Torquay producer helps bring gay rodeo story to screen

AN INTERNATIONAL film telling the story of a professional gay rodeo bull rider is aiming to make it onto the big screens with the influence of a Torquay local.

Ella Bourne will work as on of the producers for Cowboy The Movie, teaming up with creatives in the US to bring the meaningful story to life.

Th film is centred around the life of professional bull rider Cole Langam, who comes out as gay in the masculine-dominated industry and has to suffer the ramifications.

Ms Bourne got involved with the film through writer and executive producer Jacob Seidman who she met in acting class about seven years ago.

“He wrote a short film for this five years ago and I helped out on that a little bit and then from there, we’ve had the same agent and became good friends,” Ms Bourne said.

“When this project came up, I just naturally was around and so it went from working as the assistant director when we were shooting promotional materials to then coming on board in a bigger capacity as a producer.”

Presently in the Kickstarter phase, the independent feature film is calling on people to donate and help get production started.

The film already has the support of the annual Palm Springs Gay Rodeo, allowing them to film at the event, giving the crew special access to a professional rodeo.

For the team, the entire experience from the research through to shooting promotional content has been a gratifying and uplifting experience.

Ms Bourne said the film had been embraced by the gay rodeos in Arizona and Palm Springs and she was looking forward to being able to share the meaningful stories in the unique film.

“I don’t think we’ve seen it before, we have similar films like Brokeback Mountain, but this is such a 21st century moving into 2026.

“I feel like it’s new ground and I’m personally really excited because I get to work with some of my closest friends on a film that we’ve been there [for] since the beginning.

“It’s a really special project personally and I think when you have that level of excitement with all the people that you’re working with, I think that also translates on screen.”

It is hoped once the film is produced, more people will have a better understanding of being openly queer in the sports sector and encourage important discussions in the space.

For more information or to donate to the kickstarter fundraiser, head to cowboythemovie.com

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