Hello fellow OGR members, awhile back when I first joined, I mentioned on a post about my plan to make a film on toy trains. Being born in 1997, I grew up watching many train-related programs either on tv or on vhs tapes and later on DVD in the years prior to YouTube and social media. Shows like the "Thomas & Friends" model series, Rich Melvin's OGR Video Magazines, and TM's "I Love Toy Trains" were just some of the many shows that a lot of my generation grew up watching that got me bit by the toy train and railroading bug. I was fortunate to meet Tom McComas, the founder of TMBV and became friends with him in which I greatly admire his work and the impact he left on the hobby, as it was "I Love Toy Trains" that introduced me to 3-rail O gauge trains. I also befriended former TM video producer Don Varda, who later produced his own series of toy train videos in the mid-90's with renowned Lionel postwar collector Joe Algozzini. I joined the TCA a couple years ago and have been collecting and operating toy and model O gauge trains for 13 years now and I absolutely love the hobby, especially sharing it with fellow enthusiasts and newcomers.
I recently completed college earning a BA in history and have finished a filmmaking course as my ambitions are to be a filmmaker. For me there is nothing like filming and making a movie, along with the editing, sound mixing, and music that are the key ingredients to make a great production. I know it won't be easy, but I love a good challenge. As I am looking to get into the filmmaking industry, I've been very interested in making a toy train themed movie, similar to TM's shows, along with OGR's video's and the 1957 classic "Toccata for Toy Trains". To sum up my idea for the movie project is that it would be a cinematic celebration of toy trains and model railroading. My main goal is to help give exposure to the hobby as I feel there is a lack of publicity for toy trains in recent years as far as the entertainment market. While I believe that the hobby is not dying for say, it could sure use more exposure like it was when I was a kid.
I plan to film my own layout once I get it going again, as well as try to film other layouts from either public displays, clubs, and private layouts here in my home state of Michigan and nearby states. I'd love to feature everything from Prewar, Postwar, and modern era trains and accessories, as well as various types of layouts from classic tinplate traditional, to scale-detailed Hi-rail layouts. I have not started the movie, but I am however taking this time to plan it out and I would love to hear what ideas you may have in mind? The target audience is basically those looking for fun, family-friendly entertainment that newcomers and experienced hobbyists can enjoy.
When the movie project is completed, I plan to submit it at numerous film festivals and see where it goes from there.
I also have a YouTube channel, Worden Entertainment, which I have numerous out-of-print toy train videos, as well as my own that I filmed of some of my collection, as well as a Christmas layout display in Ashley, Michigan along with 2-8-4 Berkshire Pere Marquette 1225.
https://www.youtube.com/channe...lcmgdrKL4f26wSd_S6JQ
Thank you very much and happy O Gauge Railroading everyone!
-Nikolas Worden,
Worden Entertainment
TCA # 22-76355
