The Missoulian from Missoula, Montana • 15

Missoulian, Thursday, July 10, 1980 1 '4. Deer Lodge became Montana's movie capital Tuesday as the opening scene of "Fast-Walking" was filmed. G3 If I ulj photography for King Baggot, right, director of "Fast-Walking," sets up a shot of the warden. 1 4 I VJ i'-J A ,...11 I DEER LODGE Two uniformed men in a black '59 Buick stopped in front of the old Montana State Prison Tuesday. They spoke in low tones.

Then, one of them, a black man, hopped out of the car, hooting, "O-o-o-o-e-e-e-e! Let's do it, Sylvester!" The occasion was the filming of the opening scene for the movie "Fast-Walking," starring James Woods as Fast-Walking, a prison guard caught up in a tricky plot of inmate assassination, racial conflict, sex and suspense. The movie, budgeted at roughly 4 million, also stars veteran actor Charles Weldon as "Jackson," Fast-Walking's -black friend and fellow guard. Tim Mclntire, a Montanan from the Yaak Valley area, plays Wasko Weed, a shrewd, slick trustee and Fast-Walking's cousin. The jovial Woods, who says working in Deer Lodge "feels great I love the country up here," has appeared in numerous films, including the "The Onion Field" and "The Quiet Boys," and played several television roles. Weldon, smiling and friendly off the set, sprayed his arms with a can of Cutter's mosquito repellent between scenes.

"They know it's not Montana blood," he said with a laugh, adding that filming in the fresh air of the Deer Lodge Valley has been a relief from the Los Angeles smog. "First thing this morning, I got up," Weldon said, taking a deep breath, "and just said, Weldon has starred in the television special "Roots: The Next Generation," and movies such as "Serpico" and "Rooster Cogburn." "Fast-Walking," based on the book "The Rap," by Ernest Brawley, a former San Quentin guard, is directed, written and produced by James B. Harris, once an early partner to Stanley by JEFF COLE photos by RAYMOND GEHMAN of the Missoulian Kubrick. Harris more recently directed the movie "Telefon," starring Charles Bronson. Harris, who said that cooperation from local officials of the Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation has "really been terrific," described the film as "disciplined" in cost.

Publicity director Mel Asch said the picture is "not expensive by Hollywood standards." "The emphasis," Harris said, "is really to get every penny on the screen, so we get some good production values." And the convenience of having the country's only abandoned prison for filming is helping save money, he said. "I think the prison is such a valuable setting in that it's unoccupied." Filming in an occupied prison gets expensive, Harris said, because "you have to deal with their security and you have to deal with their rules and regulations." Although painting and renovation of the old prison took some effort and expense, Harris said, the net savings made the effort worthwhile. "That's why I think this prison is really an asset to the town. You can't just build a place like this." Production manager Dick McWhor-ter said last week that hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent in the area for supplies, lodging and meals, as well as pay for extras and local contractors. On the opening set Tuesday, the only Montanans hired as extras and stand-ins for the film were Tim Jones, a Helena native and University of Montana graduate who stands in for Weldon during rehearsals, and Sterling Stay ton, a UM master's degree candidate in business administration, who stands in for Woods.

Jones and Stayton agreed that they had taken the parts for the $4-an-hour they will earn, but also for the excitement of working on a film. "It's more the experience than the money," Jones said. "I woke up this morning with the jitters." "This is pannin' out pretty good," added Jones, who originally applied only for a part as an extra or background prisoner. "The pay ain't bad, I'm just glad I'm on this side of the law," he said, smiling and touching the lapel of his prison guard's uniform. Spirits among the crew and extras, some of whom are real prison guards at the new state prison, seemed high.

However, some noted that the work involves a lot of "standin' around." "I thought there would be more women in bikinis," one passerby quipped. The only female lead in the film, which is expected to be released sometime next spring, is that of Wasko Weed's girlfriend, played by Kay Lenz, who has several intimate scenes with James Woods. "They (the scenes) are pretty erotic," Woods said, "but it's in the spirit of the whole movie. It's fun." light-meter reading prior to shooting a scene involving actor Sandy Ward who plays the warden in; "Fast-Walking." nn iin i A photo assistant takes a UilL The opening scene is outside Guards take up positions on sia $1 the prison walls. the prison wall.

James Wood, left, who plays the lead in the movie "Fast-Walking," discusses the opening scene with producerdirector James B. Harris, center, and co-star Charles Weldon. ft.