Circle M: A Reel Carolina Article

There is a Christian western feature film called Cowboy Trail in production in Sanford, North Carolina. It started with a boy who played Cowboys and Indians and progressed as he desired to be on the silver screen. Somewhere along the path, the boy turned to Jesus for salvation and now a dream is born again.

This uniquely talented man, Tim Marsh, constructed, by himself, an entire western town on his ranch. He began to build it six years ago and it is now finished and furnished and functioning. His town, Circle M City, consists of full-scale buildings: a livery and blacksmith shop, a hotel, a church which seats 60, a trading post, a bank, a jail with lock and key, a saloon complete with bar and gambling wheel, and even an outhouse. He has collected period paraphernalia and costumes from antique stores, yard sales, and donations in order to make his town true to life. It has become a very realistic set for his movie and a joy for him to look upon from the porch of his ranch home.

In 1995, Tim started a ministry called Circle M Ministry which is a non-profit corporation that sponsors events for the promotion of the Gospel. Launched from this ministry a year later was a live drama called Cowboy Trail. Tim used his horses, his friends, a converted race car trailer that holds props and horses, and a simple sound system to convey the message of salvation and hope to people. He felt called by God to travel with the performance to barns, churches, housing projects, rodeos and high schools all over North Carolina and as far as Tennessee. There were nearly 20 performances that drew crowds of 30 to 800. People have been so moved by the drama that it has changed plans for suicide and given them hope in seemingly hopeless situations.

Tim’s idea to convert the drama into a movie is now being realized. He has added many characters and subplots and plenty of action in the form of gunfights and demon battles on foot and horseback. There is drama and excitement and thrilling scenes to be viewed, all filmed in a true-to-life western town. The story is set in the late 1800’s and is told in retrospect by the words of “Johnny Westbrook’s” daughter. Johnny, played by Tim, is a cowboy who leaves his ranch, running from his family and problems. He rides to an oppressed town and wrestles with demons, real and imagined. The story deals with spiritual battles, prejudice, suicide, salvation, and victory.

Tim acknowledges that he was inspired by the Lord to write a complete script, compose eight songs, and find nearly 100 people to participate in making the film. An article in the local paper about the movie brought numerous calls and more help. The Carmichael Talent Agency in South Carolina supplied several of the actors. Students and graduates from local film schools have come to the set ready to assist in filming, acting, and general support. A local actress, Catherine Sewell, who plays the storekeeper, has helped to assist with the production.   She states that “this has been a rewarding learning experience for me, and one that I feel will make a positive difference in my life.” The actor that plays “Lucky Tator,” a gold miner, is Barry McGee from Winston-Salem who is a full-time evangelist in the acting field and has produced numerous videos and often portrays biblical characters in a humorous manner. There are actors and crew members in the film traveling from five different states. As one of Tim’s friends, Barry Reynolds of Sanford who plays the demon of death, quoted, “I can’t believe you started filming with just you running a camera and a few weeks later you have 35 people and a film crew!” This movie does indeed appear to be blessed.

Tim, an electrical engineer by trade, owns rental property and horse trades in order to fund this full-time project. He also has a full-time assistant, Laurie Griffin, who felt called to move here from New Hampshire in order to support the project. Filming is approximately half-way finished and the movie is tentatively planned to be completed by summer. Circle M Productions is still looking for crew and cast volunteers. Contact can be made by writing to circlemministry@aol.com.

* Taken from Reel Carolina: Journal of Film and Video • Wilmington, NC

A Vision –

Yesterday, Today and Forever*