Attorney and author William Brotherton of Brotherton Law Firm played a "disgruntled railroad worker" in Heavens Fall and had the privilege of both working with David and being a part of this project. He was kind enough to share his thoughts on being a part of the film. Thank You to him for sharing his experience with David Strathairn Online.

David Strathairn and William Brotherton on the set of Heavens Fall (2004) - photo copyright © 2004, William Brotherton

"Everyone working on the movie was really friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed my week of shooting. My big scene is with Azura Skye, when I confront her outside the courthouse after she recants her testimony. The movie is really going to be special because it is based on a true story. I was especially interested because I am an attorney and I am originally from Atlanta, and I grew up hearing about the Scottsboro boys. I remember when George Wallace issued the pardon that finally ended a terrible legal saga. I also spent time at the shooting of the railroad scenes in the North Georgia mountains. I rode in the steam locomotive from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum that was used to replicate a 1930s freight train, and it was very moving to watch the scenes of the armed posse storming the train to remove the Scottsboro boys. I also enjoyed riding in the cab of the locomotive from Chattanooga to the North Georgia mountains, especially since I spent four years working for the Burlington Northern Railroad as a brakeman, conductor and trainmaster, chronicled in my book, Burlington Northern Adventures: Railroading in the Days of the Caboose."

For more on William Brotherton's involvement in this film, as well as his career, see the following links:
http:// "Boxcar Willie" (PDF)
http:// Brotherton Law - William Brotherton
http:// Burlington Northern Rail Stories