MARFA, Texas (AP) - When it comes to Western desolation and Oscar nominations, Marfa's all that.

Two films up for eight Academy Awards apiece came to this remote
West Texas area for their Western scenes. "No Country For Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" used deserted two-lane highways and dusty train depots to illustrate their stories.

This isn't new for Marfa, though.

More than 50 years ago, famed filmmaker George Stevens also settled on this area for "Giant." The epic Texas oil tale starred Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. Stevens won best director, the only Oscar of that film's 10 nominations.

The stark, gorgeous landscape outside the town shows up in all three films. It isn't just the wide open desert horizon that directors take advantage of. They also employ the locals.

Lifelong rancher David Williams appeared in "Blood" and earned on-screen credit as an executive producer. He helped shepherd the six months of filming. That's pretty heady stuff for a guy who got his first real look at the ocean when he attended the film's Hollywood premiere last year.