Tumbleweeds and Ice

It began with an epic road trip in August of 2004, a grueling drive that began in Odessa, split the country up the middle and ended at a Vancouver Canucks hockey camp after unnumbered mishaps.

"We’d talk about the trip and roll around laughing," said Kim Benton, mother of Jordon Orosco, the Canucks tryout and former member. "I’d ask the boys to tell me the stories, and they brought me so much joy. At the time they were driving, of course, it wasn’t hilarious… Parents will do anything to help their kids achieve their dreams."

Benton didn’t make the trip, having to stay in Odessa and hold down the fort instead. In October of 2008, she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which is the most aggressive type of brain cancer.

"When I found out I was sick, I wanted to put the story in a book to be bound as a gift, so that when anyone felt bad we could look through it and smile," she said.

The snowball rolled fast since November 2009, when Benton said she contacted local attorney Cynthia Clack to help her with the project. Clack most recently published a children’s book titled "Doodles the American Hero," and had also produced a rock opera titled "Eye of the Tiger."

Clack then decided that she could even take the story a step further: by bringing it to the silver screen.

"I just thought that it was a great story about an amazing trip to Canada. I asked Kim (Benton) if I could maybe do more with it and she said yes, so my crews did some initial filming, interviewing Kim, and I then contacted Kerry (Wallum)," Clack said.

The project grew even further after having reached Kerry Wallum, an Odessa native who’s become an actor, film producer, CEO of Fast Talkin’ Productions and partner with Willie Nelson at Luck Films.

"This is going to be an Oscar winner. I’ve wanted to do something about where I grew up — but it ain’t just about football out here," he said. "When I lived out here, we rode bulls, roped calves, and for Kim, it was having her boys play hockey."

Thus, "Tumbleweeds and Ice," the working title for the movie, was born. As of now, Wallum, Clack and production crew members are in the pre-production stages, but Wallum said that filming could begin around November.

"We want a movie the whole family can watch, that the church groups can watch, that the actors and actresses would love to see, and it’s going to be a very touching and very funny movie," Wallum said.

In tandem with power of the movie’s intent is Orosco’s mother’s uplifting story of endurance. For example, as a result of her treatment, Benton contracted lupus, a disease that causes the body’s own immune system to attack its organs and tissues.

"Even with the tumor, she just said, ‘That’s just how my luck is,’ " Orosco said.

Benton said she’s amazed that this story has come this far.

""I can’t believe that my little thoughts could mean something to someone," she said. "You have chances other than through oil or football. With the right support and hard work, you can be anything."

ON THE NET

>> To learn more about "Tumbleweeds and Ice," visit: www.tigertale.com, www.luckfilms.com, or www.fasttalkinproductions.com.