Indie Film "Oildale" Celebrates Healing Power of Music

The Cast of Oildale, from left to right Cyrus Zoghi, Jessica Castello, David Michael Farrow, Caleb Brown, Sonny King.

(BAKERSFIELD, Cal.) – Oildale, a new independent film about military veterans and the healing power of music premiered in Bakersfield, California, where it was shot, on March 30. The producers plan to screen the film throughout the United States, in collaboration with veterans’ organizations and community groups, to raise money for veterans.

The movie was inspired by homeless veterans that director David Mueller and screenwriter Lynn Salt saw on the streets, when they used to visit Bakersfield to see the late country singer Buck Owens perform at his famed Crystal Palace.

“People often ask where the title ‘Oildale’ comes from,” Salt said. “It’s because Merle Haggard was born there, and I believe great art can come from suffering. People who know Merle’s history know he had a lot to deal with in his youth.”

The film centers around an Iraq War veteran (Cyrus Zoghi) and two Vietnam veterans (Michael David Farrow and Sonny H. King) who befriend an 18-year-old girl (Jessica Castello) and her 13-year-old brother (Caleb Brown). After learning that the girl dreams of becoming a singer, the veterans encourage and help her to enter a singing competition at a local theater.

“This is an old-fashioned story with a universally appealing message,” Mueller said. “It is about family, friendship and how people in small towns tend to take care of each other.”

Salt and Mueller, both Hollywood veterans with a long list of credits, previously collaborated on the multi-award-winning Native American documentary, “A Good Day to Die,” and the surfing film, “Beautiful Wave.” Rick Davis, former Kern County Film Commission executive director, came out of retirement to co-produce “Oildale.”

“I fell in love with the script and how it so fits our community,” he said. “It’s a beautiful story about how big everybody’s heart is in Bakersfield. I helped round up some of the best musicians in town, including John Herrell, who did studio work for Buck Owens for years. We had such a great collection of people and the energy kept growing and growing.”

Several songwriters contributed original music for the project. Country-roots recording artist Grant Maloy Smith gave filmmakers permission to use “I Come From America,” a song from his 2017 Billboard-charting album “Dust Bowl – American Stories.” He also has a supporting role as “Brady Cooper,” a guitarist.

“In the movie, my song is performed by a different character, but I play in the band,” Smith said. “The producers liked the song, because it celebrates the common people who made America. There is also a line in the song, about Bakersfield.”

Other musicians and songwriters who appear in the film include:

Real-life veteran Evan Morgan, who sings his song “No Good News,” which is part of the film’s score.
Brant Cotton, an actor known for “Wag the Dog,” “Cold Case” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.” He is also the lead singer of the country band Von Cotton. In “Oildale,” he sings his song “See You on the Other Side” as the character “Clyde Fenton.”
Therese Muller, who sings her song “Face the Fear” as a contestant in the singing competition.
Will Branch, who sings his song “You” on stage. He also wrote the hero’s song, and main theme of the movie, “Fog of War.”

Despite its modest budget, “Oildale” has the look and feel of a much bigger movie, thanks to support from the Bakersfield community and help from many volunteers, including many Hollywood professionals who donated their time. In keeping with their grassroots business model, the filmmakers are planning an 18-month “Heartland Tour” to screen the film in all 50 states. They are currently seeking local veterans and community groups with which to partner, to screen the movie and split ticket sales.

“Military men and women have sacrificed so much for this country, and many have come home carrying memories of their friends who died,” Salt said. “There are twenty-two suicides by veterans every day. Our veterans cannot heal until their fellow Americans help them.”

Salt has worked in the motion picture industry for more than 25 years as a writer, producer and director. She has written more than 20 screenplays, four of which have been optioned by A-list producers. A Choctaw (American Indian), Salt was a member of the American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts (AIRPA) in Los Angeles. She produced and co-directed “A Good Day to Die” (2010 Kino Lorber) and co-wrote and co-produced the dramatic feature “Beautiful Wave” (2011 Starz/ Anchor Bay), starring Aimee Teegarden, Patricia Richardson, Lance Henriksen and Helen Slater.

Mueller is an award-winning director, producer and writer, who began his directorial career with Universal Pictures on “New York Undercover” (Fox) and “The Wright Verdicts” (CBS), directing second unit action sequences on the streets of New York. He has directed, written and produced dozens of documentaries, national commercials and feature films. He co-produced “Dalai Lama Renaissance” (2007 Horizon), which was narrated by Harrison Ford and won 12 Best Documentary awards. He also produced and co-directed “A Good Day to Die” (2010 Kino Lorber) with Dennis Banks, winner of six Best Documentary awards, and directed “Beautiful Wave” (2011 Starz/Anchor Bay) starring Aimee Teegarden, Patricia Richardson, Lance Henriksen and Helen Slater. Information about “Oildale” is available at www.OildaleTheMovie.com.

Cast