Valley of the Shadow screening

The idea grew out of a meeting I had with Dave Lavender and Adam Jones at the

West Virginia booth during the American Film Market Location Expo in

November 2024 at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

We talked about a Western I was thinking about making using the West Virginia

film tax incentive - and I went to the hotel bar straightaway to write the treatment.

That led me to writing the script over the next two months.

The film is set in Colorado, the summer of 1877, so I needed hills and valleys,

trees and rivers. I found all of that in West Virginia.

In March of 2025 I visited Jackson’s Mill in Weston, WV and chose that as my

primary location for the film. In May I selected a farm in Buckhannon, WV, the

owners were also horse wranglers. They provided me with a location and horses.

We shot the film from July 7-19, a 12 day shoot, working with many actors and

crew from West Virginia. Most, if not all, of these 25 people will attend the

screening with their families and friends.

This will leave plenty of room for local folks who want to attend. There will be no

charge.

I, as writer, producer, director of the film, will be in attendance, along with key cast

and crew. We will be happy to hold a Q&A after the film.

Thanks, - Tom Whitus