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WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Local actor fulfills dream to be in a western

CHARLESTON -- It may not be "Big Jake" or "Silverado," but Jim Damron is fulfilling a lifelong dream to be in a western.

Damron said Director/Writer Charles Howard Thomas of Drydock Film Corporation is patterning his latest movie, "Marshals, Indian Territory," after those classic westerns. Damron played the role of "hanging" Judge Isaac Parker in the movie.

"Marshals, Indian Territory" is based on the true story of Lily Birdsong, played by 14-year-old Brooke Hidde, who took a gun and went after the men who killed her family. The western is set in the Oklahoma Indian Terry circa 1888. Brian Hall and Native American actor Jeff Anderson also star in the film.

"I absolutely had a ball playing the role of Judge Isaac Parker", said Damron, who also has a legal video business that does such things as video depositions. "My scenes were shot in early August at the historic Carroll County Courthouse in Hillsville, Va. The crew and cast were great to work with. It was just a wonderful experience."

Damron has appeared with Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump," as well as in the movies "Matewan," "Strangest Dreams," "Paradise Park" and "Man of Faith." He has been in hundreds of commercials, both on-camera and as voice-over talent, as well as print ads, and has narrated scores of industrial and educational videos.

He has done numerous on-stage productions for Charleston Light Opera Guild, Kanawha Players, and Children's Theatre of Charleston including "South Pacific," "Arsenic and Old Lace," "Oliver," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Showboat," "Guys & Dolls" and "Miracle on 34th Street."

"Marshals, Indian Territory" is the third film produced by Drydock Films and Director Thomas. "Morning Song Way," his first film, won 11 awards, including best cultural film at the New York International Film and Video Festival in Los Angeles and was mentioned in the April/May 2007 edition of "Native Peoples" magazine, one of the largest Native American magazines in North America.

"Spies and Molasses," his second film venture, is a romantic comedy/martial arts movie that finished production in early 2007.

Over 100 came out in May 2007 to Fries, Va., for the local casting call for "Marshals." They included actors from Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Tennesse, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland.

Byl Butler, who did choreography for "A Chorus Line" on Broadway and was a production specialist for the TV series "Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman" is Production Coodinator for "Marshals." Location shooting was done in Virginia, North Carolina and Arkansas. The film wrapped shooting at the end of August, but any re-shooting needed will be done in September.

There is no word on a release date of "Marshals," as post production could take months. Because it is an independent film, marketing usually takes longer than a mainstream film. Updates will be posted at drydockfilm.com.

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