Introduction
My name is Candice April Cirilo. I was born in the Philippines then moved to Odessa, Texas in late 2006. I am a low-income sophomore in Wesleyan, University. I am double majoring in studio art and film studies. I have worked on other productions on campus such as film theses and a theatre production but this will be my first time directing my own short film with a crew of amazing people. It would be an amazing experience being able to make this short film and beautiful memories along the way.
I started writing this short film because I wanted to write about what matters most to me currently and to also bring attention to the female skate scene. Interestingly enough, in my hometown in Texas I rarely ever encounter a cowboy. Recently, there has been a resurgence of the cowboy aesthetic, and I have definitely jumped along because of the ties it has with my home. My co-writer David introduced me to skating, and I am now trying to learn how to skate. Even though like Cowgirl in the film, I can barely push off on a skateboard without falling over, I still feel empowered and stronger while I skate around the tiny parking lot behind my house.
Stylistically, I wanted to venture out and attempt to blend several different styles into one cohesive form. This film will explore the overlap of narrative story-telling, e-how video aesthetics, and the grit of skate parts.
Inspiration
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( How to be a Mermaid (2019), 어젯밤 이야기 IU Music Video (2017), Mid90s (2018), Nora Vasconcellos Part (2018) )
The film is inspired by the soft and staged aesthetics of How to be a Mermaid and 어젯밤 이야기 IU Music Video. This is then juxtaposed by the grit and harsh look of skate films and parts such as Mid90s and Nora Vasconcellos' Adidas Part. These two juxtaposed aesthetics will help explore the beauty and grit of the female skate scene.
Team
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CANDICE APRIL CIRILO, co-writer, director: Candice is a sophomore film studies and studio art double major in Wesleyan University. She has worked on short films in roles such as assistant director, art assistant, wardrobe and makeup, and actress. At Wesleyan, she serves as the secretary and graphic designer of Cardinal Pictures, a student-led organization that serves as a platform for fellow students to produce films. She loves film, art, and her fat black cat Shadow. How to be a Modern Day Cowboy will be her directorial debut.
DAVID MARQUEZ, co-writer, editor: David is a Texas native film student and mass communications major based in Odessa, Texas. He’s worked on several short video productions including his own documentary in which he worked as Director and Editor. He has also participated in several other video production shorts including commercials shot by himself, and fellow students. David enjoys skateboarding, video games, film, traveling, and all genres of food! David once embraced his inner cowboy so much, he wrote a saying on his board that read, “ There’s a skateboard under my boot!”
SHERWIN YU, producer: Sherwin Yu is a sophomore film studies/economics double major at Wesleyan University. He has worked on thesis films, shorts, and theater productions in a variety of roles, such as producer, executive producer, sound designer, sound recordist, etc. He is a staff member of Cardinal Pictures and a brother of Alpha Psi Alpha, and also works as a house manager/projectionist for the Wesleyan Film Series and as a social media intern for the university. He loves movies, TV, basketball, food, Super Smash Bros and reading funny threads on Twitter. Sherwin is so excited to get his boots dirty on this film!
SUSANNA KIM, producer: Susanna Kim is a sophomore history and Hispanic literatures and cultures double major at Wesleyan University. She has worked on two other short films as script supervisor. She has also worked on four student-run theater productions as an assistant stage manager and stage manager. She is the secretary of the Asian American Student Collective. She enjoys loudly singing karaoke in her room alone, napping, and discovering new music to listen. As a fake “film person” (only here for the memes), Susanna is excited to work with all the wonderful sheriffs on this team!
AMIRA LEILA S., assistant director: Amira is a senior Philosophy major on the Social Justice track concentrating in political philosophy, government, and feminist, gender, and sexuality studies. They have worked on several short films as assistant director, gaffer, grip, and actor. They think a lot and think that the concept of a “cowboy” is a continuous process of becoming and that it can be stripped of its gendered connotation. (They are so much more fun in person, they promise!) They are excited to be working with such a strong and incredible team.
RAMA CO, script supervisor: Rama Co is a sophomore double majoring in the College of Letters and Philosophy. He generally likes books more than people, but some exceptions to the rule are his wonderful housemates who have roped him (no pun intended) into working on this film. This is his first rodeo (pun intended) and he is very excited to be a part of this team!
WILSON LAI, director of photography: Wilson is a Senior film major at Wesleyan University. He has never considered being a cowboy because cowboys don’t exist in his home city of Hong Kong. However, since being in the US and starting his obsession with the board game Bang!, Wilson has acquired a newfound love and appreciation for the way of the cowboy. He is excited to bring this story to life and work with a lot of people that he loves.
ANIK BERNSTEIN, gaffer: Anik is a Junior film and chemistry double major. She has worked on over ten short films at Wesleyan and loves gaffing because being close to lights satisfies her eternal dream of being a moth. She is looking forward to learn the ways of the cowboy and has taken to saying “Yeehaw” a lot in preparation. She is excited to work with this great team!
CONNOR BARAJAS, gaffer: Connor is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science at Wesleyan University. He is very familiar with the cowboy lifestyle since he is from Texas and owns his own cowboy hat. Connor is not that involved in the film community, but he has acted as a cowboy in another short film of Candice’s. He can’t wait to “Yee” the “Haw” out of this film and to work with such wonderful people.
JUSTINA YAM, art director: Justina is a senior majoring in FGSS and has worked on a few other short films doing mainly production design. She is invested in creating Asian/Asian American narratives on screen, and is excited to bask in some BE THE COWBOY energy with this project! Cyberpop/cyberpunk aesthetics are her thing, but she loves some good cowboy boots and can’t wait to get this rodeo up and happening.
ANNIE NING, art director: Annie Ning is a Film and English major, with a strong love for creating unique visual spaces and worlds. She has done work on numerous independent projects, primarily in production design and artistic direction— most recently including a thriller shot in the Canadian wilderness and the Asian American International Film Festival. She’s ready to ride into the wild, wild west with that big cowboy energy, and be the *yee* to Justina and Sofia’s *haw*.
SOFIA KHU, art assistant: Sofia is a freshman who doesn’t really know what she wants to major in yet. She loves stories of any medium, especially those that represent experiences absent from the mainstream. She has worked on a few theses as a PA, but this is her first production design rodeo. She is overall very pumped to be working on this short film!
ANNA YEO, costumes/makeup: Anna Yeo is a sophomore economics and film studies double major at Wesleyan University. She has worked on a few theses and short films at Wes as a PA, actor, and doing production design. She can hold a boom pole for a long time. When she isn’t at Asian American Student Collective, Cardinal Pictures, or her job as a university video intern, she loves partaking in grapefruit eating and meme consumption. She is very excited to figure out how to work a lasso and snag some great times on set with this wonderful team.
HYUNWOO CHOI-WARD, sound recordist: Hyunwoo Choi Ward is a junior film studies major at Wesleyan University. He has worked on a few theses as a sound recordist and is excited to do it again. He is also very excited to be working with Asian-Americans on an Asian-American movie.
DANIEL JEWELL-TYRCHA, production assistant: Dani is a sophomore American Studies and African American studies major at Wesleyan University. They identify as non-binary and queer and that serves as a platform for much of their work as a writer. They’ve published articles and essays, a play, several poems, and are currently working on a film script of their own. This is the first time they’ve worked on a movie set and they couldn’t be more excited to sharpen their spurs, saddle up, and giddy-up, cowperson.
JUNIOR NGUYEN, on set photographer/graphics: Junior is a senior Neuroscience and Data Analysis major/minor who loves making visually compelling media for himself and his homies in the form of photography, motion graphics, and more. There aren’t a lot of cowboys roaming the coasts of his homeland of Southern California, but there is an airport called John Wayne Airport about 20 minutes from his house that has deepened his appreciation for Wild West movies! This is his second film that he’s been able to be a part of, and he’s very excited to take on this role and ride off into the sunset! P.S if he hears Old Town Road by Lil Nas X, it’s a wrap.