Most likely wouldn't consider Cleburne a place to shoot a film. Bill Neeley, however, hopes to film two movies in and around the city and Johnson County soon. Neeley's books, one a biography of American Indian chief Quanah Parker, the other a fictional account of a rodeo clown, provide the inspiration for both projects.

Neeley, of Cleburne, self-published the Parker book in his hometown of Tulia in 1986 and sold 3,000 copies in a year. John Wiley & Sons publishing company published the book in 1995 under the title "The Last Comanche Chief: The Life and Times of Quanah Parker." Since then, Neeley's moved about 20,000 copies.

"Rodeo Clown," Neeley's second book, which he hopes to publish soon, was written first.

"‘Rodeo Clown' had been sitting in a box since 1974 because publishers don't realize the market for rodeo fiction," Neeley said. "There's practically no rodeo fiction. I think it's a huge untapped market and one that I understand and which I know my book would be right for."

Neeley, who previously wrote poetry and several articles for periodicals, said he came to writing naturally.

"I write because basically I have no other choice; it just comes out," Neeley said.

A lifelong love of area history, American Indian culture and western movies and literature ensured his writing's Texas-centric flavor.

Serendipity played a role in "Rodeo Clown's" creation, Neeley said. Teaching English in Andrews High School in Andrews in the early 1970s, Neeley was asked by students and agreed to sponsor the school's rodeo club. The experience began Neeley's interest in professional rodeo and inspired the book.

"Rodeo Clown" centers on Choc Ridgeway, a young half-blood Choctow escaping a failed marriage by traveling the rodeo circuit as a rodeo clown in the mid-1970s. Ridgeway tackles new love, rodeo rivalry and a drinking problem on his road to redemption.

Pitch perfect and chock full of action, the story captures the rodeo lifestyle before it became too slick and commercialized. Which is just what Neeley said he intended, to capture the nostalgia of a bygone age.

Bill Romer, a retired bullfighter, wrote in the forward to "Rodeo Clown" that the characters capture the public image of cowboys 20 to 30 years ago, when they ran on the wild side of life.

New life

"Rodeo Clown" languished for years, he said, until he moved to Cleburne and took a job teaching Spanish at Rio Vista High School. Several students there read and loved the manuscript, Neeley said. Not long after, while attending a class reunion at Andrews High School, Neeley said several of his students and rodeo club members from his days teaching there asked if he'd ever published the book, which he'd read to them long ago.

"That's when I decided to establish my company in Cleburne and publish the book," Neeley said, referring to Rodeo Clown Inc.

Neeley plans to print, design, warehouse and distribute the book through Cleburne and other area businesses. Sagentic Web Design owner Kenny Haferkamp said Neeley plans to use his company to design the book's cover and create an accompanying Web site.

Neeley also hopes to film significant portions of both books in Johnson County and use locals as extras and maybe for a few larger parts.

"I want people to realize the production of this book is an all-Johnson County effort," Neeley said. "Because I want them to invest in it, take ownership and be proud."

Neeley wants to self-publish "Rodeo Clown" because he said it will lead to more money for himself and his investors. He pointed out that Amazon will list and sell self-published books, and he said he believes interest in the film will further drive book sales.

Neeley plans to go the independent film and distribution route with both films, he said, or perhaps do them as made-for-TV movies. Both options afford more control over the finished product and a larger profit share, he said.

Dr. Andrew Horton, the Jeannie H. Smith professor of film and video studies at Oklahoma University, said Neeley's aspirations are attainable because there are more avenues now than in the past to get a film shot and produced. Neeley audited his screenwriting class in 2000, and Horton assisted Neeley in writing "Eagle of the Comanches," a screenplay based on "The Last Comanche Chief."

"I was touched by the story of Parker's life and agreed to work on the script," Horton said. "I think anything that opens up the story of first-nation people, anything we can learn about them is for the better."

Charles Clark, style editor of The Lawton Constitution newspaper in Oklahoma and a friend of Neeley's, also said he'd like to see a movie of the Parker book.

"It's a subject of historical note to our area, so I'd like to see it come about," Clark said.

Parker served as the last chief of the Quahadi tribe of the Comanches. He was never captured by the U.S. Army and surrendered his tribe only when he saw no other alternative.

His was the last area tribe to be brought into the reservation system.

The film would also probably be a first on Parker's life, Clark said.

"It's an incredible oversight on Hollywood's part," Clark said. "I have a huge interest in film, particularly westerns, and I can't recall any film of consequence dealing with Quanah Parker. His character has been portrayed in a few films, but nothing major or historically accurate."

Neeley said he needs investors because he doesn't have enough money to fund the projects himself. Several residents of Cleburne, Andrews and other towns already purchased $100 shares in Rodeo Clown Inc., he said, which will fund the projects, but more are needed.