Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NILES — A local storyteller is gearing up for an event he hopes will spread the message of unity to the community.

Justin Flagel of Red Chuck Productions is teaming with Vicker’s Theater, 6 N. Elm St., Three Oaks to host independent folk rock duo The Bergamot for an exclusive screening of the duo’s film “State of the Unity” at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9. The film follows The Bergamot, a band with roots in South Bend, as they traveled to all 50 states as part of their State of The Unity Tour in 2016, where they invited people to sign their message of unity on their car.

“We’re working on getting the car to the front of the Vickers Theater,” Flagel said. “Hopefully, it’s gonna be sitting right there in front of Vickers.”

Following the screening, The Bergamot members Nathaniel Paul Hoff and Jillian Speece will do a special Q&A session with Flagel. The event will also feature a special acoustic performance of two songs from the original motion picture soundtrack. The Bergamot will also be performing a concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. Tickets can be purchased online at vickerstheatre.com.

Flagel is the founder of Red Chuck Productions, where he writes, tells stories, and creates new media. A multimedia journalist with roots in the local culture and music scene, Flagel said the event came to be after collaborating on projects with both the Vickers Theater and The Bergamot.

“I got to know the owner Zach Hackett and we have very similar views on the local culture and music scene and the potential here,” Flagel said. 

Flagel added that the event presents an opportunity for the community to come together and spread the message of unity.

“It’s just going to be a big fun event where people can see this movie for the first time if they haven’t seen it and we can talk about what that movie means to the band,” Flagel said. “We’re still in divisive times and you know what that movie means to this band. It’s going to be a great live show. People are going to see a great movie with good people at a great venue locally.”

For Flagel, being able to collaborate with a band like The Bergamot and a venue like Vickers Theater means a lot.

“The movie and the music is (The Bergamot’s) baby and the theater is Zach’s baby, but this event itself is my baby and so it’s really cool to do that. I am of a similar mindset with the band where we’ve gotta find a way through these ugly times and find ways to come together even over disagreement. It’s important for me to spread messages like this and so to have this event where people will hopefully come and maybe take something positive away from it means a lot.”

Flagel’s work can be followed at redchuckproductions.com. Feedback can be directed to contact@redchuckproductions.com.