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Joshua Jones and the City of Stone |
| Upon my return to Chattanooga in 2002, Josh O'Dell and I started kicking around the idea of making an Indiana Jones movie.I was immediately enthused by this idea as Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom is the movie that inspired me to become a film maker myself.I was not the trailblazer in this idea, a North Dakota company had all ready produced Indiana Jed several years before.The Tennessee Valley and the mountains that create it offer countless locations for such a film.What is great about these locations is that they are available for public use.Obtaining needed locations for filming has come to be the greatest obstacle I face in film making.For Joshua Jones, this was not a problem.Our filming took us as far away as Pigeon Mountain in North Georgia to as close as my own living room (at the time).As a matter of fact, it was lack of a needed location that gave The Midnight Howl it's lackluster ending.Knowing these great spots required only that I use them for filming, I immediately set to writing a script.Several ideas were kicked around until I remembered a very special place called Rocktown, up on Pigeon Mountain.Knowing that bad guys likely cared little about large rocks, we had to add a subplot involving "The Golden Madonna".We decided Josh would be his own character, not Indiana Jones.Josh would do well in mimicking Harrison Ford's actions as he played the title character.However, the new character would need a sidekick.Professor Julius Walker was born.I would play the "confident nerd" of a sidekick, a role I truly enjoyed.I thought of him as the most nerdiest person, yet full of confidence.I imagined that when he was in school, if a bully insulted him, he would reply with "Pardon me?" and continue on his way.Joshua Jones was the adventurous archaeologist who knows well the perils of the job, yet finds himself in sticky situations from time to time.Shane Gentry played the perfect villian as Mathias Trite.His cool demeanor coupled with his evil ways created the perfect level of sinister every great villain needs.We had a plethora of supporting roles- Nathan Zimmerman as Dean Zimmerman, Steven Hughes as a villain, Michael Hatchett as a henchman and Jason Millican as Joshua's "connection" and Darrell Korte as Simon, an agent of crooks in the underworld.I even managed to work veteran actor Wes Brown into the script.I was disapoointed that he would not have a part and then found something for him at the last minute.The film took a year to complete.We were afforded only weekends, some weeknights and other stolen moments to see the film completed.At times it was required that the film's star be prodded to come work on the project.One night, I even donned his costume to serve as a stand in for him.(Watch the movie and see if you can guess which scene, it won't be that hard to tell).Regardless of the obstacles, the film was completed and met with great reviews.When my Kentucky test audience gave their approval, I knew we had done something great.The film had three premiere parties and was then shown several times thereafter.Deciding that one good turn deserves another, a sequel to Joshua Jones was written.It would see a return of the two lead characters and the introdcution of some new ones.Filming commenced one afternoon at Chester Frost Park and plans of the sequel were announced.Sadly, it would never come to be.The two stars who had once been the closest of friends drifted apart and went their separate ways.Today we have what is considered by some to be Mammoth's best film ever.It a testament to a friendship that once was, the beauty of the Tennessee Valley, the splendors of imagination while being a good little film at the same time.I hope you enjoy it! |
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