Thinking / ssmolenski
Kim and Krickitt Carpenter: The Couple That Inspired The Vow
I have a great job: I get to see movies before they open, plus I get to rub elbows with Hollywood’s elite. (Okay, not all talent I handle are perfect, but when having a difficult tour, I remind myself of Nietzsche’s quote, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Besides, they also make for some great stories at dinner parties — their names kept anonymous, of course.)
Recently, I had the honor of working with Kim and Krickitt Carpenter of Farmington, NM. They’re the real-life couple that inspired the box office hit, The Vow, in which Channing Tatum plays Leo (inspired by Kim) and Rachel McAdams plays Paige (inspired by Krickitt). It’s a tragic — but uplifting – story of a man and woman who find each other again after seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Their journey was touching to many when first reported and when their book was published in 2000.
As part of the pre-release screening program, a special premiere was planned in Farmington for over 350 close family members and friends of the Carpenters — a number that was scaled down from an original list of 2,700. (I don’t know about you, but I’d have a hard time coming up with 50 close family members and friends to invite. 350 or 2,700? That would be a real challenge.)
Over the weeks prior to the event, I got to know Kim and Krickitt, not only from daily phone calls and emails, but through their friends as they emailed me their RSVP’s and shared stories of the couple. One woman even sent me a couple of YouTube links showing some dance videos she had choreographed for a cause dear to her heart. As I watched the videos, I could see Kim front and center, supporting his community. It’s not surprising that these two have such a large group of supportive friends and family.
I also slowly realized just how close to the characters played by Channing and Rachel they really were. Even though the facts of the story in the film were changed a bit, the actors truly captured the personalities of the dear couple I had come to know.
Meeting Kim and Krickett, getting to know them and their inspiring story– it’s experiences like these that make me truly grateful to do what I do. Memories of this past month are ones I’ll treasure forever.
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