Private Project

Cowgirls and Synthesizers

UK hit-maker and Eurovison songwriter Ricardo Autobahn follows the synthesizer pop duo Hyperbubble, described by Alternative Press as "the sonic equivalent of a truckload of Twizzlers", as they drive to Nashville to record a country and western album using only synthesizers, drum machines, and theremin.

Along the way, Hyperbubble members Jess and Jeff meet cartoon cult heroes Samantha Newark of Jem and the Holograms and Manda Rin of Bis/Powerpuff Girls fame, Theremin diva Dorit Chrysler, music fashion guru Manuel Cuevas, cosmic cowboy Garett T Capps, air-drumming filmmaker Ari Gold, Do-It-Yourself vinyl pioneers Shoes, synth-pop sweeties Freezepop, Lederhosen Lucil, Helen Love, and Our Daughters Wedding, and somehow end up winners in Dolly Parton's Netflix song contest.

Directed by Joe Wallace, Cowgirls and Synthesizers is a fast, fun, fanzine telling the true story of Hyperbubble's over 20-year career, splattered with color, animation, and comedy.

  • Joe Wallace
    Director
    45 RPM, The Camera Is Your Friend, Bubblegum Fiesta, The Making of an Air Force Recruiter
  • Joe Wallace
    Writer
  • Jess DeCuir
    Writer
  • Jeff DeCuir
    Writer
  • Joe Wallace
    Producer
    45 RPM, The Camera Is Your Friend, Making of an Air Force Recruiter
  • Jessica DeCuir
    Producer
    A Synthesizer For Christmas, Candy Apple Daydreams
  • Jeff DeCuir
    Producer
    A Synthesizer For Christmas, Candy Apple Daydreams
  • Hyperbubble
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Music, Indie, art
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 9, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    24,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Fellowshipwreck Film Festival
    San Antonio, TX
    United States
    February 19, 2023
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection Screening
  • Ely Film, Art, and Music Festival
    Ely, NV
    United States
    March 12, 2023
    Nevada Premiere
    Official Selection Screening
  • Boomtown International Film Festival
    Beaumont, TX
    United States
    May 13, 2023
    Official Selection Screening
  • Creation Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Spring Session
    California Premiere
    Best Cult Film / Best Direction / Best Editing
  • Tennessee International Independent Film Festival
    Nashville, Tennessee
    United States
    August 3, 2023
    Tennessee Premiere
    Official Selection Screening
  • Viva Texas Film Festival
    Victoria, Texas
    United States
    August 5, 2023
    Official Selection Screening
  • SAFILM San Antonio Film Festival
    San Antonio, Texas
    United States
    August 28, 2023
    Official Selection Screening
  • Wild West Film Festival
    Vacaville, CA
    United States
    September 30, 2023
    Official Selection Screening
  • Reel East Texas Film Festival
    Kilogore, TX
    United States
    November 9, 2023
    Official Selection Screening
  • New Jersey International Film Festival
    New Brusnwick
    United States
    June 9, 2024
    Northeast American Premiere
  • Comfort Films
    Chicago
    United States
    June 26, 2024
    Midwest Premiere
Director Biography - Joe Wallace

Director Joe Wallace is a die-hard fan of genre cinema and indie oddball weirdness such as Death Race 2000, Norway, and Black Tight Killers.

Wallace's gateway to indie filmaking was as a videographer and reporter for the Air Force. During this time Joe interviewed a wide range of familiar faces; Cheap Trick, Toto, Survivor, Gang of Four and Nine Inch Nails, as well as more mainstream household names including Joan Lunden and the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Most reporters would find meeting with a powerful leader such as Jesse Jackson a daunting assignment, but it was interviewing synthpop pioneer Gary Numan that Wallace found more intimidating. Not because Numan is a tough interview, but because Joe has been hooked on Numan's work since hearing Cars for the first time in 1979.

It is this love of electronic music, storytelling, and the art of the interview that ultimately led to Wallace transforming Hyperbubble's 20 years of synthpop, performance, and art into the 70-minute documentary, Cowgirls and Synthesizers.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As a documentary director, my job is often finding a fine line between representing reality and interpreting the mindset behind the people involved. Reality is an interesting thing, but sometimes documenting it requires striking a balance between facts and feelings.