Cathy Perfect
Kern Valley Sun

Graduate students from Loyola Marymount University descended on Paul’s Place, in Weldon, for six days of shooting – film shooting, that is. The familiar Weldon landmark was transformed into a film set for filming of an 18-minute short film “Cowboys and Indians,” the story of 9-year-old Billy Redfern, played by Matthew Levy, a child who dreams of nothing other than being a cowboy.

The movie’s producer, Nikos Bellas, explains, “In ‘Cowboys and Indians,’ Billy’s illusion of the West and Native Americans is challenged by a man claiming to be Indian. Billy confronts and eventually befriends the one thought to be the enemy: a former resident of Porbandar, India. Through his friendship with Sanjay (played by Amol Shah), Billy embarks on life-changing experiences.”

Matthew Levy as “Billy” the 9-year-old boy who wanted nothing more than to be a cowboy, smiles after the director says, “Cut” when the scene is completed. The cast and crew of “Cowboys and Indians” set up shop in Paul’s Place in Weldon for six days of shooting.

Graduate student George Valos, 28, the film’s writer and director, was born and raised in Bakersfield, graduating from Highland High School. He’s working with a budget of $30,000, Bellas noted.

“The script is quite compelling,” Bellas said. “That’s what brought Brian Capener to work on this the film.” Capener was cinematographer on “Smoke Signals,” an award-winning movie that took top honors at numerous film festivals, including Sundance,

“We want to have the movie premiere at the Fox Theatre in Bakersfield,” Bellas said. “That would be really great, especially because George grew up in Bakersfield. After that we plan to enter the film in the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and any others we can.”

The crew, most of whom had never ventured into the area, were taken with the beauty of the Kern River Valley. “This is the most scenic place in the Western Hemisphere!” remarked Bellas. “It has been great working with Pauline. She’s been great.”

Proprietor Pauline was unavailable for comment; she was busy trying to juggle running her business and accomodating a film crew and all its accoutrements

Any inquiries about the film may be directed to Emily Rome is the film’s publicist, at erome@lion.lmu.edu.