My husband and I attended the Maysville movie fundraiser dinner last Saturday evening in the TransAlta Commons at Centralia College.
I originally became interested in the film after hearing film writer, producer, and director Leslie Goyette talk about the concept with Peter Abbarno on KELA’s “Let’s Talk About It.” I was fascinated by the idea of a movie that takes place in 1920s Appalachia being filmed and produced here in Centralia.
It was hard to not catch a little bit of Goyette’s enthusiasm for the film just from listening to the radio interview. I bought tickets for the fundraiser dinner almost immediately.
The film description on the film project’s Indiegogo.com page states that the film is a “a coming of age story set in 1929 Appalachia, where a young boy faces tragedy, loss, fear, and hope.”
If I might add my own twist on it, when I watch the trailer (technically called a “proof of concept” video in this case), I see shades of “Tuck Everlasting,” a beloved movie from my own childhood.
The description in the trailer continues further: “Deep in the Appalachian Mountains, in the late 1920’s our story opens with 13-year-old Teddy Rogers and his best friend Willy Stamper. One day while playing, the two boys experience a great tragedy that will change Teddy’s course forever. He is forced to spend the next four years paying a penance for his mistakes. One night, Teddy escapes and tries to get back to his family. Once Teddy reaches his family home, he finds it abandoned, his family apparently long gone. The next morning, he sets out on a mission to find them and his path takes him to Maysville, where he eventually finds love, a mentor, and a future that looks bright, until his past returns to haunt and hunt him and jeopardize any future he hopes to have.”
The storyline is compelling. And if early film footage in the preview is any indication, the cinematography will be excellent.
For those of you still doubting, the film has also already attracted the formal interest of several fairly recognizable names in TV including Brian Sutherland (NBC, SYFY, Netflix) and Lisa Coronado (SYFY).
And, of course, Maysville wouldn’t be the first successful independent film project to happen in Lewis County in recent memory. ”A Bit of Bad Luck” was filmed around the Morton area in 2012, starring the well-known Cary Elwes (“The Princess Bride), and later premiered in 2014 in Boston, winning two Los Angeles movie awards for narrative work and cinematography just before its premiere.
Based on what I’ve heard on the radio, viewed online, and saw at the dinner, I see no reason why an independent film like Maysville couldn’t be just as, if not more, successful than “A Bit of Back Luck” was.
The film has already raised more than $12,000 in initial investment. Another $16,000 has been raised via Indiegogo.com towards production costs. The film project is also able to utilize a specific non-profit designation for the arts so that all donations are tax deductible. The film’s promoters are also completing numerous grant applications and are hopeful for additional funds that way. They are slated to begin filming in the Centralia area this coming August.
At the event, Goyette estimated that the film could be made for somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000, with the lower end estimate being a bare bones, meager budget option for this scope of film.
I would love to see the film succeed. We got to see some additional photos of some of the places where filming will occur — including at the Borst Home, a local barn on the National Registry of Historical Landmarks, a private home that still maintains a 1920s interior concept, complete with function 1920s appliances, and the Lewis County Courthouse (built in 1927) among other local places. The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad No. 15 steam train will also reportedly make an appearance.
The film’s producers are still looking for a few things aside from funding. They need a rideable horse for a day or two of filming. They need some cows (great opportunity to have your award-winning cattle featured). And they’re still looking for numerous 1920s artifacts including small details up all the way to period-specific vehicles. They’re also still looking to cast the two teenage lead actors.
The main female character is described as a spunky, headstrong, and fiery character — the precocious daughter of the richest man in town who operates her own store, drives and votes, too!
The producers are also still looking to cast the town sheriff. But I’m pretty sure we’ve got that covered, if I might offer a suggestion. John McCroskey could just grow out a wicked mustache and temporarily come out of retirement to play the role! No offense, Sheriff Snaza. Just think McCroskey’s 1920s style mustache could be epic.
Learn more about the movie at maysville.wixsite.com/maysvillethemovie.
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Brittany Voie is a columnist for The Chronicle. She lives south of Chehalis with her husband and two young sons. She welcomes correspondence from the community at voiedevelopment@comcast.net.
