On the Trail of The West Wing

Bluemont VA...a very small town, but filled with extremely nice people. I was wandering around the Community Center today, taking pictures of a crew putting bunting on the bleachers outside the center. I spoke with Scott and John, a couple of guys from a Baltimore company that was hired to set up. Very nice guys.

I met Dominic, a young boy who will be an extra in tomorrow morning’s filming of the Bartlet schoolboy flashback scene. I took a couple of pictures of him, and he was disappointed that his friend, Donald Lee, had to go home and missed having his picture taken. Dominic led me inside the Community Center and then left.

There I was, taking pictures of the crew setting up what is normally a preschool room as Bartlet’s classroom. They had taken down many of the decorations, and were replacing them with period pieces...posters and the like from that era. A couple of the people were from the LA crew.

I spoke with Allison and Jackie, the two ladies who work at the Bluemont Community Center. They said they were excited, and that this was a really big deal for a small town like this. One of the guys (set designer?) from LA asked where Dominic’s parents were. The ladies told him, "Probably at home. He comes down here all the time, to play basketball and hang out." The man shook his head, and said he’d ‘never’ be able let his kid just hang out at the center by himself, not in LA. The ladies said that was the good part about living in a small town.

As I thanked the ladies for their kindness, Jackie said I could leave by the front porch, which was being dressed. I looked through the doors...the view encompassed the porch, overlooking the bleachers, set against the mountains in the background. Having driven through the state many times I remarked, "If you didn’t know any different, you’d think you were looking out at the mountains of New Hampshire." The set designer turned around and said, "You have a good eye. That’s why we’re here." He turned and went back to work.

As I wandered down the gravel driveway to my car, I met Rudy. He’s a burly local resident, hired for security. We chatted for a few minutes, and I took his picture, too. Although it’s supposed to be a closed set tomorrow, I may just have an ‘in’ with Rudy...he wants his picture posted on a website that he can visit.

I may just show up tomorrow...

Traveler

Loudoun Times-Mirror 28 August 2001 article.



Bluemont VA August 2001

Washington DC November 2001

Washington DC February 2002

Pennsylvania Roadtrip August 2002

Washington DC September 2002

Washington DC January 2003

Click on the Presidential Seal to be taken to 'Everything You Need To Know But Are Afraid To Ask...The West Wing Tutorial.