One great thing about making a movie is you get to travel the country, even the world, showing the film and meeting people from all walks of life.

Welcome to West Virginia. September 12, 2006.

When I arrive in the capitol of Charleston I am met by Larry.

I have traveled from JFK to Cincinnati Int’l Airport (no direct flights to WV). Strangely, when we arrive in Cinci the pilot welcomes us to Kentucky. Kentucky? Woops…

Well, hold the phone…apparently, the Cinci Int’l airport isn’t in Cincinnati but in Kentucky. I find this a bit strange but hey, Giants Stadium is in New Jersey.

So I feel like I was in the middle of nowhere when arriving in Charleston but Larry informs me that, in fact, it is a three hour drive to the West Virginia Aging Conference. You think you’re in the middle of nowhere now? he asks… Just wait 3 hours.

Larry tells me that the biggest state employer in West Virginia is Wal-Mart.

As we journey into the wild the obvious becomes a reality: life in WV is vastly different than life in the big city. Larry has never been to NYC, he goes back seven generations in WV, and is hoping his son will succeed in the lumber business…an industry that will keep his son and family in WV.

I never knew those towns from Hollywood films still exist…we pass about a dozen small towns, all with one street and a post office, a restaurant, and a bank. Several rest near train tracks, or a mining facility. And although I feel far and away from the big city, big business has creped it’s way even into small-town America. Each town has a Wendy’s, Wal Mart (of course), and a McDonalds. It’s funny…you can tell that they are relatively new additions because the fast food chains and retail stores are never in the center of town, but built just on the outskirts.

I check into the conference on Wednesday but do not have any obligations until Thursday.

I wake up to present the film at 8AM. For those that know me, 8 AM isn’t a time I am accustomed to seeing. But hey, if people are going to wake up that hour to see Room 335 I will certainly be there to smile and say a few Tammy jokes.

I grab lunch at 12:30. I then check out some of the incredible scenery here and look tirelessly for a place to check the email. Now, at various Q and A’s I have been asked some interesting questions…
At Cinequest a woman asked if I was married…
At Phoenix a young lady showed up to my hotel room asking if I had had dinner…
Well, in WV I was told I would make a great father…like I don’t know that…

The most rewarding part was talking to a great man named Chuck Conroy, who runs the aging bureau here in WV. He told me that the film was a hit here in middle America and that he hasn’t forgotten those characters at Harbor Place. “I just wanted to know more about them, they were incredible people,” he said with a great smile. “The whole film just tickles me to death.”

WV was a great time. Thanks WV.

We’re in Connecticut tonight at Southern CT University, 5PM! Q and A afterwards so stop on by…