Film producer Mari-Lynn Evans second from left, Bo Smith far left, Bob Gates far right, and Judy Bonds, between Gates and Evans

Doug Imbrogno of the Charleston Gazette told me that the WV Cultural Center is packed to the gills for the world premiere of Mari-Lynn Evans’ “Coal Country.”  I attended the reception at 6:30 PM sponsored by the WV Sierra Club and took the following photos. I have already seen the film and plan to write a review shortly. In the meanwhile, below are some photos of some of the many, many people who fit in to the 460 seat theater.

Two reviews of Coal Country – by Ken Ward of Charleston Gazette and Jeff Biggers, author of “United States of Appalachia.” The film will be shown at several film festivals including the WV Filmmakers Festival in Sutton, WV during the first week of October. Eventually it will be shown on PBS.  

Some stories about what happened at the premiere – Climate Ground Zero, Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail, WVPBS.

WV State Troopers on left with WV Cultural Center security on right – the people guests most wanted to see

 

The crowd at 6:45 PM

Ken Hechler walking with friends in the rain outside the Cultural Center on the way to the reception

Larry Gibson with wife to his left, friends at either end

Maria Gunnoe, 2009 Goldman Award Winner – she told me that with the award, she can now get to her house…..

Jordan Freeman and B.J. Gudmundsson. Freeman has been working on Coal Country with Mari-Lynn Evans for two years. He is a native of LA, having spent about 4 years in West Virginia. BJ has made several films about coal in WV including docs about Larry Gibson and Maria Gunnoe for her Patchwork Films

Mike and Tammy Sublette from Frog Creek Books

 

Speaking of books, WV author and editor of the book version of Coal Country, Shirley Stewart Burns, was asking people to sign the guest book, hand out literature, etc.

 A very fuzzy photo of two State Trooper vehicles in back of the Governor’s Mansion

 

South Charleston Museum La Belle Theater with marquee before the board voted to cancel premiere

Mari-Lynn Evans asked The WV Division of Culture & History to premiere the film months ago. Luckily, Secretary Kay Goodwin intervened to show the film with FULL SECURITY

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