The Painted Desert selected Higgin to direct the film, as well as naming the stars of the film, William Boyd and Dorothy Burgess. Later in the month it was reported that Higgin would head to Arizona to begin location scouting for the film, accompanied by fellow director, Tay Garnett, however in August Higgin began scouting in the Arizona desert with the screenwriter, Tom Buckingham. It was announced that the film would employ over 300 extras. Higgin was familiar with the area, having working in and around Flagstaff, Arizona as a lumberjack prior to his entering the film industry. Towards the end of August
Death in the Desert (film) Death in the Desert (film) Death in the Desert is a 2015 American crime-drama film directed and produced by Josh Evans and starring Michael Madsen and Shayla Beesley, with John Palladino, Paz de la Huerta, and Roxy Saint appearing in supporting roles. Principal filming completed in February 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the second film collaboration between Madsen and Evans, who produced "The Price of Air" in which Madsen starred. Released in March 2016 by Osiris Entertainment, the film is based on the book "Death in the Desert" by true-crime author Cathy Scott about Ted Binion, a wealthy