Cameron Duddy, bassist of the Grammy-nominated country band Midland and a top video director, is set to become a feature-film director, and two of his bandmates are on board as well.
Duddy will direct “Cowboy,” which stars Ben Foster (“Hell or High Water”), Gabriel Basso (“The Night Agent”) and Rudy Pankow (“Outer Banks”; pictured above, L-R), and follows a traveling rodeo and the group of entertainers within it as they deal with the harsh realities of their chosen careers. The film’s script was written by Adair Cole, based on a story from Duddy and fellow Midland member Jess Carson, and also features the band’s Mark Wystrach in an acting role.
The newly launched Paint Horse Pictures, co-founded by Duddy and photographer Harper Smith, is producing with support from Range Media Partners.
“This is a personal story for me,” Duddy said in a statement. “It’s a film about what it takes to grind it out on the road chasing your dreams, and the emotional and physical toll it takes on all of us.”
Duddy is an accomplished music video director, best known for his award-winning work with Bruno Mars on “Uptown Funk” and “24K Magic”; he also won an MTV Award in 2021 for John Mayer’s “Last Train Home,” and has worked with among others.
“I do think in terms of visual storytelling,” Duddy told American Songwriter. “So when I’m writing a script and I’m writing it through a certain point of view, that oftentimes is where the camera is. So I think that because my dad is a cinematographer, I have that built-in perspective.”
Paint Horse, which is described as “a banner dedicated to stories of the people, places and beliefs of Americana,” will have access to the infrastructure of Range Media Partners, including film financing and sales and access to talent. On behalf of Range, Matt Graham and William Lowery will oversee the banner, with Cam Duddy, Harper Smith and Sydney Allen rounding out the Paint Horse team
“Cowboy” is produced by Lucas Smith of Endgame, Matt Graham, William Lowery and Ian Bryce of Ian Bryce Productions. Ben Foster will executive produce alongside David Keinath and Jordan Yospe for DFA Entertainment, Shawn Williamson of Brightlight Productions, James D. Stern of Endgame, and Sydney Allen of Paint Horse. UTA Independent Film Group and Range Select are co-representing global rights.
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