Summer Glau

Lights, camera, action - wow! Henry Thomas, Summer Glau, Eric Balfour and lots of other stellar talents are part of a Western movie being filmed this week in nearby Boerne.

Called "The Legend of Hell’s Gate: An American Conspiracy," the film from Flatiron Pictures is written and directed by Tanner Beard and relates the adventures of three outlaws on the run in 1876.

I spoke with producer Suzanne Weinert, who filled me in on details.

In their ride across Texas, the men — played by Balfour ("24," "Six Feet Under"), Beard and Lou Taylor Pucci — come across some famous characters: John St. Helen (reputed to be the alias of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth); Doc Holliday and Jesse James.

Enchanted Springs Ranch — a movie set, working ranch and Wild West tourist attraction in Boerne — has been used since Sunday to portray the Texas town of Granbury. That’s where actor Booth is rumored to have escaped to under the name of St. Helen.

S.A. native Thomas ("E.T.," "Psycho IV," "Gangs of New York") plays St. Helen.

According to Weinert, Glau ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and "Firefly"), also of San Antonio, is portraying Maggie Moon, a member of a family that the outlaws encounter. Michael Taber, a cute newcomer from Boerne, plays her younger brother.

Weinert said filming at Enchanted Springs Ranch — which she described as a wonderful shooting location — has been a joy, but likely would cease today.

However, the cast and crew soon will return to Texas for more filming — in Granbury and Austin. In a fun turn of events, the real Granbury will double for Dallas.