Smallscreen News
'They Die By Dawn' short film shoots up SXSW, cast notes and premiere pictures!
By April Neale Mar 17, 2013, 17:39 GMT
Cast members, including Isaiah Washington, Michael K. Williams, Jessie Williams, Nate Parker and Felicia Pearson joined Samuel for the premiere.
SXSW snapshot: The Western genre has been buffed and shined up, and the pantheon of great legendary gun-slinging old West characters have new antiheroes to add to the Great American Story.
In "They Die By Dawn.," a British writer/director/musician/actor named Jeymes Samuel has delivered what is best described as a perfect storm of African-American talent from all places, starring in Samuel's rollicking Western yarn based in historical facts and overlooked outlaws.
Samuel grew up in the UK being tutored about the cinema greats by his mother, as well as a thorough musical immersion of legendary talents with his father. "I adore Hitchcock films, and Billy Wilder's too, says Samuel, who spoke with me at SXSW. More to follow in the upcoming review for "They Die By Dawn."
READ: Jeymes Samuel's star rising, SXSW for 'They Die By Dawn,' Jay Z 'Gatsby' collaboration here
The real story here is how Samuel did an end-run on the suits of Hollywood - the lawyers, agents and managers - to create this short film. He contacted his A-list cast directly and sold them on his vision to make something cinematically remarkable, great art with a legacy for future generations to savor. "They Die By Dawn" is the appetizer for the main course meal, "The Notorious Nine."
Here's a quick glance for "They Die By Dawn":
"Four Outlaws, four bounties, one shootout" reads the tagline. Watch for memorable female characters played by Rosario Dawson and Erykah Badu, as both women blaze the screen with their performances. Badu has never been better, and with guns pulled, eyes on fire, her face-off with Dawson in one key scene stops hearts.
Badu plays Stagecoach Mary, who has a Machiavellian streak as wide as the Mississippi River. She arranges for four outlaws with a bounty on each of their heads to come to Langston, Oklahoma. The last man takes the collective bounty, and Mary, of course, makes out in the windfall too. Violence and mayhem ensue.
M&C's hosts for this event was artisan American distillery, Bulleit Bourbon. The company partnered with Samuel to fund his vision.
The premiere was held at VICELAND during SXSW on Saturday, March 16th.
This short film will be aired on the Sundance Channel at a TBA date and time.
Cast members, including Isaiah Washington, Michael K. Williams, Jessie Williams, Nate Parker and Felicia Pearson joined Samuel for the premiere.
Stay tuned for the review and more information, the film will debut in New York this coming Tuesday, March 19.
Full cast and partial list of crew:
Directed by
Jeymes Samuel
Writers
Jeymes Samuel
Producers
Laura Gelzo ... executive producer
Peter J. Novak ... executive producer
Carla Leenders Pryce ... producer
Jeymes Samuel ... executive producer
Tanya Samuel ... producer
Tony Tagoe ... producer
Cast
Rosario Dawson
Kelly Hu
Giancarlo Esposito
Michael Kenneth Williams...Nat Love
Jesse Williams...John Taylor
Shanola Hampton ... Pretty Woman
Bokeem Woodbine ... Bill Picket
Isaiah Washington ... Ben Hodges
Felicia Pearson ... Bartender
Nate Parker ... Jim Beckwourth
Clifton Powell ... Deputy Sheriff
Denzel Whitaker ... Paul Dunbar
Harry Lennix ... Sheriff Bass Reeves
Roger Guenveur Smith ... Jourdon Anderson
Erykah Badu ... Stagecoach Mary
David Banner ... Bose Ikard
Kaleti Williams ... Hulking Giant
Kwame Boateng ... Preacher
Jeymes Samuel ... Lobo
Buda ... Banker
Latoya Torre ... Saloon Gal
Sexton Newby ... Townsman
Cinematographers
Rodney Charters
