KERNERSVILLE
When Heather Faulkner submitted her plans for her project for her Girl Scout Gold Award, she was told that there was not enough time to organize her holiday-movie idea.
"But I really, really wanted to do a Black & White Theatre, so I did it anyway," said Faulkner, a senior at East Forsyth High.
Her plan was simple. She chose 10 weeks of classic movies to be shown every Saturday night in the chapel of Main Street United Methodist Church, 306 S. Main St.
Inspiration for the project came after watching characters on television's The Gilmore Girls play host to a similar event.
"I was just hoping to have something for Kernersville to come together. I had gone to Music at Twilight (a summer concert series sponsored by the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce), and thought it would be neat to have something for the community when it is cold," Faulkner said.
In December, she started with such holiday classics as 1965's A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas from 1966.
Admission is free, but Faulkner asks that moviegoers bring either two books for the Invisible Children movement, which helps children in Uganda, or two cans of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank.
Faulkner had worked with the food bank through the high school's chapter of the National Art Honor Society and knew of its need for canned food.
After the Invisible Children's School to Schools program visited the high school at the beginning of the school year and talked about the plight of children growing up in war-torn Uganda, Faulkner said she wanted to help that organization as well.
During the four weeks that movies have been shown, attendance has grown from about 25 people to about 50. Almost 300 cans of food and nearly 200 books have been donated.
She advertises through word of mouth, fliers, sending text messages to friend, and posting notices on Facebook and MySpace.
"We have a good mix in ages attending. A lot of kids came for Charlie Brown and the Grinch, and a lot of young people who are interested in classic movies but have never seen them are coming, too," Faulkner said.
Ann Cronin, who has four daughters ranging in age from 6 years to a high-school senior, said that her family has attended most of the movie nights.
"It's a way for kids to get to experience classic movies in a safe environment," Cronin said. "The younger kids lay on the floor with their blankets eating popcorn and see movies that they might not have seen otherwise. For the older ones, it's a way to get together while helping a cause."
Faulkner admitted to inexperience with many of the movie classics and said she chose the titles based on recommendations from others.
She had heard of several of the movies, but had never seen them. The movies were from the 1930s to the '60s. Some of them she got from friends, and she bought the others.
"I had never seen Miracle on 34th Street, but always wanted to," she said.
The movies are projected onto a large screen, and popcorn, cookies and muffins are served. Faulkner solicited area businesses and friends to help provide snacks.
She is still searching for a project for her Girl Scout Gold Award, but she said she doesn't think that her efforts on the Black & White Theatre were wasted.
"This is just something I wanted to do. I may try it again in the spring, too," said Faulkner, who will attend UNC Asheville in the fall.
Each Saturday, Faulkner opens the doors at 6:30 p.m. and starts the movie at 7.
The remaining movies in the series are: Jan. 3, Yours, Mine, and Ours (1968); Jan. 10, With Six You Get Eggroll (1968); Jan. 17, Harvey (1950); Jan. 24, Singin' in the Rain (1952); and Jan. 31, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939).
■ Monica Young can be reached at cyoung9@triad.rr.com.
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