WILLIAMSON — Are you a descendant of the Hatfield or McCoy clan? Would you like to be featured in a reality-type, unscripted series that will air on national TV? If you answered yes to the above questions, you will be pleased to hear you are now being extended the opportunity to possibly have your wish come true.

Bill Richardson, Mingo County WVU Extension Professor and feud expert released information to the Daily News about an exciting plan for an additional media event that will feature modern day Hatfield and McCoy descendants, which will put a new spin on the former feuding families.

“The producers of the show have assured me that this will be a positive portrayal and is not designed to make us look bad or to cast a negative image on the Tug Valley area,” stated Richardson.

Richardson explained that in order to qualify for a casting call, you must be between the ages of 15 to 85 and be a descendant of the feud participants, although you are not required to carry the Hatfield or McCoy name. You may also be of the “Uncle Jim Vance” or “Bad Frank Phillips” family trees, along with other notable individuals directly related to the feud.

The production company who will oversee the casting calls and taping of the episodes, has produced shows and documentaries that have been and are currently being aired on A&E, the National Geographic Channel, the History Channel, Syfy, MTV and others. Casting calls for the Hatfield and McCoy unscripted series will be held on Tuesday, June 12 from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Williamson campus. You can arrive anytime during those hours.

Those interested in participating are instructed to come as you are, no costumes are required. You will be interviewed by members of the production staff who will ask a variety of questions and who may also take photos of you. They are requesting that those auditioning for the calls reside in a 50 mile radius of Williamson.

“This will be another tourism attraction and from what I understand, it could possibly air for 1-5 years, depending on the popularity of the show,” stated Richardson.

“We need to keep up this momentum; we don’t want the world to forget about us in a few months.”

“The longer we can ride this wave of media exposure, the more the Tug Valley area will prosper.”

Richardson explained that there will be some friendly competition on the show between the Hatfield and McCoy descendants, and said that this portion of the series will be a definite play off of the history of feuding between the two families but in a good natured way.

“There will be a lot of different elements that will make up this series, and the type of individuals they will choose to star in it will be made up of a variety of looks, personalities, backgrounds and other personal traits,” remarked Richardson.

“I encourage everyone that is interested to plan on attending the casting calls on Tuesday,” said the local historian. “The producers are looking for interesting characters. Who knows? You may be exactly what they are searching for.”

For additional information on Tuesday’s casting you may contact Richardson at 304-235-0370 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday.