The first production from Paint Horse Pictures is a contemporary western rodeo drama.
Rudy Pankow (Outer Banks), Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma, Hell and High Water), Laysla De Oliveira (Lioness), and Gabriel Basso (Juror No. 2) are among the stars who have signed on for Cowboy, a contemporary western rodeo drama now in production.
This will be the first film for Paint Horse Pictures, a new outfit operating from the Nashville division of Range Media Partners. And it’s also a first-time effort for Cameron Duddy of the Grammy-nominated band Midland, who’s marking feature directorial debut here. The screenplay was written by Adair Cole based on a story Duddy co-wrote with bandmate Jess Carson.
“This is a personal story for me,” says Duddy. “It’s a film about what it takes to grind it out on the road chasing your dreams, and the emotional and physical toll it takes on all of us, most of all the people we love.
“Cowboy is a raw and honest look at the rodeo world built from the dust up- it’s about grit, humility, integrity, freedom … 1,800 pounds of rough stock at a time.”
What’s it all about? According to the Paint Horse Pictures press release: “Set against the backdrop of the traveling rodeo circuit, Cowboy follows Lee ‘Babe’ Midnight (Ben Foster), a washed-up rodeo legend drifting between small-time shows and shady deals. When he crosses paths with the gifted and young Clif Casey (Rudy Pankow, pictured above), Lee reluctantly takes under his wing becoming his mentor.
“As Clif rises on the rodeo circuit, Lee spirals — haunted by past regrets, his absence as a father to his young son, and his fading rodeo prowess. His betrayals mount, including a painful rift with Clif and the Vaqueros Galacticos, who are led by Coach (Gabe Basso). The film explores masculinity, ambition, and generational responsibility, set against the brutal beauty of modern rodeo and the shifting values within it.”
De Oliveira will play Alejandra Cruz, Lee’s ex-girlfriend and mother to an 11-month-old son. Other members of the cast include Simon Rex (Red Rocket, Americana) as Lee’s former rodeo partner, who uses a wheelchair following a rodeo accident; Carlos Pratts (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones) as João Santos, equal parts successful rodeo cowboy and dedicated family man; and feature newcomer Cameron Sault in his acting debut as Steve, a rough and rowdy member of the road dogs group Vaqueros Galacticos who, like Sault, also is deaf.
Sault, it should be noted, was discovered by DFA Entertainment, a deaf-founded production company whose goal is to redefine entertainment industry representation and promote inclusivity for the deaf/hard of hearing community and are producers on the film.
As part of its mission statement, Paint Horses Pictures describes itself as “dedicated to crafting cinematic narratives deeply embedded in the rich tapestry of Americana, translating authentic stories from America's heartland to the silver screen.
“With its unique market position and Tennessee base, Paint Horse Pictures leverages the comprehensive infrastructure of [Range Media Partners], encompassing robust film financing and sales capabilities, unparalleled access to top-tier talent, and extensive industry resources.”
