Jason Ritter, Autumn Reeser and Amy Landers in a scene from "Our Very Own" (GADA Films web site) [Click to enlarge]

"Not to worry ... we are on the way home soon!"

That's the word from director Cameron Watson about the Shelbyville premiere of the movie "Our Very Own," which was filmed here on location last summer.

According to Louise Russell, who is assistant to Watson, GADA Films will be announcing the date of the World Premiere in Hollywood in a couple of weeks; however, there are no dates yet set for the Shelbyville premiere.

Russell said that the initial projected dates were moved due to further work on the film and some scheduling conflicts with the Los Angeles premiere.

"We hope to have the Tennessee plans finalized soon," Russell said.

"Our Very Own" is the product of the life and memories of Watson, the writer and director of the film, who grew up in Shelbyville. Watson and his crew have been working on post production since primary photography was completed last July.

Watson said in late February that the movie has already attracted attention before its release and that they had been invited to screen the film at "a major North American film festival" sometime in June.

For Watson, the film is a labor of love. The story is personal for the writer/director and is loosely based on his growing up in Shelbyville in the late 1970s. The movie is set in 1978, when five local teens are excited about the return of "hometown star" Sondra Locke, who starred with her then-partner, Clint Eastwood, in several films of the era, including "Any Which Way But Loose."

The teenagers hope to follow the movie star out of Shelbyville, but at the same time, one of the teens is facing a personal family crisis.

Watson describes the film a family film, with no nudity or violence,; however, it does contain some dark themes. They are hoping for a PG rating.

The movie stars Allison Janney of the NBC show "West Wing"; Academy Award winner Keith Carradine, who has appeared in over 40 films and starred recently in the critically acclaimed HBO series "Deadwood"; Cheryl Hines from the HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm"; Jason Ritter, son of the late actor John Ritter and featured in the CBS series "Joan of Arcadia"; Beth Grant, who is described as one of Hollywood's most recognizable faces and has been in dozens of films and TV series; Hilarie Burton, who stars in the WB series "One Tree Hill"; Faith Prince, who has been in a series of films and TV shows; and Mary Badham, who at age 9 brought to life the role of Scout Finch in the 1962 classic "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Numerous locals are cast as extras, including dance instructor Nancy June Brandon, Scott Cunningham, now a New York actor, and Deborah Obenchain. Cunningham and Obenchain were Watson's fellow drama students at Shelbyville Central High School during the time period in which the movie is set. Obenchain's niece, Vanderbilt student Elizabeth Cole, has a non-speaking role as Sondra Locke.

The Dog of Top of the Car -- based on "Charlie the Wonder Dog," which rode around Shelbyville atop his owner's car in the 1970's -- is played by Rufus.

Also, Nanci Griffith's new album, Heart in Mind, includes a bonus track, "Our Very Own," which was written and performed by Griffith and Carradine for the movie.