The Black Bart of Taco King #17

It's the transition from one era of the western to a new era as we center a black woman in the role of protagonist. We're shifting our idea of what a hero looks like to a character that's always been present in the west, but has often not been credited in the formation of this country - the black woman. We're critiquing the ideas of what a hero looks like and also what makes a hero by shifting what our hero does to win. Our hero is thoughtful, subversive, and bold.

This story has two distinct, battling sections with visual aesthetics that highlight Hart's POV and Lia's POV. These sections coupled with recurring stylized montages which help us transition between our characters and will take the audience on a wild, visual ride that underscores our transition from the old westerns of yesterday to the new western of tomorrow.

It's two love stories in conflict with one another. Our framing, color and lighting choices are grounded in showing the hero's POV. As we begin, we inhabit the classic western genre and it's conventions of framing, camera movement and blocking. This is our first love story and it shows Hart's POV as he falls for Lia. The subtext of this being the love story we tell our selves about who we are as a country and what makes us great.

As the film continues, we invert characters' framing making Lia feel free and Hart more contained. We use sharper lighting to underscore a more realistic tone and world. We use camera movement to keep Lia centered even as she takes swift action. All these choices highlight our second love story and the subtext behind Lia's bold move being what we could be as a country and what actually makes us great.