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Cowboy movie wraps in Boerne
By Elena Tucker - Staff Writer
A full-length feature movie filmed in Boerne’s immediate surrounds was declared “finished and locked” a couple of weeks ago by writer, director and editor Anthony Henselee.
The movie, “Palo Pinto Gold,” will be feted with a red carpet, Palladium premier Tuesday night.
It is, in many ways, the culmination of life-long dreams on the part of, not only Henslee, but his co-participants as well.
“It’s what I wanted to do ever since I was very young, 9- or 10-years-old,” said Boerne resident Glynn Praesel, who acts the villainous role of Shane Stocksteal.
Until now, acting hadn’t been one of the varied breadwinning irons that Praesel held in his day-to-day fires. But despite his other professional endeavors, Praesel said all he ever wanted to do was act.
Henslee and his parents, owners of a local filming company, had also long wanted to be involved in full-length filmmaking.
“Anybody in the business — whether it’s doing commercials or industrial videos or whatever — wants that chance to do a movie. Me and my family’s company, that’s what we’ve always wanted to do,” Henslee said.
And when all of the pieces came together, the opportunity to “play cowboy” proved irresistible as well. Henslee plays a Texas Ranger in Palo Pinto Gold.
Other local characters to play a role in the movie included the Enchanted Spring Ranch, setting for the movie’s filming, and many local re-enactor groups.
While playing cowboy and movie technology aren’t necessarily thought of as boot-in-the-stirrup match-ups, Henslee and Praesel both maintain the two occupations are made for each other.
Henslee’s father, a life-long West Texas rancher, always had a passion for filming. And both men claimed that every cowboy-playing boy dreams of acting in Westerns. Palo Pinto Gold provided the outlet for these fantasies.
Which is why radio and television personalities, a former San Antonio mayor, a certain cigar-smoking Texas gubernatorial candidate, a retired Texas Ranger, a Boerne lawman, a pro football player and several country and western singers vied for the chance to participate in the movie.
“There’s a lot more people who love a good western than we think,” Henslee said. “and to be in a western, to be in a gunfight, that’s huge. All of us as boys grew up playing cowboys. And to be doing it for real — I wouldn’t pass it up for anything and I think they felt the same way.”
“The ones who didn’t make it in were mad because they couldn’t get here. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” he said.
These reasons of pure gunslinger enjoyment cause Henslee and Praesel to insist that Palo Pinto Gold wasn’t born of monetary hopes alone.
“Although that’s very, very important,” Praesel said, “the money wasn’t driving us. We didn’t go into it with that necessarily in mind.”
That said, they expect to see the movie succeed. “I want to get it on national television,” Henslee said.
“Our biggest stars are Roy Clark and Mel Tillis, and in that world (of western movies) they’re very big. For television, especially for country music fans. That’s the area that we’re trying to hit. It’s just a good story that’s back to the old way they made movies — good guy versus bad guy. And if you like that, you’re going to love this movie.” Other distribution objectives, he said, are for DVD sales and rentals to be available by summer’s end.
“I will say this,” Praesel interjected, “(the movie’s) quality is worthy of theatrical release.”
Which is precisely what Palo Pinto Gold will enjoy for at least one magical, sold-out night when family and friends, national magazine representatives, Hollywood directors and a national television broadcaster attend the 105-minute movie’s red carpet gala on May 6. Cast and crew will celebrate the night as the end of an arduous but enjoyable trail, while simultaneously roping new hopes.
“I’m catching back up with a dream,” Praesel said. “It’s what I always wanted to do, I’m just finally getting around to doing it.”
“Even when it was long and grueling,” agreed Henslee, “we just had so much fun. There’s nothing I’d rather do.”
Elena Tucker can be reached at elena@boernestar.com.
The movie, “Palo Pinto Gold,” will be feted with a red carpet, Palladium premier Tuesday night.
It is, in many ways, the culmination of life-long dreams on the part of, not only Henslee, but his co-participants as well.
“It’s what I wanted to do ever since I was very young, 9- or 10-years-old,” said Boerne resident Glynn Praesel, who acts the villainous role of Shane Stocksteal.
Until now, acting hadn’t been one of the varied breadwinning irons that Praesel held in his day-to-day fires. But despite his other professional endeavors, Praesel said all he ever wanted to do was act.
Henslee and his parents, owners of a local filming company, had also long wanted to be involved in full-length filmmaking.
“Anybody in the business — whether it’s doing commercials or industrial videos or whatever — wants that chance to do a movie. Me and my family’s company, that’s what we’ve always wanted to do,” Henslee said.
And when all of the pieces came together, the opportunity to “play cowboy” proved irresistible as well. Henslee plays a Texas Ranger in Palo Pinto Gold.
Other local characters to play a role in the movie included the Enchanted Spring Ranch, setting for the movie’s filming, and many local re-enactor groups.
While playing cowboy and movie technology aren’t necessarily thought of as boot-in-the-stirrup match-ups, Henslee and Praesel both maintain the two occupations are made for each other.
Henslee’s father, a life-long West Texas rancher, always had a passion for filming. And both men claimed that every cowboy-playing boy dreams of acting in Westerns. Palo Pinto Gold provided the outlet for these fantasies.
Which is why radio and television personalities, a former San Antonio mayor, a certain cigar-smoking Texas gubernatorial candidate, a retired Texas Ranger, a Boerne lawman, a pro football player and several country and western singers vied for the chance to participate in the movie.
“There’s a lot more people who love a good western than we think,” Henslee said. “and to be in a western, to be in a gunfight, that’s huge. All of us as boys grew up playing cowboys. And to be doing it for real — I wouldn’t pass it up for anything and I think they felt the same way.”
“The ones who didn’t make it in were mad because they couldn’t get here. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” he said.
These reasons of pure gunslinger enjoyment cause Henslee and Praesel to insist that Palo Pinto Gold wasn’t born of monetary hopes alone.
“Although that’s very, very important,” Praesel said, “the money wasn’t driving us. We didn’t go into it with that necessarily in mind.”
That said, they expect to see the movie succeed. “I want to get it on national television,” Henslee said.
“Our biggest stars are Roy Clark and Mel Tillis, and in that world (of western movies) they’re very big. For television, especially for country music fans. That’s the area that we’re trying to hit. It’s just a good story that’s back to the old way they made movies — good guy versus bad guy. And if you like that, you’re going to love this movie.” Other distribution objectives, he said, are for DVD sales and rentals to be available by summer’s end.
“I will say this,” Praesel interjected, “(the movie’s) quality is worthy of theatrical release.”
Which is precisely what Palo Pinto Gold will enjoy for at least one magical, sold-out night when family and friends, national magazine representatives, Hollywood directors and a national television broadcaster attend the 105-minute movie’s red carpet gala on May 6. Cast and crew will celebrate the night as the end of an arduous but enjoyable trail, while simultaneously roping new hopes.
“I’m catching back up with a dream,” Praesel said. “It’s what I always wanted to do, I’m just finally getting around to doing it.”
“Even when it was long and grueling,” agreed Henslee, “we just had so much fun. There’s nothing I’d rather do.”
Elena Tucker can be reached at elena@boernestar.com.
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