Beth Pleming photo
Cast members Robert Bradley, Tony Becker and Rance Howard prepare for a scene in “Ghost Town,” a movie about Haywood County native Harmon Teaster. It is being filmed at the Maggie Valley theme park by the same name.
Hollywood greats make ‘Ghost Town’ memorable
With 24 days of filming behind them and a feature film well on the way, actors starring in Dean Teaster’s “Ghost Town” are hanging up their holsters and returning home. But no one is leaving empty-handed. What Ghost Town stars are taking with them, they said, goes well beyond a new addition to their resume.
“It’s been life changing,” lead actress Princess Lucaj said of playing Violet, a role that was her first lead in a feature film. “I’ve learned a lot about myself as an actor and as a person. It’s been such an amazing life experience. I know that I’m going to look back on this in retrospect and think, ‘Oh yeah, I learned that on the “Ghost Town” set,’ because as an actor I have grown so much through this project.”
Filming for “Ghost Town” wrapped up Saturday. Producers are aiming for a May release, with a premiere to be held in the region.
Other cast members shared similar stories, most making mention of the opportunity to appear on screen with such Hollywood veterans as Bill McKinney, Ghost Town’s Victor Burnette, and Rance Howard, Ghost Town’s Sheriff Parker.
“It’s been amazing,” said Paul Proios, who plays outlaw Jim Dandy. “From day one until now it’s been a totally evolving experience. I feel I’m growing both as a person and an actor. Working with big actors has been an amazing experience in itself. Bill McKinney is a very giving actor and he’s fun to improv and bounce lines off of because he doesn’t try to upstage you, he just plays along. Watching Rance is iconic. I’ve learned a lot from watching them both.”
Jordan Engle, Ghost Town’s Cole Sorrels, said he too has learned a lot on the set of Ghost Town.
“As an actor, my goal is to have experiences that illuminate life,” he said, “and this project has been that for me, and I’ve only been here one week. Working on this film reaffirmed why I want to be an actor- to be involved with good people in a quest for telling an important story.”
Storytelling, he continued, has been well portrayed on the set, and Engle said he’s been taking good notes.
“Bill McKinney is, if nothing else, a great storyteller and if there is anything an actor should be, it’s a great storyteller,” he said. “Learning from him has been an incredible opportunity. As a young guy, for me to work with guys like Bill and Rance who have always portrayed themselves as strong men is great for my development as an actor.”
Robert Shepherd, the bartender Judd in the movie, said he will walk off this set a more confident actor. Standing face-to-face on screen with a “Hollywood legend,” he said, is good motivation to perform well.
“To be able to do a scene with legendary Hollywood actors is a great experience,” he said. “To have an opportunity like that will be an experience I’ll remember for years. It’s a feeling of excitement and thrill, being able to perform on screen with such skilled actors. It’s been absolutely one of the best film-making experiences I’ve ever had.” South Carolina native, Fred Griffith moved to Los Angeles five years ago for a role in “Gods and Generals.” Having Carolina roots and visiting Ghost Town as a child, he said, endeared him to this particular project.
“It was my first day on set and I was walking down Main Street of Ghost Town, all alone, in costume, and it hit me at that moment how cool this project really is,” recalled Griffith, the movie’s rough Whiskey Walters. “It’s every boy’s childhood dream come true, to play a cowboy in a real western town like that, it’s a really unique set to work on.”
Griffith said he’s enjoyed the camaraderie the cast and crew have developed.
“This project made me realize how much I enjoy doing independent projects. We’re all a team here. We’re all working together to make this a good film, whereas on bigger budget projects it’s more segregated,” he said.
Patrick Walker of Hampton, Va., Ghost Town’s Moose, said filming “Ghost Town” has been a dream come true and an invaluable learning experience.
“I am blessed to have had the opportunity to work on a film like this,” he said. “For a long time this has been my dream. And let me tell you,” Walker said of appearing on screen with McKinney and Howard, “to listen to their advice and to hear about what they’ve done, they’ve really been like mentors to me.”
Walker said he’s taking a lot away from this Ghost Town experience, most notably words of wisdom from those further along on the acting journey.
“Bill told me, ‘there’s no reason why you couldn’t do that,’” Walker said of his conversation with McKinney about Michael Clarke Duncan’s performance in the “Green Mile.” You make sure you expand your horizons beyond where you are right now, Bill told me.’”
Walker said he has taken McKinney’s advice to heart. “I have no problem playing dramatic pieces,” he said, “but there’s no doubt I can do others too. I play tough, but I can cry.”
Taymour Ghazi, from San Francisco, now living in Los Angeles, plays Sheriff Parker’s deputy Wilson. Working with Howard (Sheriff Parker) has been an incredible opportunity; one Ghazi said he’s taken full advantage of. “It’s been absolutely amazing,” said Ghazi. “He’s taught me so much- his stillness, for example. I’ve learned stillness, fundamentals that less is more. Just working with a legend, dare I say, he’s done hundreds of films. I have a lot of respect for him, and what better way to learn than to watch.”
Reach Beth Pleming at 452-0661 or bpleming@themountaineer.com
