Our final batch of posters for The West and the Ruthless! These posters feature Alexander Harris as Grant Morgan, Zoe Sloane as Jacqueline Chaplin, and Benedict Mazurek as Christopher Crow!
The second batch of posters for the West and the Ruthless are here, once again featuring some awesome hand drawn detail! These posters feature Will Roberts as Emery Chaplin, Dan Fowlks as Chester Crow, and Rebecca Gomberg as Scarlet Winchester.
Next up, posters 7-9!
Our first batch of posters are here for the West and the Ruthless with some really incredible hand drawn detail! These posters feature Paul Haapaniemi as Francisco Winchester, Matt Boone as Cole Henry, and Danny Brown as Mary Laclede.
Next up, posters 4-6!
When we were first developing The West and The Ruthless, we knew that there was only one designer that we wanted to work with, the brilliant Tobias Saul. Tobias had done work for us in the past on two other projects (both to be revealed soon) and to great results.
We thought it would be interesting to pull back the curtain a little bit and reveal a look inside Tobias’ process with initial sketches and a look at the development of Crow’s Landing.
For more work by Tobias Saul, check out his official site at:
After we wrapped production filming The West and the Ruthless on location at Old Tucson, we sent an email to the crew that went something like this:
For months leading up to the shoot, everyone kept trying to stop us. Individuals and even corporations kept telling us that shooting this film in 10 days could not be done. They told us it was impossible.
Well, we all did the impossible.
We shot a feature in 10 days. And not just any feature, but West and the Ruthless, a film that features shoot outs, stagecoaches, extended dialogue scenes, fx, make up, period costumes, horses, extras, love scenes, exteriors, interiors, shooting out in the desert, and embracing those excessive heat warnings that kept popping up on my phone.
But the thing is, we couldn't have done this without the most amazing and talented cast and crew in the world. You guys are our crew for life. You're stuck with us.
And just as a neat little side note, we captured 13 Hours 14 minutes and 49 seconds of footage and audio.
It feels kinda cool to do the impossible.
Our last day of production once again took place in John Wayne’s bedroom. What a great way to end! We started with these huge scenes out in the desert, with blood and guns, and missions and trains, and wrapped with a bit of romance.
Back on set were Benedict Mazurek and Zoe Sloane finishing a scene that they had started (sound designed?) back on Day 7. It’s a nice little intimate scene followed by 6 or 7 pages of dialogue - which basically means every day on West and the Ruthless was an intense shooting day for the cast and the crew (who were also busy breaking down and re-doing sets every day).
Then, after months and months of preparation, financing, casting the most talented actors ever, putting together an incredible crew, heading to Arizona (a few times), and working with the amazing guys and gals at Old Tucson Studios, it was a wrap.
Our second to last day was filmed entirely upstairs of our Brothel Saloon at the Hotel Del Toro as our cast continued to slim down. On set were Danny Brown and Dan Fowlks working their magic on one of the longest scenes in the film which included a stand off with a revolver, a bath tub, and a squeaky bed.
For film buffs and movie lovers, the upstairs of the Hotel Del Toro was once the apartment of movie legend John Wayne. Whenever John Wayne was filming at Old Tucson Studios this is where he would stay. It was pretty exciting to have our own bedroom scenes take place where the Duke himself used to sleep!
Day 8 was the first day our cast started to slim down. On set were Dan Fowlks, Danny Brown, and Benedict Mazurek. It was amazing to watch these guys in action. Every take is amazing. We spent most of the day in the Crow’s Landing Brothel shooting scenes and once again our townsfolk were on hand to add to and embellish the shots.
We also had a chance to film another family cameo as Lexie’s dad stopped by the set, went through wardrobe and makeup to become a saloon patron.
Then we finished our shootout. The revolvers were firing, the shotguns were blasting, and once again, there was blood.
Day 7 was one of the first days we were almost completely indoors which was a really nice change of pace from the first 6 days where we had huge chunks of shooting out in the desert, the heat, and the monsoons.
Back on set were Benedict Mazurek, Dan Fowlks , Zoe Sloane, and Will Roberts. We filmed in the brothel, the jail, Chester’s Office, and had one fun little exterior scene where Dan and Benedict literally drag Will through the streets.
This was also the day that our Extras arrived! Days 7 and 8 on The West and the Ruthless brought in some of the most amazing Extras that anyone will ever work with. I’m sure it’s different on every film, but these actors weren’t just in the background - they slowly became more like supporting actors for every scene they were in, enhancing it, adding to it, and bringing both some nice dramatic flare and humor to the scenes.
Oh, and Benedict and Zoe did some pretty great sound effects, but you’ll have to wait and watch the film for those :)
Day 6 was another big day on the set of The West and the Ruthless! This was the day that our final cast members arrived, Dan Fowlks and Benedict Mazurek as the Crow Brothers, Chester and Christopher. It was also the day that our main location of the Crow’s Landing Saloon and Brothel was completed and it looked unbelievable. The set was dressed with hundreds of old bottles and antique trunks and then it was lit beautifully.
We started the day back out in the desert and for the first time both Matt Boone and Paul Haapaniemi weren’t covered in blood, well, momentarily, as we shot the film’s open. Also on set were Rebecca Gomberg and Danny Brown filming another round of incredible moments.
Next up Will Roberts and Zoe Sloane got in some gun practice. A lot since the antique guns weren’t really all that willing to fire on command, but we got the scene and it looks fantastic.
Then it was time for our epic shoot out. Just gonna go ahead and say, it was a total bucket list moment to be on top of those old western buildings, looking down at the dusty streets as a shoot out took place and the outlaws died in the streets below. #fuckingamazing.
Day 5 was one of our biggest days! We had horses, wranglers, live guns, desert, heat, monsoons, stunts, blood, pregnancy prosthetics, make up fx, and a ton of dialogue to get through. This was also Zoe Sloane’s very first day as she jumped into the role of Jacqueline Chaplin joining her fellow cast mates, Danny Brown, Will Roberts, Paul Haapaniemi, Rebecca Gomberg, and Matt Boone on location.
As the rain came in, the dark skies above, and we were riding through the desert in an old stagecoach - it was a pretty amazing moment, especially with Jake (our on location sound expert) hanging over the side with boom mic in hand. You’re racing the clock. You’re racing the heat stroke, and you’re racing the rain. But in the back of my head - I can’t believe how lucky I am to be on this adventure.
The West and the Ruthless Day 4, saw the arrival of Danny Brown, who plays Mary Laclede, Paul Haapaniemi playing Francisco Winchester, and Will Roberts as Emery Chaplin along with Matt Boone as Cole Henry (who was still covered in blood). Our crew also started to grow as well as the production was ramping up! Then it was back out into the desert!
First up was the stagecoach and it looked iconic with it’s red paint surrounded by cacti and rocks, and “dead” outlaws laying in the dirt. The scenes came out incredible. The heat was beating down on us again, but this time, you could see the monsoons heading our way in the distance. Who knew the Tucson desert got monsoons? There was literally a wall of dust being kicked up from the desert and heading straight for us.
Luckily, the rest of the day was inside an old jail, and the coming rain brought some amazingly gloomy lighting to the set. Here, Paul Haapaniemi faces off against Will Roberts and there was blood. A lot of blood. And it was awesome. One of my favorite moments from the shoot was seeing just how many people it takes to slit a guy’s throat. Now that’s teamwork.
It was another hot day on the set of The West and the Ruthless. We were already pouring sweat by 8AM as we shot beneath some awe inspiring mountains.
We also had the chance to kick off Day 3 by filming a scene in front of the amazing Reno Steam Locomotive. The train was originally used by Ulysses S Grant during the Civil War and then 100 years later it was used in the classic, Once Upon a Time in the West, by Sergio Leone. Now, almost 50 years later, it’s in The West and the Ruthless! Smoke was swirling in the air and it looked incredible.
Day 3 also saw the arrival of Katelyn Clark, our nun who lives at the mission, as we filmed more breathtaking scenes (literally) with Rebecca Gomberg and Alexander Harris. The scenes included a birthing scene that came out rather chilling.
Day 2 kicked off with the arrival of two more of our amazing actors, Rebecca Gomberg, who plays Scarlet Winchester, and Alexander Harris, who plays Grant Morgan. It’s incredible to watch these two in action. From the moment I yelled “action!” out in front of an old church in the desert, Alexander Harris was Grant. It was a real bucket list moment to have him walk in the door of the church in one of those classic Sergio Leone shots.
Then we headed over to the graveyard to start shooting with Rebecca. The very first thing we asked her to do was scream. Her character has been shot, her husband has been killed, her sister-in-law left for dead AND she’s going into labor. Probably not the easiest thing to start with. BUT THEN the screaming started. I have never heard such guttural, desperate, break your heart screaming like that in my entire life. Then the scene unfolded with her and Alex and it was pure magic.
After that, we headed off to an abandoned train car from the 1800s. It doesn’t get more period than this. Not only did we film another beautiful scene, it was also our first shootout! Revolvers were going off, shot guns were firing, and it was incredible.
After months and months of pre-production and preparation, and all the excitement (anxiety?) leading up to that first day, being in Arizona at Old Tucson Studios was pretty f*ing awesome. The cast is starting to arrive, the crew is there, the props are in place, the sets are being dressed, and then there’s the blood.
The first cast member on set was Matt Boone who plays Cole Henry in the film. Cole doesn’t have it so good. Since, we were shooting out of order, as most films do, he started Day One with his (*spoiler!) whip lashes and bullet wounds. The second he was in costume, covered in blood, and walking down those dusty streets, we knew we had a film.
It was only 115 degrees that day, so it wasn’t as bad as the day before (when it was 120). We shot in an old blacksmith shop, in the desert, at the old High Chaparral sets that are still out there, and finally at a covered wagon. We wrapped the day with some family cameos. Our 1.5 year old daughter, Azalea, and my sister Natalie (and the film’s copy editor) had some fun hanging out on set with us!
The West and The Ruthless is currently heading into Post and it looks incredible. This couldn’t have been done without the sheer talent and brilliance of our cast.
Starring (In Alphabetical Order):
Danny Brown as Mary Laclede
Dan Fowlks as Chester Crow
Rebecca Gomberg as Scarlet Winchester
Paul Haapaniemi as Francisco Winchester
Alexander Harris as Grant Morgan
Benedict Mazurek as Christopher Crow
Will Roberts as Emery Chaplin
Zoe Sloane as Jacqueline Chaplin
With Matt Boone as Cole Henry
And Katelyn Clark as Sister Ana
Our brand new feature length Western, The West and the Ruthless, is based on a screenplay by Nick Trivundza and a story by Nick Trivundza and Lexie Findarle.
Here's the Official Synopsis:
The West and the Ruthless
In the dusty streets of Crow's Landing, outlaws, wealthy plantation owners, runaway slaves, a half Cherokee girl, a pair of brothel owners and a woman days away from giving birth all end up in a bloody shoot out and running for their lives.
Here's what the Black List had to say:
It's "Dynamic, Stylish, Refreshing, Darkly Comedic."
"The script should be praised for a number of reasons; most notably, for its dynamic characters, its unique style, and its engaging setup."
Look for more updates coming soon to westandtheruthless.com
Coming next, The Cast of West and the Ruthless!
We had the amazing opportunity this year to hang out and film at Old Tucson Studios. These last few weeks we've been shooting our Feature Length Western, the West and the Ruthless.
Old Tucson Studios has been the home of over 300 films and Television shows such as Rio Bravo, Tombstone, Arizona, Gunfight at the OK Corral, Mark of Zorro, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Three Amigos, Young Guns II, Gunsmoke, High Chaparral, El Diablo, Geronimo, The Quick and the Dead, Magnificent Seven, and 3:10 to Yuma just to name a few.
We've been walking the streets of legends and following the footsteps of Clint Eastwood, Dean Martin, Jimmy Stewart, and Sergio Leone.
We started production in front of a beautiful old mission with the mountains and desert behind it and we ended in John Wayne's bedroom.
We're currently in the middle of production on our biggest project we've ever done! It's exciting, relentless, amazing, and exhausting and we LOVE IT! But it's always nice to be working away and then get the call that you've just become part of the OFFICIAL Selection for the Santa Monica International Film Festival!
The Film Festival will be held at the historic Aero Theatre on July 23. The festival kicks off at 10AM and heads all the way to midnight before the after parties kick on!
Our animated short, Around the World in 80 Days, is playing along with some other outstanding films and if you're in Santa Monica or in the SoCal area, check it out!
For more details visit the official website:
Our tale of 3 unlucky brothers will be heading down under once again as it makes it's return to Australia! The Umbrella Factory will be featured this winter (er summer? oh hemispheres) and we couldn't be more excited!
The film is screening in Melbourne, a city we really love! (The photo above is one we grabbed while visiting!)
For more information check out the official site below: