Movie magic at Dayton Depot

DAYTON–Lights! Camera! Action!

The Dayton Historical Depot and the restored Pullman Car "Abraham Lincoln," on the tracks next to Washington's oldest surviving rail road depot, played significant roles in a short film that was being shot here Thursday and Friday, June 22 and 23.

The short is being produced by Walla Walla University as a "concept film," according to Aaron Nakamura, Director of Marketing and University Relations. When finished, the film will be around 15-20 minutes in length and the hope, Nakamura said, is that a studio will pick it up and continue it.

"There are ten episodes already written," Nakamura said. WWU Alumna Josie Henderson is the story's writer. She is a graduate of the university's Masters in Cinema, Religion and World View program.

It's a fictional account of five women who come to the Walla Walla Valley in 1909 and the theme is how love, not hate, is shown toward people as they navigate a new area and way of life, Nakamura said. The work is entitled "Color of Threads."

The film is directed by Richard Ramsey of Nashville, Tenn., whose work includes "The Song," "Unsung Hero," and "Plus One at an Amish Wedding."

The lead producer is Matthew Webster, also a WWU alum.

There are some 15 film students from WWU working on the production side and 18 professionals. Some of the students recently graduated and their work on the piece will give them internship credits.

Along with the student production crew, some production personnel are paid, and the talent is a mixture of students and professional actors.

Production started two weeks ago and the company spent about a week in pre-production prior to going on location in the Walla Walla Valley, including Milton-Freewater, Walla Walla and Dayton the week of June 19-23.