Lights, camera, action in Rivesville

By JUSTIN MCLAUGHLIN
Times West Virginian

FAIRMONT April 30, 2006 09:15 pm

— A borrowed legend, a big cast and crew ... and it’s lights, camera, action in Rivesville.
“It’s your basic scary movie with a little substance. The story was inspired by the true story of Hatchet Jack, who’s a legend in the Washington, Pa., area,” said Ed Mahalick, mayor of Rivesville and co-director of an independent film they’re calling “Hatchet Jack.”
What started as a 30-page script has since evolved into a full 90-minute feature.
“We started this project a month and a half ago. We anticipate having an edited version by Sept. 1,” Mahalick said.
Some of the scenes, mostly flashbacks, are even being shot on film instead of video to give them a different look and feel, according to Mahalick’s co-director, Justin Sago. Like Mahalick before him, Sago is studying film.
They said after about a month of production, things are going well.
“Everything’s been excellent. We’re pretty much right on schedule. Everybody’s been willing to work very hard,” Sago said.
Their cast includes actors from far and wide, drawing talent from Pittsburgh, Ohio and even New York. They’ve also tapped the resources of some experienced photographers — borrowing expensive camera equipment needed to shoot on film.
Except for expenses, no one’s getting paid. Still, the budget isn’t exactly small for an independent film.
“Right now, we’re in the range of $3,000. We’re really looking at a $10,000 budget when it’s all said and done.
“We’ve borrowed some lift trucks to get shots, and some people have let us use their boats to get shots on the river,” Sago said.
They have big plans for the film once it’s finished.
“We’re going to premiere in Pittsburgh and Fairmont, and then from there we have some distributors that we’re going to look at,” Sago said. “We’re going to hit the film festivals pretty hard.”
Both Mahalick and Sago said the community has been very supportive of the project.
E-mail Justin McLaughlin at jmclaughlin@timeswv.com.