People go on road trips all the time, but not many document them and make a show out of it. Unless of course you’re part of the new media generation. For our Heart of Virginia report, four local guys who set out to tell a story of their weekend trip from Smith Mountain Lake to Durham — just because.

– Noreen Turyn – WSET ABC-13

“Dan Portnoy wanted to make a movie. So, instead of spending his days dreaming about what it would be like to be a big-time Hollywood director, or studying the minutia of filmmaking and watching movies in his basement, he made one. And it’s good. Plus, as you’ll read in my interview, it has an inexpensive and innovative distribution system. I think that his story should be an inspiration to everyone here, even if you’d rather invent something or sell a service because it shows what happens when you just get out there and just do it!”

– Dane Carlson – Business Opportunities Weblog

Now, more than two months after the ride, the film’s been edited down to 45 minutes, with a soundtrack that could rival some of the coolest independent films.

“The Great American Road Trip’s” soundtrack reverberates with Portnoy’s knowledge of up-and-coming artists. Artists like Andy Zipf, Lavender Diamond and The Watson Twins are featured on the film’s soundtrack.

– Jon Busdecker – News & Advance