Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - Cowgirl Up
A cowgirl from Mississippi pursues her lifelong dream to become the first African-American female in the National Finals Rodeo.
Interview with Producer Sherry Anderson
Watch Cowgirl Up on the director Nathan Willis' website
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Our film was produced as a result of entering the Fusion Doc Challenge, a 120-hour documentary short film competition. At the beginning of the challenge, we received the theme — “You’re not going to believe this but…” — and a genre we had to use — sports or historical. As we discussed potential subjects to explore, my filmmaking partner Nathan Willis, talked about some footage he had shot of a teenage African-American cowboy in Louisiana. I had been interested in the Creole Cowboys of Louisiana for the last few years, so it seemed like a natural choice, to find a Creole Cowboy to profile. Instead, we found a Mississippi cowgirl who captivated us.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should want to watch this film because it takes you into a world of which few of us are familiar. Rodeos, cowboys, yes we’ve all seen them on television and in movies. But what about a cowgirl? And one who is African-American? And did you know that not one African-American female has ever made it to the National Finals Rodeo? Her journey to break that barrier and her charming Southern family makes this a feel-good, worthwhile experience.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Drive and determination in the face of institutional discrimination and the underdog who makes it against all odds — two themes that are universal and relatable. As filmmakers, we found ourselves rooting for her and we believe our audience members will too. Personal themes center on family and the unconditional support that drives an individual forward to attain the seemingly impossible.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Our development and production were severely restricted within the 120-hour time frame for completion of the film. The end product was very close to how we initially envisioned it — we realized that the African-American woman was underrepresented in the rodeo community. We did not, however, know that our cowgirl was headed for realizing a dream that no other African-American woman has ever attained. And this exacted a deeper meaning to her drive and discipline.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We’ve received incredible feedback. We won the Best Film Award for the Doc Challenge and also Best Directing and Best Sports film. Audiences connect with LaBrelah’s struggle and admire her tenacity and devotion to her sport. Many viewers also loved her father and his unwavering support for his daughter’s dream.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
We knew we had a good profile story of a lovey young woman and her charming family but we didn’t realize how people would connect with them and want to know more about her journey. It got us to thinking about the possibility of a feature…stay tuned.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We are hoping to gain a wider audience not only for our film but also for LaBrelah as she attempts to remove one more color barrier for African-American women.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Obtaining wide distribution for this story is our top priority and being able to finance a feature would be the ultimate goal.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We want to show audiences that the rodeo world is more than just stereotypical American cowboys — that there is a whole universe of underrepresented groups with rich histories of horse culture whose stories are aching to be told.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why do we rarely see stories about African-American cowboys and cowgirls in the media?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We are currently developing a documentary about Middle Eastern refugees in Louisiana. We hope to begin shooting in March, 2017
Interview: February 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Cowgirl Up
A cowgirl from Mississippi pursues her lifelong dream to become the first African-American female in the National Finals Rodeo.
Length: 5:17
Director: Nathan Willis
Producer: Sherry Anderson
Nathan Willis is an Arkansas based filmmaker who focuses on character driven documentaries and socially responsible subject matter.
Sherry Anderson is an independent producer who focuses on short form narrative and documentary films.
Key Cast: LaBrelah Hutchins and Larry Hutchins
Looking for: Anyone and everyone who wants to see or know more about our film
Funders: Independently funded by Nathan Willis and Sherry Anderson
The next screening is at the Audience Awards Film Festival in North Hollywood, April 7, 2017.