After Seattle, the next city where Anson made a surprise appearance was—Boise.
Oh yeah, baby!
From the internet to the news, the entire city erupted in cheers, kicking into party mode.
The reason? Boise.
Wait, Boise?
At the mention of this city's name, many people might ask, "Where is that?"
It's the capital of Idaho, a small town with a population of less than 200,000, which hasn't changed much over the last decade. Compared to Portland, it's an even quieter and more low-key place.
However…
Anson showed up.
His appearance didn't just prove that his visit to Portland wasn't a fluke; it sparked hope in other small cities. This flash promotion could happen in any city, at any theater, and suddenly, everyone went wild.
Rumor has it that when Boise learned of Anson's arrival, the whole city went into a frenzy. For the past 20 years, no Hollywood stars had ever come to promote a movie there. No top-tier concerts had been held in years. It seemed like the city was forgotten, as if it didn't care about the entertainment industry at all. Even a local radio host could cause a traffic jam in this remote corner of the world, completely disconnected from the spotlight. But this time, Boise grabbed the chance to show its passion.
The theater Anson visited only seated 120 people, so when he showed up, it was a totally up-close-and-personal experience, turning the room into a volcano of excitement.
Soon, crowds swarmed the theater, completely surrounding it with more than a thousand people. The fire department and police had to come out to maintain order.
And the crowds kept coming. Traffic control was hastily implemented as Boise, fresh from the Christmas season, plunged into full-on celebration.
Even Boise's mayor showed up to thank Anson for his surprise visit.
The local Idaho TV station covered the entire event live, a true Christmas miracle.
Someone on-site asked Anson why he chose Boise.
Obviously, when it comes to Hollywood movie promotions, the focus is usually on big cities. A place like Boise, with a population under 200,000 and limited visitors, doesn't seem worth promoting in terms of return on investment—it just doesn't make commercial sense.
Anson's response:
"This isn't a promotion, it's a journey. Just like little Frank in the movie, who's always running, always wandering, always on an adventure, and finally finds his harbor in the end. I wanted to see what it's like, to go on an adventure and find my direction, and finally, find home."
"For me, there's no such thing as a small city, only new destinations for adventure. I love Boise. You made me feel anything but a stranger or cold. In fact, this face-to-face conversation is making me miss road trips. Who could resist a road trip?"
His clever response drew cheers from Boise's residents.
Even after Anson left, the city remained in a state of euphoria. Boise's cinema saw its most enthusiastic moviegoers of the year, easily surpassing the summer blockbuster season and becoming a bright spot in the winter landscape.
No one expected this.
However…
Hollywood wasn't impressed:
"So what if it's Boise? Even if the whole city went to the movies, how much box office revenue could it bring?"
Anson worked hard on his road trip, but it wouldn't compare to a single afternoon of promotion in a major city. Such a clumsy and naive effort seemed entirely unrewarding.
Hollywood insiders scoffed.
Unfortunately, their arrogant, conservative, and narrow-minded perspectives overlooked one thing—
A spark can start a wildfire.
Sure, Boise is just a small city with limited box office potential. But the focus was never really on Boise itself—it was about making a statement.
This was just the beginning.
Anson wasn't fishing for attention. His words in Boise were genuine, as he faithfully carried out his original purpose for the flash event:
An adventure. A journey.
Idaho Falls, Bozeman, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Denver…
He headed south, then looped back north.
Big cities weren't ignored either, but small cities were never left out. At any moment, Anson could show up in any town or city, sweeping across North America in a winding path from west to east.
It was madness—absolute madness.
Any city or theater could be Anson's next stop.
That was the real point.
Small towns, long overlooked and forgotten like Boise, could also get a glimpse of Anson. Residents didn't have to travel to Los Angeles or New York to see him up close. Even the faintest chance of this was enough to excite small-town residents across the country.
Soon, the excitement became unstoppable.
First, the buzz around Catch Me If You Can reached an unprecedented level, turning into the most talked-about topic of the Christmas season. The number of moviegoers kept growing as curiosity and excitement spread, creating a full-blown movie-watching craze.
Second, what if people really did bump into Anson? What if it wasn't just him—what if Tom Hanks or Steven Spielberg showed up, too? With all eyes on Anson's route, what if the film crew suddenly appeared on the East Coast?
As a result…
A wave of excitement swept across every city.
Of course, some remained cautious, waiting for Anson to possibly come to their town before trying their luck at the theater.
Hollywood insiders weren't entirely wrong. Some remote areas couldn't yet feel the wave of excitement, and Anson wouldn't actually go to a town of fewer than a thousand residents. There were still many unknowns between the buzz and actual box office returns.
So, for some, it was like buying a lottery ticket.
But without a doubt, as Anson's journey deepened into smaller cities, Catch Me If You Can gained attention in everyday life, in places untouched by the internet. This was more impactful and personal than any trailer or poster, spreading far beyond the web.
Now, everyone was part of the excitement, and a wave of joy spread everywhere, pushing the Christmas spirit to new heights.
Finally, Hollywood began to take notice. Industry insiders realized they might have misjudged the situation again. One by one, they started paying close attention to this growing wave of excitement sweeping across the country.
And then, at this pivotal moment, TMZ grabbed the spotlight:
"An Adventure, A Journey: The Fashionable Journey of Anson Wood."