Film expo showcases East Texas locations

By CHERIL VERNON

Community Editor

Reenactors depicting different time periods, vintage aircrafts, War War II military vehicles and a tour of historic parts of Palestine were all part of a special showcase to introduce film producers and casting and location scouts to East Texas during the East Texas Film Commission’s 2009 Regional Film Expo.

The film expo was held Sept. 26-27 and featured a wide variety of activities in Anderson, Freestone and Cherokee counties.

East Texas Film Commission Executive Director Laurnie Durisoe came up with the idea for the event about a year and a half ago.

“Why wait for filmmakers to discover East Texas when we can bring them to Palestine for a party?” Durisoe said. “What we did was showcase 13 counties in the East Texas region.”

Durisoe is a newcomer to East Texas as she came to the region with her husband, Tom, who owns several ranches in the area as well as a thriving men’s shoe business in San Diego.

“When I first came to Palestine from San Diego I was surprised at how many historic homes and structures there are in Palestine,” Durisoe said.

Film industry professionals were invited to the event to see first hand the Pineywoods area of East Texas and the vast array of opportunities for the film industry.

“This two-day Expo provides an opportunity like no other to become familiar with scenic locations and learn what great facilities and services are available within the local communities of East Texas. In addition, nowhere else will you have the opportunity to visit 13 county Chamber of Commerces and meet the ‘who’s who’ people to help your project,” the expo invitation on the East Texas Film Commission Web site said.

The first day of the expo was spent at a ranch on the Anderson-Freestone county line where a variety of reenactors — including Palestine groups — depicted different time periods and authentic World War II vehicles and vintage aircraft were on display. Hourly performances from regional talent also were held for the attendees. Meals were served from a chuckwagon. The day ended with a folklore around the campfire with true stories of the rich culture of East Texas.

“It was a great for the Chambers of Commerces from 13 counties to network with these film industry professionals,” Durisoe said. “And it was good for film producers, casting and location scouts. Once a location scout finds you, they will return when a film producer requests a certain look that matches your area.”

Durisoe was impressed by the reenactors who participated in the expo.

“One group of colonial reenactors had a bedroom suite set up like it would have looked like in that time period,” Durisoe said. “We had a reenactor who portrayed a medical doctor with Civil War era equipment. The film industry needs to see our resources and the inventory we have and this was a good way to showcase it.”

On the second day, the attendees started their day in Palestine for a continental breakfast at Shelton’s Gin, followed by a walking tour of the Old Palestine district. The Cars of Palestine then provided rides in classic cars for the second part — a tour of the Palestine historic business district.

“We have one of the most amazing collections of historic structures in our town and we should be proud of our resources — it’s perfect for the filming industry,” Durisoe said.

In fact, Palestine is second for most historic homes in Texas.

To make this part of the tour extra special, short vignettes were set up during the tour.

“As we took them around the area we had these vignettes — little theatrical scenes — we had a Victorian lady at the Hearne house, a gangster scene in an alleyway by the Texas Theater, Jean Mollard was dressed up on the balcony of The Redlands and we had a lady in costume in the cemetery crying by a grave,” Durisoe said. “Giving these tours in classic cars and showing off our historic area with these vignettes set a tone — it took them back in time.”

Still in the classic cars, the tour then moved toward Rusk — stopping first at the Texas State Railroad’s Palestine Depot, where it was mentioned that the location has been the site for many feature films and commercials over the years.

A tour of the historic town of Rusk before lunch was led by tour guide Tom Townsend of Toyland Combat Vehicles. The tour included a visit to see miniature cattle and horses at Jan’s Toyland Farm and the home of the Toyland Military Museum. This is East Texas’ largest privately-owned military vehicle collection. The vehicles are regularly used nationally in film productions.

The group also toured a strip mine film site in Rusk which was used for a Discovery Station film production, as well as Hogg Park and Rusk film base camp, KOA.

They also visited the Texas State Railroad’s Rusk Depot — touring the train yard filled with vintage trains ranging from those used in the movie “American Outlaws” (which was one of Colin Farrell’s first movie roles), trains converted to World War II European cars, western cattle cars and General Patton’s command car.

The Rusk Chamber of Commerce hosted a family barbecue with live music.

Following lunch, the group took a train ride to the Maydelle turnaround, returning to the Rusk train depot.

Cars of Palestine provided return transportation in classic cars back to Palestine.

“This expo was a way to give people a taste of all of our resources and we are sure glad we did,” Durisoe said. “It was a lot of fun and I know it will be worth it.”

When a film is made in a local area, there are many benefits, Durisoe said.

“It’s one way to save these old buildings like we have here. If they decide to use it for filming, when they leave, they usually leave it in better shape than when they arrived,” Durisoe said. “When a film crew comes they stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, rent equipment and buy construction items they need — they leave the town in better shape financially.”

And in the long term, Durisoe said people love to visit the places where movies were made, so if a movie is made here, tourists will return to see the filming locations.

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On the Web:

East Texas Film Commission

http://www.easttexasfilmcommission.org