If you have been following me on Facebook, you’ll know I have been in Mississippi. I wasn’t sure how much I could talk about what I was doing on my blog until now…. so here is the scoop!!
Have you read The Help by Kathryn Stockett? I did and absolutely LOVED it!! At the time, I thought, this has to be made into a movie! So I found their Facebook page, which confirmed they were making a movie, which lead me to a link about a contest where you could win a trip to be on the movie set. With about 2 hours until the contest closed, I entered a photo and talked about how the book inspired me. Never thinking another thing about it, because I never win that sort of thing.
Turns out, I did!! I was one of the five grand prize winners! So earlier this week, my friend Naomi and I, had one of the most wonderful girl trips EVER to the cotton capital of Mississippi to meet movie stars, hang out with wonderful people, and stuff ourselves silly with fried southern food.
This wouldn’t be a good trip with out something happening right?
After arriving at the Memphis airport, I find out that my luggage never made it on the plane. What?? A car was coming to pick us up in about twenty minutes and drive us two hours away for only one day. I really needed my bag that day!
My luggage would be put on another plane, but not arriving until later that evening. Ack!! I’m going to meet movie stars and have no underwear, make-up or my high heels!! Noooooo! So that’s exactly what I said to the workers behind the counter at the “Lost Luggage” place. This is how the conversation started in a very southern drawl…
Luggage Lady: “A movie set? Well gosh! So, where you gonna be staying at? We’ll have someone deliver your bag when it gets here.”
Me: “A hotel in Greenwood, Mississippi. I think it’s several hours from here. We actually have to go soon to catch our ride. Is there anyway possible my bag will get there tonight because I’m only here for one day?”
Luggage Lady to Luggage Man sitting next to her: “Hey, isn’t Morgan Freeman from Greenville?”
Luggage Man: “Yes, I think he is!!”
Me: “Excuse me, I said GreenWOOD, not Greenville.”
Luggage Man: “I swear, I thought he was from Greenville, but now that she said Greenwood, I think that’s where he’s from!”
Luggage Lady: “What would you know, you’re not from the south anyway!?!?!”
Luggage Man: “Hey now, I’ve been here long enough to know where Morgan Freeman is from! Is he in that movie you’re going to see?”
Me (Ignoring Luggage Man): “Sorry, are you sure you got that I’m going to GreenWOOD and not Greenville? I really need my underwear.”
Luggage Lady: “Oh honey, I almost put down Greenville! Good thing you corrected me because that’s a really far drive. I wondered why you would you be going there? Unless they were filming that movie there, because that’s where Morgan Freeman’s from, you know?”
Several long minutes later of trying to figure out where Morgan Freeman was from… I leave the Lost Luggage office more confused than ever, but ready to have a good time no matter what and just cross my fingers my bag shows up sometime that night. I’m in the deep south. This should be fun!
Evidence of being in the south. I’ve never seen so many flavors of pork skins in my life!! ha.
After arriving at the hotel, I noticed a few gorgeous clothing boutiques right across the street. Of course, in small towns, nothing is open on Sunday and if it is, it closes early.
I call the airline and am told there is no way my bag will get there tonight. Ack! We leave for the movie set in the morning!
Twenty minutes before our scheduled dinner, one of the hotel workers drives us to JCPenney (it’s either that or Walmart) to find some clothes. I feel so much better just knowing I’ll have some underwear!!
As we walk into JCPenney a worker gets on the loud speaker and says. “Attention shoppers, we will be closing in 10 minutes, please bring your items to the check out counter.” Noooo!!! Seriously cracking up, my girlfriend and I split up for a super quick shop-a-thon!! LOL! I think the lady working there thought we were crazy. After 10 minutes, I had a few tops, a necklace, and best of all underwear. Too bad they didn’t have make-up and hairspray at that store.
On the way back to the hotel, we got a short tour of the town and saw some antique cars that were being used for the movie. The guy driving told us the cast was mostly gone because they had the wrap party the previous night. It was a big to-do, the town even had fireworks for them!
I have to say Greenwood is beautiful and the magnolia trees are bigger than houses!
Dinner Surprise
We made it to dinner, got to know the other winners and meet the film studio’s publicist. I found the stories about the movie fascinating and the fried shrimp and fried green tomatoes amazing! It was such a fun time, so what if I was wearing granny panties from JCPenney!
Then out of nowhere we heard a loud southern voice say, “Did someone order some chocolate pie??? You better hurry and eat this because I’ve got five kids I need to get home to!”. It was Octavia Spencer, who plays Minny, and one of the producers Brunson Green, holding chocolate pies. If you have read the book, you know the significance of that pie… and this was the pie that would be in the movie!
Octavia is one of the nicest, funniest people you’ll meet. The character Minny was actually based on her. It was a blast having her at dinner.
We enjoyed the most incredible chocolate pie I’ve ever had. I’m guessing it had caramel in it as well. YUM!
The producers are from the area and their moms bring in homemade pies and cakes. Apparently everyone has gained weight from working in Mississippi. After eating this pie, I can see why!
The next day we were off to the movie set to watch scenes filmed with Emma Stone (Skeeter), Viola Davis (Aibileen) and Octavia (Minny).
I’ll continue my story soon… maybe when the movie comes out.
UPDATE: Check out behind the scenes from The Help Movie & more movie set photos in my movie review.
So have you read the book? What did you think of it?
Don’t miss the behind the scenes update….
Originally published on October 14, 2010. Last Updated on April 18, 2019 by Amy Locurto
That is so amazing!! What a great win and a great trip!! And of course, a perfect photo to save… She’s on a streak!
I am so happy to have found this site!! I have just read the book and seen the movie and I absolutely loved it!!! You are soo lucky to have been there! What a treat! The story inspired me so much and I admire all those great women who worked the way they did back in the day- and Skeeter is just wonderful and courageous to work with the women and uncover the truth for all others to know what it must have been like in 1960s South. I love Minny and the story made me laugh but also cry how unfair and awful human beings can be to each other. Would love to find the recipe for Minny’s pie. Thank you for this site and thank you for sharing!! Best regards from Europe!! Much love to all.