“Back to
Fort Russell” was born rather rapidly. I had been required by The New York Film
Academy to produce a 15-minute film. Simultaneously my Producer, Radhika
Lahiri, had just attended a producing convention where she met the good folks
at the Wyoming Film Office and learned of the short film contest. It was almost
destiny. We were already developing a feature film to be shot in Cheyenne
Wyoming and this was the perfect opportunity to get our hands dirty; shooting
on the RED ONE camera, working with this specific team, and taking on a
challenging story set in Wyoming. Of all the scripts we were looking at, “Back
to Fort Russell” was the only logical choice.
It’s the
moving story of a war veteran struggling with his inner demons, and a frantic
young woman who’s had the worst life can throw at someone. The wilderness binds
the two together and forces them to see each other on a human and emotional
scale. Greif, shame, justice, self-defense, and redemption are all themes
carried through this film. The performances of Kevin Dorian and Daniela Flynn
are stellar and I couldn’t have asked for better players.
Visuals and
music drive films, guiding them through the emotional ups and downs as we
journey with the characters to a fantastic climax. Director of Photography
Gonzalo Digineo, and Composer Austin Lawrence are the best in the game.
Gonzalo’s dynamic camera shots and lighting brought the rouged natural feel of
a western alive. Because half the movie takes place at night there was a
necessity to replicate fire and moonlight, challenges he was more than ready to
take on. The scale of music in most westerns is dogmatic and predictable but
Austin habitually takes the road less traveled, a great benefit to a director such
as me. The music takes on a grander persona and envelops the listener in a
quest across the Wyoming west. Working in tandem these two elements give the
film a unique cinematic experience that’s sure to awe audiences.
Radhika and
myself are thrilled to have headed such a great project and a crew of
extraordinary people. As “Back to Fort Russell” continues to gather steam we
hope to solicit investors for our feature. As a whole I feel this movie not
only encapsulates the talents of its performers and crew, but also keeps alive
the magic that continues to bring us time and again to the theater.
- R.D. Womack II,
Director, “Back to Fort Russell”
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