Home is obviously a concept that means a lot to the Imagination Movers. The band had long been a local favorite with kids and parents alike when Disney came calling. Rather than packing their bags and moving to Los Angeles, the Movers –– Scott Durbin, Dave Poche, Rich Collins and Scott “Smitty” Smith –– pushed to keep the production in the city, creating jobs and casting a huge vote of confidence for New Orleans.
Everyone who tuned into the premiere of Imagination Movers on Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. (or caught them on Good Morning America on Aug. 21) saw the high-energy foursome rocking out in their trademark blue jumpsuits. But we wanted to show another side
of the Movers –– kicked back, relaxed and in civilian clothes.
Rich Collins
Why is this your favorite room?
We’re proud of our kitchen because, with five kids, we’re always cooking or cleaning or visiting in there, and we designed it to work really well for that purpose. That room gets completely messy and cleaned again about three times a day. The kids like to pull chairs up to the counter and help make meals.
What’s your favorite thing about New Orleans?
I love New Orleans because the community welcomes, appreciates and encourages creative pursuits like the Imagination Movers; we couldn’t have started this project and grown it into what it is if we lived in Toledo.
Scott Durbin, pictured here with his son, Brewster, 7
Why is this your favorite room?
Of course, my favorite room would have to be our backyard. In fact, when it came to buying our house, the backyard is what sealed the deal. We have this wonderful pool complete with the soothing sounds of a waterfall. Moreover, we still had enough backyard to put a swing set up and have room to pass the football around or play some Wiffle ball. Any time friends come over, they leave feeling they’ve been on vacation. Sipping some suds, listening to tunes and enjoying the backyard –– family style!
What’s your favorite thing about New Orleans?
It’s where I grew up, holding memories of my youth in the palm of its hand. It’s where I met my wife, got married and had our two children. It’s etched its initials on my heart.
Dave Poche
Why is this your favorite room?
The den is my favorite room in the house because it is where everyone gathers, either for a party or just to spend quality time as a family. It is a large, open space that directly connects to the kitchen and dining room. The den also has a number of full-height windows and a pair of French doors that open to our backyard deck. In the fall and spring, we open the doors and windows so that the interior living area, the deck and the backyard are essentially one contiguous space.
What’s your favorite thing about New Orleans?
My favorite thing about New Orleans is the people. I think that is why the majority of folks who leave this area are drawn back home. There are few places in the world that have such warm, generous, down-to-earth people and such a tangible sense of community. The eats aren’t so bad either! Who wants to eat hoagies and subs when they could be having an oyster poor boy?
Scott "Smitty" Smith
Why is this your favorite room?
Truthfully, my favorite room is my backyard. I really love gardening, and I am a total bird-nerd. In general, I would rather be outside. Inside, however, my favorite room is our dining room. It is colorful and comfortable. It has lots of windows and a New Orleans flair: fleur-de-lis painted on one wall by my wife, Mary, and neat color washing on the other walls. It is also the epicenter of most of our social gatherings.
What’s your favorite thing about New Orleans?
That is a crazy question because there isn’t just one thing about New Orleans that is great. Being a port city, it is a melting pot of cultures. It creates a positive, fun attitude that I haven’t seen or felt in any other city in the U.S. It’s the food and the music. It’s the fact that it is at the end of the Mississippi flyway and thousands of migratory birds pass through on their way to their wintering grounds. It’s the close proximity to the swamps and marshes –– some of the most beautiful and fertile places on earth. It is home. It would be impossible for me to narrow it down to one thing.
