Cowboy
COWBOY is a feature film directed by Stephanie Martinez.
The film follows Cole, a world-class rodeo bull rider whose career collapses after he comes out as gay online. With a broken arm and his future uncertain, Cole returns to his family ranch, where he must heal his body, confront the relationships he left behind, and find a way back to the bull as the first proudly out gay rodeo bull rider.
As Cinematographer, my approach was to create an image that felt honest, muscular, and emotionally immediate. Stephanie’s actor-focused direction allowed the visuals to support intimate performances while still embracing a bold, contrast-rich Western aesthetic.
The film was photographed in anamorphic on the ARRI Alexa 35 with Atlas Mercury anamorphic lenses in Open Gate, giving the image scale, texture, and dimensionality while preserving the agility needed for ranch locations and live rodeo environments. Shooting largely across exteriors and active rodeo spaces required detailed planning and precise team logistics to maintain a cohesive visual language under constantly shifting conditions.
Inspired by TRUE GRIT, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, CRAZY HEART, and THE POWER OF THE DOG, COWBOY blends classic Western imagery with a contemporary story about identity, masculinity, family, and resilience.
COWBOY is currently in post-production.
DIRECTOR
Stephanie Martinez
PRODUCERS
Jacob Seidman
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Matthew Lynn