THE TEXAS TOWN THAT MADE A MOVIE
22 MARCH 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UVALDE, TEXAS. Take a Texas town that is suffering from a prolonged
draught, decaying downtown buildings, ranches sparse with cattle just
waiting on the rain. The Grand Opera House sitting on the town square,
once teaming with cultural activity in the wagon yards just outside its doors,
is quiet, waiting. A town rich with two cultures--that of Southwest Texas and
Mexican-American flavors waits for its moment to show its true colors. That
moment is now.
Uvalde, Texas, has become the set of the new feature movie Road to El
Paso. But it is not only a set. This town gave its heart to every aspect of the
movie production from the writing, to acting, set design, costume procuring,
and animal wrangling. Costumes decaying in storage at the Opera House
came off the hangers; a downtown building jumped to life as an 1800s
saloon. And city leaders took roles as Texas Rangers and explorers to bring
to life this two-era western--a full-color modern story and an 1800s sepia-
toned western.
By bringing to life a story, the creative impulses of the town were ignited.
And as many know, art can show the heart of a town. Making story brought
the opportunity for those whose history could find no place in the current
speed of life, gave place to old values and a new outlook. Local ranch and
hunting lodge owners opened their gates for the characters to come to life.
Horses, normally just used for ranch work and shows were given a different
moment in the spotlight. Retired teacher Jama Brown, who incidentally was
Matthew McConaughey’s kindergarten teacher, delighted in the fact that a
western was being made in her town. “That’s what children are missing these
days, the heroes of westerns. The values westerns taught.”
Local University students took roles, sewed costumes, stayed up nights
hanging crystal chandeliers and tea-stained curtains, polishing old barstools
or rubbing dirt on a character’s face. Local business men and women offered
restaurants, props, and buckets of encouragement.
The last day of filming, after nearly two years of production, the town stopped
to honor the history of entertainment in the area, pulling together to buy
bronze plaques for Dale Evans, Matthew McConaughey, Dana Andrews and
the Grammy Award Winning group Los
Palominos to place in the town Plaza, the heart of the town where cultural
activity can once again dance the night away.
Now that the movie is ready to see, town stores now proudly display the
product of their labor and love. Road to El Paso is now available on DVD at
http://www.thetexasranch.net. A percentage of the profits will go to the New
Mexican Horse Project to help protect wild horses.
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