Go West Young Man

I've always wanted to make a Western.

When I was a kid watching Westerns forged much of my love for film. I saw Rio Bravo (above) and El Dorado early on, The Searchers was an early favourite, my Dad introduced me to Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid and Shane. And there were all of Clint's films, Ford's films, Anthony Mann, Howard Hawks, later Peckinpah and many many more. My favourite films in recent years have been western, in my opinion the best two films of the last 20 years have been Open Range and Jesse James (below).

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

When it came to my end of year project in college back in 2000, my degree film, I chose to make a Western. I grabbed samples from Pale Rider and The Outlaw Josey Wales and called it Dark Rider, it was a 3 minute piece, and as with every film I've ever tried to make the "Powers that be" said I was mad and tried to talk me out of making it, and as with every film I've ever mad I ignored them and went and made it anyway.

In that year I watched over 100 Westerns, studied the west, the history, watched documentaries, drew pictures of ghost towns, and really just fell in love with the genre wholly and completely. I also got to know the West, the people, real and fictional, the harsh realties and the romantic side of it. I've always loved that truly unique part of American history, as short lived as it was, it has such potency.

So I want to make a Western. I'm going to make a Western. And just like in my college days I'm sure everyone will now tell me I'm mad, and that no one watches Westerns anymore, there's no money in it, and blah blah blah. Well to hell with those people. I'm not a filmmaker because of the money. If I was, I would have given up 10 years ago. I'm a filmmaker because I love film and I want to tell stories, end of discussion.

So I have an idea, no script yet (hopefully I'll find the time to do that somewhere soon), but the story is there. Right now, its called 'Esperanza' and anyone that want's to help me make it is more that welcome to join me. And damn those who say it can't be done, damn them all to hell!

Ps. Esperanza is the Spanish word for Hope.

Me on the porch of the Meade Hotel in Bannack Montana, writing down some ideas for a Western a few years back.