What is WestFest?

For those worried about outdoor scenics, and 'west' look, here are a coupld of examples of non-desert terrain.

"One Eyed Jacks"(1961), Marlon Brando's idea of a western, set in Northern California, Monterey area. While the time of year is summer/fall, my previous post showing Northern California is most likely spring.

So, if you have terrain that looks like that...

Bit more than a trailer. The first shots are probably in the California desert. After about 1:00, most exteriors are Northern California Coastal.

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Alternatively,

"McCabe & Mrs Miller"(1971) was shot mostly in Washington area, and so has forrests, water, and heavy overcast most of the time.

Trailer:

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Everyone remember, that your entry CAN have the visual trappings of a western (epic desert scenery, cowboy hats, horses, cattle) or it doesnt have to, you can go the modern western route which deals with the themes or characters or you can go scifi too. This is really quite open.
 
Great idea, I'll close down my business for a few weeks, dump my 3 kids and wife and bugger off round the country to find something that looks US!

If the festival revolves around the looks of the location it will be dead to most of the usual perticipants of DVXUser.
 
So who's going to license the Pet Shop Boys for their film?

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I've been thinking about this and I think that more people have to try thinking outside the box. DVXuser won't pigeon hole everyone into having cowboys and guns.
There is more to the genre than that. Landscape included.

I'll wait for the full rules to be posted but I already have a few ideas that would not end up looking like your stereotypical western, but they would still adhere to the theme.

MAH
 
As has been stated repeatedly through this thread, you are not limited to late 19th century American West cowboys and indians. The western genre is much more than that.

For me the genre typically focuses on the life of a wanderer, or drifter, or nomadic character (e.g. Kwai Chang Caine, David Carradine's character in the TV show Kung Fu or Dr. David Banner, Bill Bixby's character in The Incredible Hulk TV show). It is typically about the conquest and/or subordination of nature or peoples. There is generally a very strong moral code (good or bad) that drives the character and I would say that the western typically, though not always, is a morality tale.

Certainly there is a strong mental connection between the term "western" and the typical 19th century American frontier, but don't let that limit your thinking.

Just read this comment on another site: "In many ways, the cowboy of the Old West was the American version of the Japanese samurai warrior, or the Arthurian knight of medieval times." ... and I think these other types of tales (samurai, knight's, etc) fit the description I provided above. Of course we need the final rules before definitively saying how wide you can cast your net, but hopefully this will help you expand your thinking and come up with something new and unique.

Disclaimer: the final rules have not been produced yet, so take my comments as my own personal thoughts, and not as a reflection of what the rules will be.
 
Larry R said:
"In many ways, the cowboy of the Old West was the American version of the Japanese samurai warrior, or the Arthurian knight of medieval times."
Click to expand...

Very true look how many Samurai Movies were transformed into westerns "Yojimbo" into "A Fistful of Dollars", "Seven Samurai" into "The Magnificent Seven", even "Star Wars" (a sci-fi western) is based on a Samurai movie ("The Hidden Fortress")

My personal favorite "Jeremiah Johnson" the bulk of it takes place in the snow.

I think I am going to give this Fest a go. Looks like fun.
 
MrFluffy said:
Great idea, I'll close down my business for a few weeks, dump my 3 kids and wife and bugger off round the country to find something that looks US!

If the festival revolves around the looks of the location it will be dead to most of the usual perticipants of DVXUser.
Click to expand...

If Rod Steiger can play a german colonel pitted against a jewish boy, who wears his 'star' like the Sheriff of the town, set in occupied Holland... "The Lucky Star"(1980).

I'm sure something can occur to you in England...
 
cstone2 said:
Very true look how many Samurai Movies were transformed into westerns "Yojimbo" into "A Fistful of Dollars", "Seven Samurai" into "The Magnificent Seven", even "Star Wars" (a sci-fi western) is based on a Samurai movie ("The Hidden Fortress")

My personal favorite "Jeremiah Johnson" the bulk of it takes place in the snow.

I think I am going to give this Fest a go. Looks like fun.
Click to expand...


And Kurosawa 'borrowed' from the West as well... "Throne of Blood"(1957).
 
The discussion of the possibilities are making my head spin; I'll be very interested in the official rules to see what will and won't qualify for this fest.
 
MrFluffy said:
Great idea, I'll close down my business for a few weeks, dump my 3 kids and wife and bugger off round the country to find something that looks US!

If the festival revolves around the looks of the location it will be dead to most of the usual perticipants of DVXUser.
Click to expand...


Have you not read many of the posts saying it doesnt have to look anything like a traditional western?
 
So really, you guys could all come shoot out here in Oklahoma. Cowboys-a-plenty.

Actually, Lawless (Marlon Ladd) was an undercover sting out here. It was actual footage of daily life out here in OK.
 
My fear...

That there is so much bloody effort put into not making a "real western" that we, the audience, end up seeing next to no "real westerns".

Keep in mind, the Western (in its purest form) is the one genre that every leading man in filmdom has wanted to do at least once in his career. That's just how bad-ass it really is.
 
CallaghanFilms said:
My fear...

That there is so much bloody effort put into not making a "real western" that we, the audience, end up seeing next to no "real westerns".

Keep in mind, the Western (in its purest form) is the one genre that every leading man in filmdom has wanted to do at least once in his career. That's just how bad-ass it really is.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on that. We have a western town about an hour from where I live and I really want to shoot there. I'm waiting on cost. I really want to shoot a real western but don't know if I can yet. It is sci-fi western but still western.
 
Fear not. I've sent out three westerns. Sure they may be supernatural or psychotic, but they are all old fashioned westerns, except the one I sent Richard. That one is just badass :)
 
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