"The Story Trek" Came to Town, and I Got to Watch the Action: Live Reality TV in Southern Virginia
Todd Hansen is a master story-teller who believes that every
person has something important to say, and he's on a mission, traveling the
country searching for a story. He happens to be the host of
BYUtv's reality tv show entitled, "The Story Trek," and his
cross country searching led him right here to Halifax County, Virginia.
Have you ever dreamed of closing your
eyes, putting your finger down anywhere on a map, and following it in
whichever direction it leads? No pondering, no planning, just a
finger on a random dot on a map leading the way? That's exactly
what the crew of The Story Trek does every time they film a
new episode. Recently, they laid down their map and dropped
a pen on it. They decided to travel wherever the pen landed in order
to get their next story. It landed on Wyliesburg, Virginia, just minutes
north of Halifax County in beautiful, rural, neighboring Charlotte County,
and thus began their adventures in filming right here in Southern
Virginia.
Before arriving in the area on September 29, The Story Trek
crew's producer Nichole Coombs contacted the Halifax County Tourism
Department. Director of Tourism Linda Shepperd assisted the
group, coordinating their accommodations at Berry Hill, offering information
about the area, suggesting ideas of where to go and what to do, and agreeing to
be interviewed on film as a part of the episode. I was able to meet with
the film crew at Berry Hill Plantation on their first day of filming, and
watched as Linda was interviewed in the parlor of the antebellum mansion.
On the morning of September 30, antiquity met modernity as
the film crew unloaded and set up cameras, mics, and lighting in the parlor of
Berry Hill, where host Todd Hansen found a piano, proving that this journalist
with an ear for a good story has quite an ear for music, as well.
Linda was a natural on camera, and an excellent
spokesperson for our Halifax County. She discussed the history, industry,
change, and progression of the area. She described the wide open
spaces, the rugged outdoors, and the sophisticated indoors, posing the question,
"When you have both, why do you have to choose?" The answer, of
course, is that you don't. When in Halifax County, Virginia, you can have both.
We are so glad we had the opportunity to share that message with the world
through this meaningful and inventive reality tv show.
Many thanks to The Story Trek producer Nichole Coombs for
your efforts, professionalism, and for reaching out to Halifax County
Tourism, and to host Todd Hansen. Also, many thanks to the crew,
which included Mike Fugal (Lead Audio), Matt Kjar (Photographer), and Andy
Bork (Director of Photography). It was such a pleasure to meet you all and to
see you in action. Pictured below in front of Berry Hill
Plantation's grand staircase are, from left to right, Halifax County
Tourism Director Linda Shepperd, Matt Kjar, myself, Nichole Coombs, Mike Fugal,
Andy Bork, and Todd Hansen.
The
Story Trek crew filmed in our area over the course of four days. While here,
they continued their pen-on-a-map method of discovering people
and stories. I have no idea where they landed while
here, nor do I know whom they interviewed. I will be seeing and hearing
the stories for the first time with the rest of their viewers, and I am looking
forward to watching with much anticipation. The Story Trek featuring
Wyliesburg, Virginia, and Halifax County, Virginia, will air on BYUtv sometime
this November or December 2014. We will be sure to keep you informed as to the
exact date and time that the show airs. In the meantime, please
enjoy this clip of The Story Trek to get a sense of what the show is
all about. I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to seeing what
magic Todd Hansen and the crew will make and what stories The Story Trek
crew will take away from our home here in Southern Virginia.
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