UNCP Employee Attends "Windtalkers" Premiere

UNCP employee Lori Carter got the thrill of a lifetime when, along with family members, she attended the New York world premier of MGM's "Windtalkers." Carter works in the Office of Human Resources.

The family was the special guests of Roger Willie, a 1995 UNCP graduate who stars in the movie along with Nicholas Cage, Christian Slater and Adam Beach. Willie is married to Teresa "Sissy" Carter, who is Lori's sister-in-law.

In the film, Willie plays a Navajo code talker and Slater plays his personal bodyguard. Willie is Navajo and knows Dine, which is the language of the unbreakable code used in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.

Several of the original Navajo code talkers also attended the gala world premier. Besides taking a limo to the premier, the Carter's mingled with the stars at an invitation-only reception and dinner afterwards.

"The movie was great," Carter said. "I had a great time, and I felt honored to be there."

And, how about heartthrob and leading man Nicholas Cage?

"He was very shy and left as the movie started," she said. "Roger said he never watches his own movies."

"Roger introduced us to Nicholas and everybody," Carter said. "Adam Beech was very friendly."

"Christian Slater was the best," she said. "I have a video of him hugging me. He took time to talk to everybody and signed autographs."

"I thought Nicholas Cage would be all dressed up, but he wore a leather coat with fringe on it and jeans," she said.

Willie came to the region with the 82nd Airborne, and remained to get a degree in American Indian Studies. Today he lives in Tuscon, Ariz., and attends the University of Arizona where he is working towards a master's degree.

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