Tahlequah wary after first film bust

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) -- Some Tahlequah business owners have their own lines for a new movie crew in town. "No credit." <br><br>The production company filming "Doe Boy" has nothing to do with the aborted

Tuesday, April 25th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) -- Some Tahlequah business owners have their own lines for a new movie crew in town. "No credit."

The production company filming "Doe Boy" has nothing to do with the aborted filming of a remake of "Where the Red Fern Grows" last year. But because "Red Fern" left town $700,000 in debt, some business owners are wary.

"I'm more cautious," said Hugh Dotson, who said his lumber supply company is owed $4,000 by "Red Fern" producers. "Well, I'm so cautious, I wouldn't give credit anymore."

"Doe Boy," a coming-of-age story about a hemophiliac half-Cherokee boy, began filming earlier this month in Tahlequah. The $2.2 million production by Doe Boy Productions is expected to wrap up by early May.

Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, who leads Oklahoma's efforts to attract film projects, planned a visit to the set today with members of the Oklahoma Film Commission.

"Are we looking at the exact financials of a company?" said her spokesman, Stephen Reymer. "Well, we always try to find out as much as we can about the company involved."

The film's executive producer, Chris Eyre, directed the Sundance Film Festival award-winning "Smoke Signals" in 1997. The Doe Boy script won a specialty award at the festival, said production coordinator Dana Marinos.

Film Commissioner Director Dino Lalli said "Doe Boy" makers were aware of the previous problems in Tahlequah and decided early on to pay merchants by cash or credit card. But some business owners said the crew had no choice.

"I would ask for a credit card or turn the sale away," said Randy Rucker, who said the previous film crew still owes his hardware store about $2,500. "I hate to do it."