Several artists and craftsmen from Dolores contributed to the set of \u201cThe Hateful Eight,\u201d a Quentin Tarantino Western recently shot in Telluride.<\/p>\n
Movie scouts were trolling the streets of Dolores last November when they came upon Dan Heeney\u2019s aspen furniture shop, Rustic Style.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey walked in and liked the designs I had to offer. I was glad to get my first Hollywood order,\u201d Heeney said.<\/p>\n
He put together a rush order of two picnic tables with benches, bar stools, a bar top and a replica bench.<\/p>\n
Deliveries were made to the set on Schmid Ranch above Telluride.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a little surreal,\u201d Heeney said of the scene. \u201cThere were 18 semi-trailers with all the movie gear. Hollywood types with French berets and little glasses were running around directing things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not one to miss a beat, he referred movie scouts to a couple of his Dolores pals, leatherworker Rick Randolph and metal artist Meagan Crowley, who were also hired for set work.<\/p>\n
Randolph did the custom leatherwork for stagecoaches on the set.<\/p>\n
\u201cI upholstered the drivers booth and other parts of the coach, some with original leather from that era,\u201d he said. \u201cI got to meet Tarantino at a Telluride bar and tried to convince him to cast my dog in the movie, but he turned me down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crowley, of Iron Meagan Metal Works, created period-style handles for the stagecoaches along with metal boot scrapers and hooks for the haberdashery. She also collaborated on a bench with Rustic Style for the set.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all looking forward to watching the movie together to see what made the cut,\u201d she said. \u201cThe people were really nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dolores Mayor Val Truelsen provided lumber from his mill for the set, and items from the Traditional Charm antique store were also bought to decorate the set.<\/p>\n
Randolph said he did some side leather jobs for the set designers, making custom purses and wallets with \u201cHateful Eight\u201d emblems.<\/p>\n
Heeney as well got extra work, splitting firewood for the set tents and scoring new furniture orders from the camera crew.<\/p>\n
The film recently wrapped, and locals hope it will be screened in Telluride.<\/p>\n
Tarantino is famous for his dark humor and violent films such as \u201cPulp Fiction,\u201d \u201cReservoir Dogs,\u201d and \u201cInglorious Bastards.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s like a caricature of himself. It was cool to hang out with the stars,\u201d Heeney says of meeting with Tarantino. \u201cThey used my furniture in the cantina, so maybe someone will get killed on one of my tables!\u201d<\/p>\n