When I first watched "Drug Wars: Silver or Lead," I was blown away. How can this level of violence, documented in the movie, erupt just three hours away?

That question is at the heart of this documentary and our eighth installment of the Fatal Funnel, which is set to publish Sunday, Dec. 28. We toured the Laredo corridor, and Nuevo Laredo, for signs of this violence.

"Drug Wars," produced by Dallas-area filmmaker Rusty Fleming, offers an inside look at the Gulf Cartel, the Mexican drug war and the effects of violent spillover into Texas.

For our next Fatal Funnel installment, we took that thesis one step further: Is the violence headed to Victoria? I think our findings will surprise you.

As for the movie, the Victoria Advocate and VictoriaAdvocate.com are presenting it to you for free. On Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m., we'll air the film at the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Victoria.

Following the film, several experts will answer your questions. The experts include Fleming; Victoria County Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor; Fred Burton, a former U.S. State Department counterterrorism, special agent; Webb County Sheriff Rick Flores; and William Slemaker, whose daughter is one of 40 Laredoans kidnapped by the cartels and still missing.

This event will be unlike any I've been apart of. I hope you'll join us. Please remember, seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

You might notice online ads, set to publish today, promoting the event. We'll also begin publishing print ads this weekend. Look, too, for upcoming stories detailing this important film premiere.

So, please, mark your calendars: Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. You won't regret watching this film.

After the film and expert roundtable discussion - an interactive talk we plan to broadcast on our Web site - Fleming will sign his books and DVDs, and other experts will be on-hand to field additional questions.

To learn more about this special event, you can also click here.

Thanks for your interest and let me know if you have questions. Best wishes,

Gabe Semenza / Advocate public service editor

On a side note: I am set to launch a new column and blog, dubbed Watchdog, on Wednesday. The column and blog, as the name implies, will features stories that lookout for you. The column will serve as a government, consumer and other watchdog vehicle; the blog will keep you updated as to progress on these stories, as well as solicit your input and help. We're creating a logo for both. Be sure to keep an eye out next Wednesday for this project's launch -- and in the future for Watchdog stories and blogs. If you have any Watchdog related stories, please send your ideas to watchdog@vicad.com. Thanks -- Gabe