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Film fundraiser will fight cancerMar 18, 2013 (Messenger-Inquirer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Three Owensboro entities will join to raise money for cancer research through the "Unscripted: Series One -- Screen for a Cure." It will be presented by Verite Cinema, Family Video and the Daviess County Public Library at 4 p.m. on March 30 at the library, 2020 Frederica St. It is free and open to the public. Drinks, popcorn and door prizes will be provided. "We want to create awareness and not only support the arts but support a good cause," said P.J. Starks, founder of Verite Cinema. When the local filmmaker was returning videos to Family Video one day, a conversation arose about partnering for the event. "I never profit off my film projects; they're more for community outreach," Starks said. "They've been successful but only because I've had support from local businesses like Family Video in the past. I was happy to do what I could to help them." Starks organized the benefit event, which will open in the Reading Garden with live music by local rock artists Gypsylifter, Mollie Garrigan and Pat Ballard featuring Johnny Keyz. At 6 p.m., screening room doors will open for a recap of Starks' recent film series. Screenings will start at 6:30 p.m. and will feature discussion with the filmmakers. Four of the eight films shown during the six-week series will be screened at the benefit event, including "They Said They Were Here to Help," with writer/director David Bonnell; "The Red Box," with writer/director Max Moore; "Bumsicle" with Firelight Entertainment Group and a Skype appearance by writer/director Lee Goldberg; and "A Mind Beside Itself" with Starks. There will also be a silent auction. Family Video will be on site accepting donations for the Lymphoma Research Foundation, the country's largest organization for funding the research of lymphoma, the most common type of blood cancer. Family Video owner and president, Keith Hoogland, headed "Round it Up for Lymphoma," the video chain's nationwide campaign to support the foundation. It runs March 15-31 annually. "Cancer has touched all of our lives in some way," said Chris Tracy, district manager. "And we can fight it. Last year, we proved that amazing things can happen when we pool our resources." Family Video raised $1 million for the foundation in 2012, Tracy said. Other fundraising efforts include bake and yard sales and a car wash throughout the next couple of weeks at Family Video, 1212 J.R. Miller Blvd. "We're off to an amazing start and we'd love to do more," Tracy said. "The community has been really good to us since we opened two years ago. We're thankful for people like P.J. and everyone at the library, who continue to help with our goal." Angela Oliver, 691-7360, [email protected] ___ (c)2013 the Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Ky.) Visit the Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Ky.) at www.messenger-inquirer.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |