difference. I think the natural human instinct is to talk to each other and try to under- stand each other.” It’s the conversation after the film that’s the most important thing. For example, Falter mentioned “Green Book,” which was heavily criticized upon release for not ac- curately portraying the events the film was based on. Many refused to see it based on that alone. “‘Based on true events’ is one of the great lies of narrative film, and ‘Green Book’ was a fasci- nating example of that,” he said. “That film, and the controversy that it sparked, led to so much more discussion about race and FUNERAL CHAPEL Burns’s Riverside Chapel 2765 Kingwood St. Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3416 Dunes Memorial Chapel 2300 Frontage Road Reedsport, Oregon 97467 541-271-2822 GARBAGE & RECYCLING County Transfer & Recycling 85040 Hwy. 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-8233 HAIR SALON U R Worth It 1247 Bay St Florence Or 97439 541-997-7377 HEATING/SHEET METAL Florence Heating & Sheet Metal 1645 Kingwood St 541-997-2422 HUMANE SOCIETY Oregon Coast Humane Society 541-997-4277 Shelter 2840 Rhododendron Dr. Thrift Store 1193 Bay St. Local Businesses INSURANCE Abel Insurance Agency 875 Hwy 101 Florence, OR 97439 541-997-3466 www.abelinsuranceagency.com NEWSPAPERS Siuslaw News 148 Maple Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3441 www.thesiuslawnews.com PEST CONTROL Swanson’s Pest Management 1550 15th St #14 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-4027 PET GROOMING/BOARDING Aloha Pet Grooming 1751 12th Street Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-2726 REAL ESTATE Coldwell Banker Coast Real Estate Lynnette Wikstrom, Broker 100 Hwy 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-999-0786 West Coast Real Estate Services, Inc. 1870 Hwy. 126, Suite A Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-SOLD (7653) REC. VEHICLES SERV. & REPAIR Florence RV & Automotive Specialists 4390 Hwy 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-8287 www.FlorenceRV.com www.shoppelocal.biz RESTAURANT 1285 Restobar 1285 Bay St, Florence, Oregon 97439 (541) 902-8338 Bay View Bistro at Best Western 85625 Hwy 101 Florence Or 97439 541-997-7191 Bridgewater Ocean Fresh Fish House & Zebra Bar 1297 Bay Street Florence, OR 97439 (541) 997-1133 RETIREMENT LIVING The Shorewood 1451 Spruce St. Florence, Oregon 97439 (541) 997-8202 shorewoodsl.com SEAFOOD Krab Kettle 270 Hwy 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-8996 SEPTIC SERVICE Wally’s Septic Tank Pumping Inc. 541-997-8885 SHOES & CLOTHING Stitch & Sole 1377 Bay Street, Old Town Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-7463 TIRES Les Schwab Tire Center 4325 Highway 101 Florence, Oregon, 97439 (541) 997-7178