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TM
| "Preston, N.W.M.P" coming to the big screen |
By Joe Southern
The Silver Bullet
Columbia Pictures and Sony’s Red Wagon Productions may have bowed out of
making a new Lone Ranger movie, but Lone Ranger fans are moving ahead with their
own productions.
Many fans are well aware of Rob Archey’s efforts to create the fan film “The Ghost of
the Lone Ranger” starring John Hart and Fred Foy.
Now word comes to us of two more films in the works, the first of which will be coming
to theaters in time for the 75th anniversary next year!
The first film, “Preston:N.W.M.P.,” centers around one of George W. Trendle’s other
creations, Sgt. Preston of the Yukon. In the adventure, a young Preston, not yet a
sergeant, is aided by a Texas Ranger in his quest to capture his father’s killer.
The Texas Ranger, however, is not the legendary Lone Ranger that you might expect.
Instead, it is Ira Austin Aten, who served as a real Texas Ranger for six years beginning
in 1883.
According to Thomas Reed, the film’s executive producer, Aten sometimes worked
alone and on occasion wore a hooded mask. Aten lived from 1862 to 1953.
“He died watching his favorite television show, ‘The Lone Ranger,’” Reed said.
The second film, also being executive produced by Reed, is called “The True
Adventures of the Lone Ranger.” It will center around the stories of Aten and his
colorful career as a lawman in the Old West.
The movies are being made by Havoc Entertainment and Second Handshake
Productions.
“The film is being scripted by Steven Glassman, the radio personality and film
narrator. I did the story line from Ranger archives,” Reed said.
Starring as Aten will be professional gun spinner Joey Dillon, who will be billed as
Joseph R. Dillon. The role of Preston will be played by Larry Kagele.
Reed said they hope to start shooting June 25 in Big Bear, Calif. If all goes well, the
film will be done in time to be screened at the Lone Ranger 75th Anniversary
Celebration in 2008.
“It all depends on the weather, we need snow,” Reed said, noting that filming should
go through October.
Reed has done a lot of research on Aten and the Texas Rangers. He said there was a
gunfight between the Texas Rangers and the Jesse Davis Gang in 1880 in a southwest
Texas canyon. Aten’s own adventures took him as far as Canada.
For the movie, Dillon’s Ranger will be dressed much like the one in the Topps comic
book from the 1990s.
Reed said he began moving forward with a Lone Ranger story when he grew impatient
waiting for Columbia Pictures to make its movie. In doing research he came across
Aten, who is a member of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.
“This guy wondered all over hell, including the Yukon,” Reed said.
In order to avoid copyright issues, Reed modeled his Ranger after the real-life man
rather than the fictional character, though the resemblances are remarkable. He
combined it with a Sgt. Preston story, as that character is now in the public domain.
Reed said he has recently finished editing the Preston script and is in pre-production
on the film. In addition to these two, he has a third script for radio. His films are much
bigger projects than Archey’s fan film and should appear in theaters next year and
beyond. Look for more information about these films in the next issue of The Silver
Bullet.
The Silver Bullet
Columbia Pictures and Sony’s Red Wagon Productions may have bowed out of
making a new Lone Ranger movie, but Lone Ranger fans are moving ahead with their
own productions.
Many fans are well aware of Rob Archey’s efforts to create the fan film “The Ghost of
the Lone Ranger” starring John Hart and Fred Foy.
Now word comes to us of two more films in the works, the first of which will be coming
to theaters in time for the 75th anniversary next year!
The first film, “Preston:N.W.M.P.,” centers around one of George W. Trendle’s other
creations, Sgt. Preston of the Yukon. In the adventure, a young Preston, not yet a
sergeant, is aided by a Texas Ranger in his quest to capture his father’s killer.
The Texas Ranger, however, is not the legendary Lone Ranger that you might expect.
Instead, it is Ira Austin Aten, who served as a real Texas Ranger for six years beginning
in 1883.
According to Thomas Reed, the film’s executive producer, Aten sometimes worked
alone and on occasion wore a hooded mask. Aten lived from 1862 to 1953.
“He died watching his favorite television show, ‘The Lone Ranger,’” Reed said.
The second film, also being executive produced by Reed, is called “The True
Adventures of the Lone Ranger.” It will center around the stories of Aten and his
colorful career as a lawman in the Old West.
The movies are being made by Havoc Entertainment and Second Handshake
Productions.
“The film is being scripted by Steven Glassman, the radio personality and film
narrator. I did the story line from Ranger archives,” Reed said.
Starring as Aten will be professional gun spinner Joey Dillon, who will be billed as
Joseph R. Dillon. The role of Preston will be played by Larry Kagele.
Reed said they hope to start shooting June 25 in Big Bear, Calif. If all goes well, the
film will be done in time to be screened at the Lone Ranger 75th Anniversary
Celebration in 2008.
“It all depends on the weather, we need snow,” Reed said, noting that filming should
go through October.
Reed has done a lot of research on Aten and the Texas Rangers. He said there was a
gunfight between the Texas Rangers and the Jesse Davis Gang in 1880 in a southwest
Texas canyon. Aten’s own adventures took him as far as Canada.
For the movie, Dillon’s Ranger will be dressed much like the one in the Topps comic
book from the 1990s.
Reed said he began moving forward with a Lone Ranger story when he grew impatient
waiting for Columbia Pictures to make its movie. In doing research he came across
Aten, who is a member of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.
“This guy wondered all over hell, including the Yukon,” Reed said.
In order to avoid copyright issues, Reed modeled his Ranger after the real-life man
rather than the fictional character, though the resemblances are remarkable. He
combined it with a Sgt. Preston story, as that character is now in the public domain.
Reed said he has recently finished editing the Preston script and is in pre-production
on the film. In addition to these two, he has a third script for radio. His films are much
bigger projects than Archey’s fan film and should appear in theaters next year and
beyond. Look for more information about these films in the next issue of The Silver
Bullet.
Joey Dillon as Ira Aten in "Preston, N.W.M.P."
Joey Dillon as Ira Austin Aten, Texas Ranger.
Movie to feature character similar to the Lone Ranger
'Preston, N.W.M.P.' to start filming this summer
By Joe Southern
The Silver Bullet
It’s been 49 years since Sgt. Preston of the Yukon and King pursued outlaws and
kept the peace during the Gold Rush in exciting adventures on television. Next year, 50
years since leaving the airwaves, Preston will make a triumphal return, not to television
but to the silver screen.
“Preston, N.W.M.P.” will start filming this summer and should hopefully be finished in
time to make its debut at the Lone Ranger convention next year.
The movie, about a Canadian Mountie who goes undercover to track down his
father’s killer in the United States stars Larry Kagele, a former Mountie who, as art
imitates life, did undercover work in the states.
The movie is to be filmed in Big Bear, Calif., the same location as the television
show starring Dick Simmons. It will center around a young Constable Preston who helps
save the life of Texas Ranger Ira Austin Aten and later teams with the Ranger to cross
into the United States to track down the killer of Preston’s father.
The killer is caught and returned, but Preston is busted for crossing the border and
faces a court martial. Can his masked Ranger friend come to his rescue in time? Stay
tuned!
The movie is being made by Havoc Entertainment and Second Handshake
Productions with the backing of Warner Bros. Thomas Reed, executive producer and
owner of Havoc Entertainment, will appear as Major General Sir Samuel Benfield
Steele, the man who prosecutes Preston.
Appearing as Aten will be 28-year-old champion gun spinner Joey Dillon.
“This is definitely one of the biggest opportunities I’ve had,” he said.
Dillon has appeared in Western documentaries on the History Channel and the
Discover Channel and had produced his own DVD. In “Preston” he will have a chance
to show off some of his gun handling skills.
“I get to prove my identity by the way I handle the gun,” he said.
Kagele, who plays the title role, was unavailable for an interview due to contractual
restrictions by Warner Bros., according to Reed.
Kagele began his law enforcement career in U.S. Naval Intelligence, joined the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1988 and later joined the Rampart Division of the
Los Angeles Police Department, where he retired.
Kagele studied acting at the Van Mar Academy and has appeared in “Diagnosis
Murder,” “JAG” and “America’s Most Wanted.” He has appeared in uncredited roles in a
few movies, including “Drive-Thru,” “Fun with Dick and Jane” and “The Aviator.”
Reed said the movie will be full of real historical figures, including the outlaws Jesse
Evans, Randolph Jefferson “Soapy” Smith, William “Cap” Light, Swiftwater Billy Gates,
Big Ed Burns and Blackjack Christian.
Starring in the role of good guy Jerry Potts will be Miguel Corona.
“He was a real-life, true historical figure,” Corona said. “He was the Yukon’s
greatest translator and scout.”
Corona also owns Southwest Pistolero Productions and is assisting Reed with
props, actors, etc. for “Preston.”
“We’re a one-stop shop for making films. We specialize in western films,” Corona
said.
Corona can currently be seen on the big screen as one of the Spanish pirates in
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”
He said he has been in about 15-20 films and began Southwest Pistolero
Productions in 2000. He has appeared in several episodes of Wild West Tech on the
History Channel and has done numerous live performances. For more about Corona,
check out his Web site at www.southwestpistoleroproductions.com.
The female lead in the movie will be played by Jodi Davis, who portrays Dr. Mary
Harris Thompson. Davis said the real Dr. Thomson founded a hospital in Chicago.
“She went up to the Yukon, basically for the rest of her life,” Davis said.
Davis began acting in theater “many years ago in college doing some stage work
with Shakespearian stuff.” She also did some live TV shows before leaving acting to get
married. When her marriage ended, she returned to acting.
“I started doing it as a hobby,” she said.
Again, art imitates life as Davis was a full-time nurse.
She has appeared in a documentary on President Taft. Among her credits are roles
in “The Legend of Jesse James,” “Sheriff of Contention” and a scene in “Redemption.”
“I do a lot of live re-enactments,” she said.
Reed, Davis and Corona have worked together on other projects, primarily the
television documentary “The Life and Times of William Howard Taft.”
In addition to producing and acting in films, Reed is an attorney specializing in
copyright issues. He has appeared in 24 motion pictures and 21 television programs
and movies. He will appear this fall in the Christmas comedy “Elf Academy.”
Corona, Davis and Dillon have all appeared in episodes of “Wild West Tech.” Dillon’
s gun handling skills have gotten him parts on the Biography Channel and the Discover
Channel.
He is fanatical about gun safety and has worked hard to teach gun safety,
especially concerning children.
Dillon and his wife Kara have a 15-months old son, Cash Bogart Dillon.
“He does his quick drawing now,” Dillon joked.
Dillon said he used to watch westerns with his father and liked to practice the gun
tricks he saw on TV.
“It was just something that I did in the living room over the carpet,” he said.
Over the years he honed his skill and soon learned his talent was something
special.
“I realized that God had given me a knack for it,” he said.
He said he “taught my left hand to follow the right hand.” He now tours the country
entertaining crowds with his gift.
“It’s more of a passion that I’ve been blessed to make a living at,” he said.
Dillon said he is very excited to take on the role of Aten. Reed is anxious to get the
project into production. The primary cast will meet together on June 25 to shoot their
promo pictures. Reed said the photos will also be used in a “Preston” picture book
Warner Bros. wants to make. Reed said most of the script has already been approved.
“It’s a long picture. We’re going to have an intermission,” he said, noting the picture
would run about three hours.
“The first couple scenes in the script are only a couple paragraphs but they take up
a large amount of time,” he said.
Reed said the movie will have a lot of action and adventure.
“It’s going to have huge action and great music,” he said.
And of course the “Overture to Donna Diana” will be prominently featured.
Reed said Dillon’s part as Aten will be as big as the title role. “Joey is going to have
to carry an hour of this picture,” he said.
Reed originally wanted Aten to be the Lone Ranger, but was denied permission.
“We cannot call him the Lone Ranger. He’s just the masked man, a legendary
figure,” he said.
In the movie, Aten will team up part of the time with Tah-en-to, the Mohawk chief of
the First Nation Reservation.
Reed said filming will take place in summer and fall with the hopes of early snow in
Big Bear. He said weather will play a factor in the production schedule. If all goes well,
the first showing of the movie will be next summer at the Lone Ranger 75th Anniversary
Celebration.
The Silver Bullet
It’s been 49 years since Sgt. Preston of the Yukon and King pursued outlaws and
kept the peace during the Gold Rush in exciting adventures on television. Next year, 50
years since leaving the airwaves, Preston will make a triumphal return, not to television
but to the silver screen.
“Preston, N.W.M.P.” will start filming this summer and should hopefully be finished in
time to make its debut at the Lone Ranger convention next year.
The movie, about a Canadian Mountie who goes undercover to track down his
father’s killer in the United States stars Larry Kagele, a former Mountie who, as art
imitates life, did undercover work in the states.
The movie is to be filmed in Big Bear, Calif., the same location as the television
show starring Dick Simmons. It will center around a young Constable Preston who helps
save the life of Texas Ranger Ira Austin Aten and later teams with the Ranger to cross
into the United States to track down the killer of Preston’s father.
The killer is caught and returned, but Preston is busted for crossing the border and
faces a court martial. Can his masked Ranger friend come to his rescue in time? Stay
tuned!
The movie is being made by Havoc Entertainment and Second Handshake
Productions with the backing of Warner Bros. Thomas Reed, executive producer and
owner of Havoc Entertainment, will appear as Major General Sir Samuel Benfield
Steele, the man who prosecutes Preston.
Appearing as Aten will be 28-year-old champion gun spinner Joey Dillon.
“This is definitely one of the biggest opportunities I’ve had,” he said.
Dillon has appeared in Western documentaries on the History Channel and the
Discover Channel and had produced his own DVD. In “Preston” he will have a chance
to show off some of his gun handling skills.
“I get to prove my identity by the way I handle the gun,” he said.
Kagele, who plays the title role, was unavailable for an interview due to contractual
restrictions by Warner Bros., according to Reed.
Kagele began his law enforcement career in U.S. Naval Intelligence, joined the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1988 and later joined the Rampart Division of the
Los Angeles Police Department, where he retired.
Kagele studied acting at the Van Mar Academy and has appeared in “Diagnosis
Murder,” “JAG” and “America’s Most Wanted.” He has appeared in uncredited roles in a
few movies, including “Drive-Thru,” “Fun with Dick and Jane” and “The Aviator.”
Reed said the movie will be full of real historical figures, including the outlaws Jesse
Evans, Randolph Jefferson “Soapy” Smith, William “Cap” Light, Swiftwater Billy Gates,
Big Ed Burns and Blackjack Christian.
Starring in the role of good guy Jerry Potts will be Miguel Corona.
“He was a real-life, true historical figure,” Corona said. “He was the Yukon’s
greatest translator and scout.”
Corona also owns Southwest Pistolero Productions and is assisting Reed with
props, actors, etc. for “Preston.”
“We’re a one-stop shop for making films. We specialize in western films,” Corona
said.
Corona can currently be seen on the big screen as one of the Spanish pirates in
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”
He said he has been in about 15-20 films and began Southwest Pistolero
Productions in 2000. He has appeared in several episodes of Wild West Tech on the
History Channel and has done numerous live performances. For more about Corona,
check out his Web site at www.southwestpistoleroproductions.com.
The female lead in the movie will be played by Jodi Davis, who portrays Dr. Mary
Harris Thompson. Davis said the real Dr. Thomson founded a hospital in Chicago.
“She went up to the Yukon, basically for the rest of her life,” Davis said.
Davis began acting in theater “many years ago in college doing some stage work
with Shakespearian stuff.” She also did some live TV shows before leaving acting to get
married. When her marriage ended, she returned to acting.
“I started doing it as a hobby,” she said.
Again, art imitates life as Davis was a full-time nurse.
She has appeared in a documentary on President Taft. Among her credits are roles
in “The Legend of Jesse James,” “Sheriff of Contention” and a scene in “Redemption.”
“I do a lot of live re-enactments,” she said.
Reed, Davis and Corona have worked together on other projects, primarily the
television documentary “The Life and Times of William Howard Taft.”
In addition to producing and acting in films, Reed is an attorney specializing in
copyright issues. He has appeared in 24 motion pictures and 21 television programs
and movies. He will appear this fall in the Christmas comedy “Elf Academy.”
Corona, Davis and Dillon have all appeared in episodes of “Wild West Tech.” Dillon’
s gun handling skills have gotten him parts on the Biography Channel and the Discover
Channel.
He is fanatical about gun safety and has worked hard to teach gun safety,
especially concerning children.
Dillon and his wife Kara have a 15-months old son, Cash Bogart Dillon.
“He does his quick drawing now,” Dillon joked.
Dillon said he used to watch westerns with his father and liked to practice the gun
tricks he saw on TV.
“It was just something that I did in the living room over the carpet,” he said.
Over the years he honed his skill and soon learned his talent was something
special.
“I realized that God had given me a knack for it,” he said.
He said he “taught my left hand to follow the right hand.” He now tours the country
entertaining crowds with his gift.
“It’s more of a passion that I’ve been blessed to make a living at,” he said.
Dillon said he is very excited to take on the role of Aten. Reed is anxious to get the
project into production. The primary cast will meet together on June 25 to shoot their
promo pictures. Reed said the photos will also be used in a “Preston” picture book
Warner Bros. wants to make. Reed said most of the script has already been approved.
“It’s a long picture. We’re going to have an intermission,” he said, noting the picture
would run about three hours.
“The first couple scenes in the script are only a couple paragraphs but they take up
a large amount of time,” he said.
Reed said the movie will have a lot of action and adventure.
“It’s going to have huge action and great music,” he said.
And of course the “Overture to Donna Diana” will be prominently featured.
Reed said Dillon’s part as Aten will be as big as the title role. “Joey is going to have
to carry an hour of this picture,” he said.
Reed originally wanted Aten to be the Lone Ranger, but was denied permission.
“We cannot call him the Lone Ranger. He’s just the masked man, a legendary
figure,” he said.
In the movie, Aten will team up part of the time with Tah-en-to, the Mohawk chief of
the First Nation Reservation.
Reed said filming will take place in summer and fall with the hopes of early snow in
Big Bear. He said weather will play a factor in the production schedule. If all goes well,
the first showing of the movie will be next summer at the Lone Ranger 75th Anniversary
Celebration.
SAD NOTE: Classic Media has asserted its rights to the characters in this movie and
has effectively shut it down. We will keep you posted if anything changes.
has effectively shut it down. We will keep you posted if anything changes.