Your new movie Promise
- in a few words, what is it about?
Promise
is a tale of loss and redemption. Four disparate characters who are
often at cross purposes are in search of the same thing. A former
Union Army scout turned bounty hunter, a mysterious young woman, a
psychotic killer and an unsavory saddle tramp set out to find a legendary
Confederate treasure and ultimately their paths cross. It is a story about
confronting the past to secure the future.
What were your
sources of inspiration when writing Promise? Certainly
the great films by Sergio Corbucci and Sergio Leone inspired some aspects
of this. I also wanted to have a story based on something real in history
which Promise
certainly has. What
can you tell us about your movie's approach to the western genre? With
this film, I approached it relying on Greek Tragedy. It truly is a western
elegy in which the main characters seek redemption for the misfortunes
and/or crimes of their pasts. Promise
isn't the first western you've made - so what makes you return to the
genre time and again? I
like westerns! I suppose I keep inventing new ideas for stories and they
just seem to fit into the western genre. Where was Promise
filmed, what was it like filming there, and how easy or hard was it to
find the right locations?
Great
thanks to Peter and Maureen Menyhart who own the Whitehorse Ranch. The
location has everything plus an amazing wardrobe and prop department.
We had filmed there before so the decision to film this story there
was an easy one. What can you tell us about
your overall directorial approach to your story at hand? I
look at the relationships all the characters have to each other and
approach it that way. I always seek the motivations. You
also play one of the leads in Promise
- so what can you tell us about your character, what did you draw upon to
bring him to life, and did you write him with yourself in mind from the
get-go? I
play Ransom, a former Union Army scout turned bounty hunter, who is
wracked with guilt over the loss of the love of his life. He’s a very
conflicted guy, dark, silent, brooding but with solid character. I
wrote the original version of this script a few years ago and after some
time to reflect on it, I rewrote it and decided it was time to film it.
There is definitely some of me in the character I play.
Do talk about the rest of your key cast, and why
exactly these people? I
had the pleasure of one of the finest casts I ever worked with. The great
Don Murray! Check out his fine scenes in the film. Kerry Goodwin did
an amazing job with the key tragic lead who sets all the story in motion.
James Henderson is particularly dark and disturbing as a strange bounty
hunter. Curt Lambert does a real tour de force as the menacing yet
comedic “Wildeye”,
and
Trista Robinson [Trista
Robinson interview - click here] knocks it out of the park in her performance as the lead,
Promise Sawyer. Before
I start a production, I always have in mind who I want while I work on the
screenplay. I was lucky in this to get everyone I envisioned. A few words about the shoot as
such, and the on-set atmosphere? Many
of us have worked together before, so it is like a bunch of old friends
having fun. I must say it was the most pleasant shoot I’ve ever
been on! The $64-question of
course, where can Promise
be seen? Amazon
Prime, iTunes, AppleTV and most streaming platforms.
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Anything you can tell us about audience and
critical reception of Promise
yet? We
have had a few private screenings and the reception has been great. I am
told there has not been a story like this told in quite a while!
Any future projects you'd like to share?
Yes.
I am currently in pre-production on another western, Assault On Rio
Bravo, with the great action film star Alexander Nevsky. Your/your
movie's website, social media, whatever else? You
can find us on Facebook and Instagram under "San Rafael Productions" or
"Joe
Cornet". Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Check
out the epic score by composer Sean Murray. I just hope people enjoy
Promise! It’s a big movie and it’s fun while also having a
serious theme. Thanks
for the interview!
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