Film magic: Two Oklahoma cowboys get ready to make a Western in Sri Lanka



OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA -- You could see some crazy looking costumes at last week's Geekinomicon event in Oklahoma City.

There were people and props from comic books, science fiction, fantasy, and the Old West.

"We're just a couple of Oklahoma Cowboys," says J.R. Hatchett.

Hatchett and Marshall Virden are two Oklahoma dudes who caught the movie bug a few years back and who now work in any capacity they can to keep themselves employed in the business of making motion pictures.

"We do acting and stunts," says Hatchett.

Virden echoes, "We've been behind the camera before as assistant directors."

"We can produce and direct," adds Hatchett.

J.R. and Marshall have allied themselves with an Oklahoma non-profit organization called Stroud Arts.

Board member and writer Guy Lozier would like to put the town of Stroud on the map for making films.

"Our goal there," says Lozier, "Is to make Stroud the Hollywood of Mid-America."

As they walked around Geekinomicon the cowboys took the opportunity to make contacts, find students for their stunt school, and create buzz for their western, set for filming in early 2017, in the nation of Sri Lanka.

Hatchett says, "The only criteria they require is a lot of shootouts."

Act, do stunts, carry equipment, get lunch, film in Sri Lanka.

These guys don't care as long as it's movies and the job pays.

If Clint Eastwood got famous in Italy why can't they do the same further east, and even bring Stroud along too?

For more information on the new Western set to film in Sri Lanka or the Stroud Arts organization go to
