Act 1: Shamus and Wylie begin a battle of wits. The more Wylie tries to pry him out of his delusion, the more Shamus goes on about his fantastical, vigilante Cowboy stories.

Act 2: Shamus’ stories don’t convince Wylie, so he decides to hand Wylie a mysterious severed finger as proof of his violent fights for justice, which sends Wylie into a panic.

Act 3: Shamus spots his landlord and targets him for coming after Shamus for his money. He attempts to “take him out” to prove his strength to Wylie, but the only thing he is able to prove is his loneliness and sorrow.

This film explores themes of loneliness and the triviality of friendship as well as living in a lie.

We all want to see each other for who we really are, because that’s what the world is at its best. We each hold our own unique quirks and skills that nobody else has, and shedding them to impress everyone else is almost an epidemic that has come with this new online age of our world. Shamus embodies this struggle, taking on the unbothered, macho, stoic Cowboy persona, who never lets anything get him down. Wylie, on the other hand, is the sort of angel on our shoulders telling us to be who we really need to be for the world, exactly what you feel like on the inside; your true self.

Currently in the process of casting, filming for this production will take place at the end of February/beginning of March. We're planning on a 4 day shoot at a diner in Larchmont, New York. Post-production will begin in mid-March and likely span through May; festival submissions will begin in the summer.

The Characters

Shamus is a man going through one of the toughest times in his life: losing his job, as well as his fiance. When he has no place else to turn, he decides to embrace a lifestyle that he knows from his childhood movies is one of solidarity, strength, and justice: a Cowboy from the Wild West. Now, rather than face his problems, he can simply turn his back to them through his new "way of life." He is constantly dressed very similarly to Eastwood in a Leone movie.

Wylie is a bit of a shy person, especially when it comes to something like confrontation; he can get stressed quite easily. He used to work with Wylie for many years, and over that time they became good friends. He thrived in their friendship, but after Shamus was suddenly let go, Wylie didn't hear from him again... until now.

By supporting this NYU Thesis Film, you can join the realm of filmmaking today with a no-risk investment. We need funds to secure equipment, feed the cast and crew, provide transportation, and supply production design/special effects with required materials.

Join us on the road to Faux Rodeo and support a student filmmaker today!

STRETCH GOALS

Our $8,000 goal is the minimum needed to get the film made at a production quality everyone involved can be proud of. It will give us the ability to provide high-quality costumes, secure equipment, provide transportation and feed our cast and crew everyday. 

• If we raise $8,500, we'll be able to have full contingency funds in place should anything go wrong.
• If we raise $9,000, we'll be able to cover our festival, distribution, travel and promotional costs for completing and getting the film into the world and in front of a wider audience. 
• If we raise $9,500, we'll be able to cover higher end post-production costs with sound, coloring, and music.