‘The Mustang’ filmed at Carson City’s historic prison arrives in theaters March 15

A new movie that was filmed at the historic state prison in Carson City “The Mustang” starring veteran actor Bruce Dern and Matthias Schoenaerts, known for the Academy Award winning film “The Danish Girl” and Jennifer Lawrence’s “Red Sparrow,” will be hitting select theaters March 15.

The film, which Robert Redford served as executive producer, used Carson City’s historic Nevada State Prison, which closed in 2012, as its movie set, filming at the location over a six week period in 2017, according to Nevada State Prison Preservation Society’s Vice President Maurice White.

The movie originally aired at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 31, receiving bright reviews.

According to Focus Features, the movie description is as follows:

“Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts), a convict in a rural Nevada prison who struggles to escape his violent past, is required to participate in an “outdoor maintenance” program as part of his state-mandated social rehabilitation. Spotted by a no-nonsense veteran trainer (Bruce Dern) and helped by an outgoing fellow inmate and trick rider (Jason Mitchell), Roman is accepted into the selective wild horse training section of the program. There, he rediscovers his own humanity in gentling an especially unbreakable mustang.”

Go here to view the movie trailer.

The film also features local actors, including Jack Waggon of Carson City, Dominique Ramone Smith of Reno, and Angel Alvarado of Reno, according to IMDb. Other Northern Nevada residents also participated with the film crew and as extras. There was more than 1,200 volunteer hours associated with the film, Nevada State Prison Preservation Society Chairman Glen Whorton said last year.

The movie parallels the real-life mustang rehabilitation program in Carson City, named The Northern Nevada Correctional Center/Stewart Conservation Camp Saddle Horse and Burro Training Program.

The program is a cooperative partnership between the Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Corrections-Silver State Industries in which “wild horses and burros are gentled and trained before being adopted. About 60-75 wild horses and burros are trained and adopted at the facility each year. Each wild horse or burro receives approximately 120 days of training, but they are still ‘green-broke,’” according to the program.

Carson City’s Assemblyman Al Kramer is currently sponsoring Assembly Bill 214, which seeks to enact a feasibility study to turn the historic prison into a museum.

According to Kramer, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has already approved a quarter of a million dollars in funding from the Governor’s fund to provide for the prison museum efforts.

To learn more about the Nevada State Prison, you can visit its website at www.nevadastateprison.org

We will update with further information on if, when and where the film will be viewable in local theaters. In the meantime, you can view the trailer below:

Top Stories

... or see all stories

Willy, an America's First True Breed Boston Terrier, and his mams, Nicole Madden of Carson City, enjoy a New Years Day hike at Spooner Lake. Photo by Willy's Uncle Tod Jennings

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong announced his bid for re-election Friday. Furlong has served as the 27th Carson City Sheriff since 2003.

Equine enthusiasts in Nevada will soon have a new resource for information about what is happening around the state. Sagebrush Rider is a new monthly magazine launching in March 2018.

A 32-year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday, 11:39 p.m., at 3879 Highway 50 East for suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance along with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and two misdemeanor failure to appear warrants issued in Carson City.

A Carson City District Court judge has ruled that a proposed ballot question that aims to make sanctuary cities unconstitutional isn’t suitable for a statewide vote.

As we head into the weekend, there's a chance of rain showers in the valleys and high elevation snow showers in the Sierra Friday into Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Carson City Health and Human Services is reporting a significant increase of positive flu cases in the region. Overall, Carson City, Douglas and Lyon counties have experienced many more cases of influenza this year than the same time last year.

We have survived the first week of 2018, and that deserves some celebration. Put a smile on your face at the Brewery Arts Center: their monthly improv night will have you in stitches. Ev Musselman of the Trippin King Snakes takes the stage at Living the Good Life and will have you on the dance floor. Meet artist Carrie White at the Carson City Art Gallery. Her bright abstract-impressionistic work will be showcased throughout the month. Read on for all of Friday’s fun stuff.

Friday, Jan. 5: Things to do in Carson City

Carson City's 2017-2018 fiscal year budget was augmented by $38.2 million by the Board of Supervisors on Thursday.

A zoning change that allows for the potential development of about 75 homes in Dayton was unanimously approved by Lyon County commissioners at their Thursday meeting.

WASHOE VALLEY, Nev. — With close to 3,000 dead trees now removed, Nevada Division of Forestry crews have begun the lengthy process of planting trees and grasses on the Little Valley Fire burn scar.

Customers can sip on a drink, or enjoy lunch while local musicians create a relaxing, yet productive ambiance. Often completely acoustic, customers find the music lifts the mood and adds productivity for those typing away on laptops.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval responded to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions decision Thursday to rescind the Obama-era directive that allowed states to make decisions regarding federal enforcement of marijuana laws.

There is a natural phenomenon that takes place each January to February that is celebrated annually in Carson Valley.

Western Nevada College has named 322 students to the Fall 2017 Dean’s List. To earn this distinction, students must complete at least 12 units during the semester and accumulate a grade point average of 3.50 or higher. 
 Honorees include:

Carson City’s Leisure Hour Club begins the New Year with local author Brooke Santina, whose first novel "Dishrags to Dirtbags" tells the story of a meek housewife’s plunge into the often dangerous and mostly crazy world of law enforcement. The presentation will be at the Club’s dinner meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

After training exercises last month by the Carson City Fire Department, the old Thurman Ranch House, a family and basque style steak house that closed in 2013, is being cleared out.

The building has been unoccupied since closing. Last month the Carson City Fire Department used it for fire training purposes.

The owners of the property, Tim and Joyce Smith, agreed to have the buildings taken down on the property, which is 0.76 acres, according to the property's Real Estate Agent Bruce Robertson.

Fewer traffic fatalities, including pedestrian deaths, were reported in Carson City during 2017, according to data released by the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, whose statewide numbers showed a decrease in overall traffic deaths but an increase in pedestrian fatalities last year.

Snow was hard to find Wednesday during the first official measurement of the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada for 2018.

The first weekend of the year approaches, and that means our monthly Downtown Carson City Wine Walk. It’s never deterred, come rain, shine, or tornado, so make plans with your friends now. Get a jump on any healthy resolutions by joining Muscle Powered on today’s hike along Prison Hill; just be prepared for the trek and great photo opportunities. Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint has snared touring band, The River Arkansas, to play some Americana roots on their stage; a perfect dinner and show.

A 33-year-old Carson City Jail inmate who was set for release on local charges was booked Tuesday for a felony fugitive from justice warrant out of California, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called Wednesday afternoon to a vehicle crash in the area of South Carson and West Overland streets.

After a mostly dry December for Carson City and the Lake Tahoe region, a change appears to be on the way that may bring snow to the Sierra and isolated rain showers into the valleys by the end of the week and possibly beyond.

Carson City attorney Ryan Russell filed candidacy paperwork Tuesday for Carson City justice of the peace department 2.

Weather permitting, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team may conduct prescribed fire operations this week on the north end of Lake Tahoe. Smoke may be present.

CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada is looking to fill three AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America positions including, Volunteer Coordinator, Program Development and Fundraising Coordinator for a one-year term, which will serve both Carson City and Carson Valley clubhouse locations.

I don’t want to jinx anything, but there are rumors of wet stuff on the way. Granted, the valley will probably just see some rain, but I love seeing our mountains snow-capped. The Epic Rides’ Carson City Off-Road race isn’t until June, but locals can sign up tonight at a nice discount. Teens can find a little peace and quiet with the new Meditation Group that meets at A to Zen. Learning to calm your mind can be an invaluable tool during the school year.

Wild horse advocates upset by Nevada Board of Agriculture decisions late last year that ended an agreement with the American Wild Horse Campaign and then agreeing to transfer ownership of all Virginia Range horses to a yet-to-be-named nonprofit animal organization say they plan to demonstrate Wednesday and hold a candlelight event Saturday at the capitol building in Carson City.

UPDATE 6:53PM: Inmate Steven Gant is in custody and headed back to Northern Nevada Correctional Center. He was apprehended at the Hyatt casino in Incline Village, said Brooke Keast, spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Corrections.
***
The Nevada Department of Corrections reports a 30-year-old minimum security inmate walked away from forest work detail Tuesday near Lake Tahoe.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office investigations division is asking for the public’s help identifying a man who used a key to open cash registers at Walmart on Christmas Eve.