Somewhere in my back pages....

I spent today in the state archives. It's only a little more glamorous then it seems. I spent the day looking for articles about 'Matewan' and it's impact. There's the great feature story by the guy who got a speaking part and told of his day on the set. There's the story of local cast & crew filling three theatres when the film premiered in Beckley.

And there's this other guy.

Some stories jump off the page at ya and fill you with everything you need to know. This happened, here's what it means, you can expect this in the future. Take your typical methlab explosion - it's all right there in three inches of black ink.

But here was another story. A guy from Mingo County was making a documentary about the Matewan massacre because his family had a history that was wrapped up in the events from beginning to end. The story appeared..... August 1986, just as 'Matewan' is casting on the other side of the state.

I'm optimistic in thinking that this was a passion project for him and not just jumping on the bandwagon when heard someone else was coming to town. And the optimism makes me wonder - did he make his movie? Was he inspired by Sayles' film or stifled by it? When the train of fate came rolling by did he get on and ride it --- or did he step in front and give up?

I'm spending most of next week in Atlanta followed by a few days in Matewan. I hope I meet this other guy - and find out what happened.

j.brown