''A Rodeo Film'' is a 2019 American

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

short film A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film o ...

written and directed by Darius Dawson and produced by Ryan Binse. The film was released on

HBO Max Max (known in other countries as, and soon to be reverted globally to HBO Max) is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. It is a proprietary unit of Warner Bros. Discovery Streaming on behalf of Home Box Of ...

on February 2, 2021.

Plot

A bull rider no longer in love with the sport chooses between his family's rodeo legacy and his own life aspirations.

Cast

* Jermelle Simon as Averill * Phrederic Semaj as Harland * Charlee Earle as Frankie

Production

Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...

took place near

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

. The film was inspired by

Christopher Nolan Sir Christopher Edward Nolan (born 30 July 1970) is a British and American filmmaker. Known for his Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters with complex storytelling, he is considered a leading filmma ...

and Dawson's time living in

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

. It was made at the

American Film Institute The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the History of cinema in the United States, motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private fu ...

. Dawson hopes it raises awareness about black cowboy culture and rodeo athletes. Larry Poole is one of the film's executive producers.

Release

''A Rodeo Film'' screened at

Toronto Black Film Festival The Toronto Black Film Festival is an annual film festival in Toronto, Ontario.Geoff Pevere, "Toronto Black Film Festival". ''The Globe and Mail'', February 14, 2014. Held in February each year as part of Black History Month, the festival programs a ...

, Urbanworld Film Festival, Prison City Film Festival and BronzeLens Film Festival and was distributed on February 2, 2021, by

Reception

Dawson won the West Region's African American Student Film Award at the

Directors Guild of America Awards The Directors Guild of America Awards are issued annually by the Directors Guild of America. The first DGA Award was an "Honorary Life Member" award issued in 1938 to D. W. Griffith. The statues are made by New York firm, Society Awards. Cate ...

and Best Student Film at

GI Film Festival San Diego The GI Film Festival is an annual film festival focused on military and veteran experiences, held in San Diego, California. Films featured in the festival reveal the struggles, triumphs, and experiences of service members and veterans. The festiv ...

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rodeo Film, A 2019 short films American drama short films Films shot in San Diego Films set in San Diego African-American drama films 2019 drama films 2019 films Race films Bull riding Rodeo in film HBO Films films Cowboy culture American drama television films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films Films produced by Ryan Binse English-language drama short films