It's great to get an unexpected phone call...

Throughout my grassroots marketing adventure, I've had the unique opportunity to interact with people from all backgrounds. From retired professionals, to active service members, to Vietnam veterans, every person I speak to has their own way of relating to The Way We Get By. As someone who's father and brother are both military veterans, I find the people I personally connect to the most are other family members of veterans and active service members.

These folks, often belonging to groups called Blue Star Moms, know how important the Maine Troop Greeters are, as they're the ones who receive the phone calls from Bangor when their loved-ones depart and return home from Iraq and Afghanistan. It's especially moving for them to know that strangers are opening their arms up to their sons and daughters and welcoming them back the first time the set foot on American soil.

One day last week as I was working on our Los Angeles outreach, I emailed an L.A.-area Blue Star Mom group to notify them of our screening times at the Laemmle Music Hall 3. About 30-minutes later, my phone rang and I didn't recognize the number. I picked up and on the other end of the line was Maria Riley, a Blue Star Mom from L.A.. The leader of her Blue Star Mom organization had forwarded their group members the movie info and she wanted to personally thank me for The Way We Get By. All three of her children served in the military and had gone through Bangor, Maine. Just watching the trailer had brought her to tears. According to Maria, whenever her children called from Bangor, that was when she knew they were finally home safe. Needless to say, speaking with her was incredibly moving. This post is dedicated to all military and veterans family members. The production team here at The Way We Get By sincerely hope your loved ones return home safely with a hero's welcome-- even if they don't get the pleasure of passing through Bangor!

Don't forget to buy your tickets to see The Way We Get By in Los Angeles now playing August 14-20!!! Click HERE for tickets!

Jessica Barnthouse
Associate Producer

Moviemaker Article -The Way We Get By

The MOVIEMAKER magazine article on THE WAY WE GET BY is out in stores now! Get a copy and share with your friends. Learn what we did to make our film and get it out into the world.

Click here to read the article

And then buy a copy of the magazine and support outlets helping independent filmmakers!

Maine Premiere-- Collins Center for the Arts- Orono, ME

The Way We Get By had its Maine premiere on Thursday night. Bangor Savings Bank sponsored the screening for us and treated us all like stars for the night.

It was an unforgettable evening. Bill, Joan and Jerry were picked up in a white Cadillac Escalade limo. They were surpised as it pulled up to the Collins Center for the Arts with a line of military members greeting them as they walked on the red carpet into the building. They were taken to a VIP reception where they as well as the rest of the troop greeters were honored for their service. Aron and I also received a Proclamation from the State Legislators.

People were escorted into the theater--there were about 1300 people in attendance. The Color Guard posted the flags and the Governor and a number of other key people recognized the greeters and our film. The Governor then presented us with a special award for the film and community service. It was all surreal since we hadn't even screened the film yet. Then, finally the lights were dimmed and the film began.

The audience was really into the film--the crowd laughed and cried through all the right spots and afterwards Bill, Joan, Jerry and our film team received a standing ovation. I could see Bill, Jerry and Joan beaming throughout the night. I know they never expected all of this but it was so amazing to see them recognized in this way.

The next day, there was a great film review by the Bangor Daily News in the paper and a front page article about the Maine premiere. We're told this is the largest Maine movie premiere in the state so for us--we're just blown away.

It was a night to remember and I don't think I'll ever forget it.

The Way We Get By Photos!!!

Check out our production photos for THE WAY WE GET BY on Flickr!! We will have many more photos coming soon but this will get us started. Share and send the photos on to your friends and family.