The Appalachians Premiers in WV Cultural Center

May 7, 2005
Photos by Vivian Stockman

5 Years In the Making

About 350 people attended a Saturday evening preview of The Appalachians at the Cultural Center in Charleston, WV. From the audience response, it was obvious this film is special. Director Mari-Lyn Evans, a native West Virginian, hopes the film will stir the nation to demand that our remaining precious hills and hollows be spared the destruction that is mountaintop removal.  With about 93 percent of all National Public Broadcasting stations airing the documentary to over 70 million viewers, the film gives us a great opportunity to shout out Appalachia's grandeur while exposing the dirty little secret of mountaintop removal.

Evans contacted OVEC several years ago for names of coalfield residents and others to interview for this film.  As the film and book became realities, we stayed in touch with Mari-Lyn. OVEC's co-director is in the film. When she said, "My favorite characterization of 'reclamation' (associated with mountaintop removal) is that it's lipstick on a corpse," the Charleston premier crowd erupted in applause.  (Harry Caudill, who first wrote that phrase, also famously said, "Exploited people, like exploited land, soon turn troublesome.") The film also heavily features author, professor and OVEC member Denise Giardina.  Coal River Mountain Watch's Julia Bonds and OVEC's Vivian Stockman both have essays in the book that accompanies the film.

Below are photos from the Charleston premier of The Appalachians.

OVEC's co-director Janet Fout is on the big screen--and over 70 million people will hear her words!

The documentary covers historical and present-day mining problems, as well as the richness of the Appalachian culture.

Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association gets to paint his spin on mountaintop removal.

After the showing, the crowd mobs the table to purchase The Appalachians DVDs, CD and books.

Some excellent folks out for the evening.

More excellent folks out and about.

Another shot of the crowd.

May this film help bring an end to mountaintop removal.  This image is from BOB Gates' video "Trip to Kayford Mountain."