Iron And Hope

A lone cowgirl on the search for her long-lost sister teams up with a stoic cyborg tinkerer in the barren, robot-ridden wastelands of the west.

  • Jaclyn Reed
    Director
  • Jaclyn Reed
    Writer
  • Thomas Nally
    Producer
  • Artur Ivanov
    Producer
  • Marco Sanchez
    Director of Photography
  • Hailey Arner De France
    Production Designer
  • Artur Ivanov
    Production Designer
  • Justin Pacheco
    Editor
  • Laina Wieshuber
    Key Cast
    "Aria"
  • Chad Anderson
    Key Cast
    "Prim"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Western
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    December 12, 2024
  • 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:
    Yes - San Diego State University
Director Biography - Jaclyn Reed

Jaclyn Reed is a filmmaker and 4th year undergraduate student at SDSU. She is currently in the TFM film program and is set to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Television, Film, and New Media production. Having worked on numerous film and video projects, Jaclyn is a skilled and passionate filmmaker with an emphasis in production design.

Jaclyn has worked on countless projects as a director and production designer, turning ideas into showstopping film productions. She has worked on countless teams and projects, having great collaboration skills on top of screenwriting, lighting, set design, costuming, makeup, prop design, and directing skills. Jaclyn has a great eye for small details in film production and makes sure everything is accounted for down to even the tiniest of design details. Jaclyn ensures that every film has a world that’s immersive and feels lived in by all characters.

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Director Statement

Growing up, my dad had an incredible VHS collection filled with nearly every cowboy film imaginable. I spent countless hours watching those movies, captivated by the rugged heroes. Yet, I often found myself asking, "Where are the cowboy stories with women who are like me?"

I dreamed of being a cowboy—of riding horses, taking down the bad guys, and embodying strength and bravery. However, the female characters I saw were either severely mistreated or overly sexualized, leaving me wanting something more authentic.

This inspired me to create a story that merges my love for both the sci-fi and cowboy genres. I wanted to build a cruel, dystopian world that showcases cowgirls as fierce and powerful as their male counterparts. I’m proud to say this story is a reflection of my journey, proving that strength and resilience have no gender.