Dave Rosenberg bringing free Bridging the Gap screening to Porterville

Filmmaker Dave Rosenberg will screen the first episode of his documentary series Bridging the Gap for free on Nov. 1 at Galaxy Theatres Porterville, followed by a live Q&A with local leader Taha Saleh. The event is aimed at sparking conversation about political division and common ground in a Central Valley community.

Why it matters: - The Porterville screening puts a national conversation about political polarization in front of a local audience. - The event is free and open to the public, lowering the barrier for residents with different political views to attend. - The program is designed to spotlight shared ground in communities that often feel overlooked in broader political debates.

What happened: - Dave Rosenberg will host a free screening of the first episode of BRIDGING THE GAP on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Galaxy Theatres Porterville, 631 N. Indiana St. in Porterville, California. - The screening will be followed by a live Q&A moderated by Taha Saleh, a lifelong Porterville resident, local business owner and candidate for Porterville City Council District 2. - The event is open to the public and invites residents with differing political views to join the conversation.

The details: - BRIDGING THE GAP is a three-part documentary series about Rosenberg and producer Susan Gorrell, two Americans on opposite sides of the political spectrum. - The filmmakers traveled across the U.S. for 23 days and spoke with community leaders, public figures and everyday Americans. - The series examines how political differences shape relationships and whether those differences are as deep as they appear. - The film shifts from political polarization to the people behind the opinions through personal stories and candid exchanges. - Rosenberg said the project is meant to show that Americans share many of the same hopes, fears and dreams despite political disagreement. - Rosenberg lives in Los Angeles and said his friendship with Saleh helped bring the film to Porterville. - The event is meant to highlight hardworking people in Porterville and across the Valley whose voices are often unheard. - Rosenberg has worked in TV, film, theater and digital media as an actor, writer, producer and educator. - Rosenberg wrote, produced and starred in the independent feature THE REUNION, which won Best U.S. Showcase Feature Film at the 2021 SOHO International Film Festival. - Cara Ronzetti won the festival's Best Acting Performance in a Leading Role award for THE REUNION. - Rosenberg's other projects include the comedy web series ISMS. - BRIDGING THE GAP is Rosenberg's film directorial debut. - Gorrell is the executive director of the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, and her opposing political views help shape the series. - The November 1 screening includes an opportunity to hear directly from Rosenberg about making the series. - More information and the official trailer are available here.

Between the lines: - The screening is as much a community event as a film showing, with the Q&A framing disagreement as something that can be discussed in public rather than avoided. - Saleh's role as moderator adds a local anchor and signals an effort to make the conversation feel grounded in Porterville rather than national politics alone. - Rosenberg's message centers on commonality, suggesting the film is intended to challenge assumptions about how divided Americans really are.

What's next: - Attendees will watch the first episode and take part in the post-screening conversation on Nov. 1. - The broader three-part series continues Rosenberg's cross-country look at division, disagreement and shared experience.