WESTERN FRONTIER ADVENTURE

The Premier Location Facility

for

Motion Picture and Television Productions

Introduction and Production Guidelines

Located just off of County Road 14 in Easton, Kansas, Western Frontier Adventure (WFA) has been pleased to host film and television crews from throughout the United States and Europe interested in the filming of historically accurate productions of period pieces. Consisting of over 300 acres of prairie, wooded ravines, hilltops, streams, ponds and unimproved roads WFA also features a trapper's cabin, miner's hut, and full mid-to-late 19th century town (Millwood) perfectly suited to recreate an authentic frontier environment.

 

Owned and operated by Larry and Chris Culbertson, this facility also hosts a herd of longhorn cattle and numerous trained, working horses, rolling stock such as horse drawn freight wagons and buckboards and a well-established network of working cowboys, experienced extras, and fully-equipped and trained period re-enactment groups.

 

Note too, that WFA is out of the flight path used by Kansas City International which is a great boon for sound recording. Likewise there are no nearby railroad tracks and, as Director Ang Lee can attest, trying to film in some nearby areas as a 100 car train passes can be an epiphany. In Kansas a long train of coal cars can easily hold up a production for an hour as it passes. Historical consultants are readily available upon request. Television and film production crews are always welcome and are invariably delighted by the environment provided.

 

WFA is located one hour north of Kansas City, Missouri and within 35 minutes of the Kansas City International Airport. Primary, additional and/or replacement film equipment and support services can be obtained in Kansas City. Numerous hotels, motels, bed & breakfast facilities, rental car and truck agencies, restaurants, and sanitation services are readily available in the area and a listing of preferred/recommended enterprises is available upon request. While all production companies are welcome to use the facilities available certain parameters must be kept in mind.

 

We here at Western Frontier Adventure are fully committed to making your stay here as productive, enjoyable and safe as possible. Attention to safety precautions and thorough pre-planning will ensure that your production is completed on time and under budget.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                             Larry Culbertson

                                                                             Owner/Operator

                                                                             Western Frontier Adventure

                                                                             Cell: (913) 758-7033

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safety First!

A safe production provides for a happy, economical and satisfying experience. Here are a few things which must be observed while operating on WFA; An E.M.T. is required on set during all shooting days.

 

1.  Firearms are dangerous! They must be handled safely and production entities must ensure that all personnel – actors, crew, and support personnel – are thoroughly briefed on the necessity of proper handling and disposition of firearms. While only BLANK ammunition will be employed ALL weapons should be kept unloaded until just prior to the scene in which they are being used. Horseplay with firearms – even if you assume that they are unloaded - is exceedingly dangerous and can result in serious injuries and even death. (Actor Brandon Lee was killed by a blank round fired carelessly during production of his final “The Crow” film). WFA personnel will not hesitate to check firearms randomly and to seize any weapon that is being improperly utilized. As firearms are frequently a feature of projects filmed at WFA we take these precautions very seriously!

 

 

2.  Respect animals - Western Frontier Adventure is a working ranch and thus has a large number of animals on the property. Horses should be treated with respect and caution. Those on WFA are all well-trained and accustomed to the demands of filming but should be regarded with caution nevertheless. Almost all are 'gun trained.' However, sudden movement or waving of distracting materials can spook a horse and should be avoided unless called for in the script and in that case will be rehearsed repeatedly with WFA personnel to ensure best possible results. Never walk behind a horse without letting him know you're there. A hand placed lightly on the horse's hindquarters will alert him to the fact that someone is passing behind him and thus help to avoid sudden kicking or bucking.  WFA does have excellent contacts with local Veterinarians and Blacksmiths at need.

Longhorn cattle are frequently on or near filming locations. While the cattle at WFA are accustomed to human presence they should not be abused or assumed to be friendly. A cow with calves is especially to be avoided as they are very protective and will not hesitate to charge anything or anyone they deem a threat to their young.

 

Production personnel should not bring household animals (e.g. dogs) as they will not mix well  with livestock. If you intend to bring in your own horses, mules, cattle, oxen, pigs, hogs, chickens, etc. for production purposes this must be discussed and cleared with WFA well before production. Coordination should also include planning for Veterinary Support at need.

 

Don't forget – animals need to be fed!  Make sure you make arrangements through WFA to ensure hay and feed are available for your required animals! WFA will do everything in it's power to accommodate your needs but you must make those needs known in a timely fashion.

 

3.  Local Wildlife - Production personnel should remain aware that WFA is in a natural rural setting and as such wildlife abounds on the premises. Wildlife includes but is not limited to deer, turkey, rabbit, raccoon, bobcat, and coyote. There has been at least one confirmed sighting of a mountain lion (cougar) on the property. While most of these creatures are inoffensive in nature they should not be approached or provoked. Buck deer can be quite territorial and aggressive during the mating season and should be avoided. In the unlikely event that you are confronted by an animal, such as a raccoon, who appears to have no fear of you or even approaches you, the chances are that this animal is rabid and must be avoided at all costs. Should you find yourself in this situation notify WFA staff immediately. There are also snakes in the area and while they will largely avoid human contact they are best left undisturbed. Copperheads and Rattlesnakes are not uncommon. While a rattlesnake will usually give warning before striking a copperhead will not. Production personnel should be aware, however that some of the rattlesnakes, especially timber rattlesnakes can get quite large and should be considered quite dangerous. It is always best to avoid heavily wooded areas and rocky ledges and to avoid poking around wood piles or under board sidewalks. Should you happen across a snake it is best to leave it alone, note where you saw it and notify WFA staff as soon as possible. If you find that you must leave the production set by foot to return to base/operations it's always best to have a companion accompany you and to use established roads or trails.

 

4.  Weather – The weather in this region of the country is generally exceptional. There are however a couple of features of the weather wherein common sense will save a lot of trouble. In the unlikely event that we receive a Tornado Warning it should be taken very seriously and WFA staff personnel will assist you in finding appropriate shelter. Electrical storms in this area, while beautiful, should also be taken very seriously – get under cover and avoid placing yourself on a barren hilltop or under a tree. Usually the tallest object in the area will draw a lightning flash – on the prairie this could be you. A tree large enough to provide shelter is also a likely target. In the event of heavy rains you will notice that streams and ponds may fill rapidly. By the same token some of the unpaved road surfaces can very quickly turn to mush.

 

Driving over these roads can sometimes be challenging. An excess of speed or lack of caution can easily dump you and your vehicle into a ditch or up against a tree. Vehicle recovery in these conditions can be difficult and expensive. Further, vehicle access to some areas is constricted by terrain and a mired or wrecked vehicle can thus easily slow down or stop production entirely. It is a good policy to ensure that your drivers are aware of the conditions and are familiar with their surroundings.

 

Use your head and you'll do fine.

 

This being said, producers / location coordinators should be aware that movement beyond the administrative areas of WFA (e.g., near the front gate, machine shed, barn, etc.) should be restricted to appropriate vehicle types – 4 WD capable trucks and SUVs and/or ATVs. WFA has a very limited number of these vehicles available thus if you believe you will require expanded all-terrain transportation you will need to coordinate with a local rental agency beforehand. Locally rental vehicles are easily obtained from nearby Leavenworth, Kansas or from the Kansas City International Airport complex.

 

Production and Support Requirements

 

While Western Frontier Adventure is a great place to shoot for film and television it is not the back lot at Universal Studios it is a LOCATION and it's easy to forget that which you likely take for granted in a studio environment. WFA can help with a lot of things on your productions – from horses and cattle to firearms and saddlery. Our staff is very familiar with most periods in American Western history and can provide all sorts of assistance from teaching novices how to sit a horse and ride comfortably to how to handle a firearm with authority, but you cannot expect to send them out for pizza or coffee and still do their jobs.  This is why you have P.A.s.

 

Re-enactors / Actors / Extras

 

WFA has an extensive network of re-enactors and actors in the local area who are invaluable in making a time period come to life. If you are polite, treat them fairly, and pay them appropriately we have any number of people who can really breathe life into any period. Most of them own their own period clothing and equipment, and will bring their own mounts which can save a production entity thousands of dollars a day (which you would quickly discover if trying to shoot the same project in California, Canada, or New Mexico). Local assets and talent can help you keep production costs very manageable. However, if you do not feed and care for your re-enactment personnel – which should include paying industry scale for services rendered, you could quickly find yourself without an extra to be seen. This has happened recently to production units in California and New Mexico and the projects in question died very quickly.

 

Be polite. Be fair. Be professional!

 

Decent behavior towards extras and re-enactors can repay the production company 5 or 10 times over in time and money saved and in the quality of the final product.  Remember, re-enactors have an extensive nation-wide network and they do talk to and e-mail each other.  We know of several productions which lost their re-enactors due to the warning bells sounded by their friends who had worked previously for the production company in question and found them untrustworthy or undependable. Most of the folks with whom you will be working have performed on high-end film and television productions for many years – they know the business exceptionally well.  Be polite, be fair, don't be afraid to ask their advice on tricky scenes.  Things you might believe impossible our staff and re-enactors may have already done a dozen times.  Things that you may see as simple they will recognize as inherently risky and happily show you a better way to do it. Work with the great assets you've got available and have a great production.

 

Mr. Frederick J. Chiaventone, (MA, Radio and Television) is available as an in-house Historical Advisor. He lives in Weston Missouri just 15 minutes away and is a novelist screenwriter and commentator on international affairs. His novels A Road We Do Not Know (Simon & Schuster) and Moon of Bitter Cold (St. Martins' Press) have won the Ambassador William Colby Award, Western Heritage Award and William Rockhill Nelson Award for Literature. A Road We Do Not Know was also nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He has appeared in such programs as PBS' The American Experience and on the History Channel and was historical advisor to director Ang Lee on the film Ride With The Devil and has served as historical consultant on such projects as Two For Texas, The Rough Riders, Comanche Warrior, and the PBS series The West. He has also appeared on Fox TV's The Big Story, his most recent TV appearnce is in the forthcoming “Bloody Dawn”--about Quantrill's raid on Lawrence and -- Days of The Pony Express on the history of the Pony Express for the Pony Express National Museum. Mr. Chiaventone's services as a Historical Advisor should be contracted for separately.

 

WFA will happily provide for camping facilities for re-enactors to include a fresh water source but provision of rations for man and horse is the responsibility of the production company. Note that WFA is rather a large expanse of territory and thus a functional 2-way radio communications capability for your production staff is strongly recommended. There are portions of the complex where cell phones will simply not function.  Be aware of that ahead of time.

 

 

 

 

 

Another Word on Horses and Rolling Stock!

 

Another word on horses and wagons/rolling stock.  Horses, as we have noted previously, can be extremely unpredictable.  If spooked/frightened, a horse can do tremendous damage to props, actors, actresses, crew in record time.  Although all of our horses are exceptionally well-trained they are still horses and can be spooked by flying objects (e.g., scarves, newspaper, etc.), snakes, another horse or human being passing by without warning, etc..  Treat these animals with care and respect and they're great.  Annoy them at your own peril. 

 

By the same token, wagons and rolling stock can be exceedingly dangerous as they generally have a high center of gravity and can be easily upset (turned over).  If one is being pulled by horses that are suddenly spooked you have a recipe for disaster.

 

Stay clear and let the experts handle it! 

 

Also note that because of the dangers involved people, especially children, should not ride in the beds of wagons/rolling stock unless specifically called for in the script and even then only after intensive rehearsal of the scene in question with qualified WFA personnel.  A wagon wreck is not a pretty thing and can easily put involved personnel in the hospital. Broken limbs are not unusual.  As a result, do not expect 'free rides' on horseback or in wagons/rolling stock to amuse cast and crew.  If you wish to program for such activities in your own insurance company riders, to include 'hold harmless' clauses for WFA, that is your prerogative, simply coordinate with WFA personnel beforehand as we will not assume  responsibility for injurues incurred due to unauthorized use of horses or equipment.

 

 

Actors and Actresses

 

While WFA has extensive contacts with re-enactors, actors and actresses in the region, your arrangements for care and feeding of these folks are your responsibility. They will do all in their power, as will we, to ensure that your job is as easy as possible but you cannot treat them like the proverbial 'red-headed stepchild.'  Actors and actresses that you bring with you will be treated with all due respect but demonstrations of pique, unprofessional behavior, or dangerous conduct (such as the mishandling or abuse of alcohol, controlled substances, livestock or firearms) will not be tolerated. While there are no lodging accommodations for acting/production staff on the grounds, WFA does have locations on-site where trailers – to include those necessary for hair, make-up, lighting, props, wardrobe, craft services etc. can be safely and efficiently operated. Discuss your requirements beforehand with Mr. Larry Culbertson.

 

As a note, all production personnel should understand that WFA is not a child safe environment. While we love kids there are no facilities available on site for the care of little ones. Further, as a working ranch, WFA ought to be considered by the responsible parent/guardian as 'an attractive nuisance' as far as youngsters are concerned.

 

During a production the area will be a beehive of activity between motor and horse drawn vehicles, saddle horses, working horses, cattle, wildlife, and firearms. In short this is not a safe environment for unsupervised children.

 

If actors/actresses/crew elect to bring children with them – especially small children – they must recognize that WFA does not have child care facilities nor staff to supervise or cater to children. Children are the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian.

 

Keep in mind that a lost or injured child is heartbreaking, stressful, and can easily shut down all production activities until the situation is resolved. For the parent or guardian this can be a terribly traumatic and nerve wracking event. For the producer/network/studio this can be a very costly affair.

 

 

Craft Services

 

As previously noted, the provision for Craft Services is the responsibility of the producing entity. While WFA can provide local contacts for same you must negotiate and contract for these services yourself. An excellent location for Craft Services operations is located neat the front gate for Western Frontier Adventure. With good ground, easy road access, fresh water access and ample parking this has been the favored spot for most previous productions many of which have co-located their craft services tent with their production headquarters tent. This also makes for an easily located central point for information exchange and production meetings.

 

Based on considerations of time, light, weather or availability of personnel, some productions may wish to feed 'on location' at Millwood (the western town set) which is located apart from the front gate. In the past we have been able to help production entities set up an “Advance Craft Services” facility in one of the buildings at Millwood.  This usually consists of coffee, milk, water, donuts, sandwiches, fruit, etc.. but can be used for dispersing meals at need. If you think this might be a valuable time saver for you this can be arranged but you must plan for this ahead of time. 

 

Remember, access to Millwood can be problematic. The only road (unpaved) into the Millwood location traverses a creek and winds up a steep, narrow trail before emptying into the location. In adverse weather conditions (heavy rain / snow) this route can be difficult if not impossible for navigation by a standard craft services truck. Thus, should the producers wish for economic/time considerations to feed cast and/or crew at Millwood access issues should be considered well in advance. In most cases access can be had easily via pick-up truck, 4 wheel drive vehicle, or a light truck/van with 4 wheel drive capacity. Producers / Location Coordinators should take this into consideration when planning out the shooting schedule. 

 

While some productions have depended on trusted craft services operations which they brought from California or New York, WFA can also provide the producers with excellent references to Craft Service caterers in the area. 

 

As a note of interest, we here at WFA believe strongly in feeding all working personnel first.  Thus our staff will always ensure that cast/crew eat first.  We want to make sure that every one is treated fairly. 

Sanitation

 

The production of a film or television project will naturally result in the production of large amounts of waste material. It is the responsibility of the production company to contract for both trash collection and removal and the provision/maintenance of porta potties (portable toilets) for cast and crew. WFA will happily provide contact numbers to production company personnel for obtaining these services. These sanitation services should be arranged for and in operation NLT the evening prior to start of principal photography or the arrival on set of cast and crew whichever comes first. WFA personnel will be happy to help you determine the ideal locations for such facilities.  Remember, that for any set of toilet facilities you should co-locate an ability to provide for handwashing.  Local firms can easily provide same but you should discuss it with them ahead of time.

 

 

Production Insurance

 

Any company wishing to utilize WFA facilities should be bonded and insured for the duration of the production phase on location. Location scouting may of course be performed beforehand but, once a production start date is confirmed, an insurance policy covering production costs and liabilities must be in place and a copy of said document provided to WFA for our records.

 

Costs / Payment

 

Once the production company and Western Frontier Adventure have decided on production requirements and start/end dates for principal photography payment for use of WFA facilities/services is due by the following formula;

 

A non-refundable security deposit amounting to 15% of the projected cost of facilities/services is payable prior to start of principal photography. Should the production be aborted and subsequently terminated by the production company due to unforeseen circumstances prior to scheduled end date then payment for goods and services rendered to that point are the financial responsibility of the production company. Final payment, including any additional production expenses incurred by WFA in response to requests by the production company during principal photography, should be made by a cashiers or certified check and must 'clear the bank' before production may proceed. The production company will keep a daily record of expenses over and above initially anticipated expenses itemized to indicate any goods or services provided by WFA. Final payment of fees must be tendered within 90 days of the completion of principal photography at WFA and must be received by Western Frontier Adventure NLT COB of that date.

 

As a final note, when you have a large production it is sometimes difficult to ensure that everybody knows what's going on. We have found that the productions which have informed their personnel as fully as possible as to scheduling, local conditions, safe work requirements, etc., tend to get their work done faster, more efficiently, and with a better final product than their competition.  Such sets also tend to have a happier environment in which personnel are eager to work with their fellows in the future.  Just to help you along in striving for this we'll recommend that the information in this note is circulated amonng your personnel so that they too will know more about the environment in which they'll be working.  Above all, welcome to Western Frontier Adventure – we're sure that you'll find it all that you hoped it would be and more.

 

Good shooting!

 

The following personnel have read and understand the content of these guidelines.

 

 

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Director                                                                         Producer

 

 

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Location Coordinator                                                    Art Director

 

 

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Larry Culbertson

Owner/Operator, WFA

Cell: 913-758-7033