Filmmaker spreads message with each step

Published 11:29 pm Thursday, December 3, 2009

While sitting with his blistered feet buried in the cool sand of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Matthew Perdie was approached by a woman curious as to what the 24-year old New York native was doing.

She was much like many of the people Perdie is meeting on a cross-country trek appropriately dubbed, “Perdie Across America.” They are people who live in small towns and whose pace in life is much like his own — one step at a time. These are the sorts of people Perdie is looking to meet to both share his views of our country, specifically the dangers of massive government spending, and to learn what really makes this country tick. Who are we and where are we going seem to be just two of many questions Perdie is trying to answer. At the same time he is video taping his travels so that others can follow along. It is all very spontaneous and unrehearsed.

“I’ve always been drawn to the idea of new experiences,” said Perdie, who is spending a few days in Meridian before heading toward Jackson on Sunday. “I’m trying to improve my skills as a film maker, director and as a person. I’m learning a great deal.”

Born and raised in Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., at the age of 10, Perdie began his interest in movie production when he realized that the stories in the video games he played had more impact on him than the actual gameplay. Since then he has devoted his life to his aspirations of narrative filmmaking. But as he grew older, he became very aware of the massive spending in our federal government. Unable to produce the film he envisioned, Perdie decided to go on this walk in an effort to expedite the dangers of over spending.

“A lot of people I’ve met are conservatives who don’t really understand capitalism,” Perdie said. “Many don’t know how our economic system works and how it is based on our freedoms.”

On his journey Perdie will also study human life and interactions so that he can better achieve the level of understanding necessary to make truly insightful narrative films.

Armed with a pop-up tent, a hand-held video camera and other gear to go along with socks and clothes, Perdie strides toward the West Coast. He said the American Flag he carries along with a hiking stick given to him from a friend and fellow hiker that goes by the name, Ewok, are conversation points that draw people to him. Once they begin talking, Perdie fires up the video camera and records, sometimes with humorous zeal, Americans who are most closely affected by job layoffs, factory closings and a sluggish economy. Perdie has found people in certain regions of the nation cannot be lumped into one demographic or another. Rather, he said it is the towns and communities that more closely dictate who these people really are.

“You cannot speak in general terms when describing the people I’ve met,” he said. “They are very different from state to state, from town to town.”

At Crescent City Grill in Meridian Thursday, Perdie was able to meet some of those who are becoming familiar with his travels. An elderly man, possibly a veteran of some military branch of service, stopped to shake Perdie’s hand and thank him for what he was doing. It was one of those sincere moments Perdie clearly cherishes and one that makes the next blistered step easier to take.

When the opportunity presents itself Perdie will stay with various trustworthy Americans willing to house him for a night. Perdie will also encourage Americans to travel with him wherever he goes. All the while he will be video taping his experiences.

“I don’t know what will happen,” Perdie said. “I just let each day come and I’ll see what happens.”





Where’s Perdie?



To follow Matthew Perdie as he treks across America, go to Perdie.com and click on the videos or take part in a

conversation.