A Western-Horror Short Film by Jonna Lutz

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THE VISION

"When cowboy Jack Clyde gets stranded in an isolated cabin during a blizzard, he meets a mysterious bounty hunter by the name of Virginia Mae. As the night unfolds, both learn that not everyone are what they seem."THE FEELINGCountry of Ghosts checks the boxes needed to follow the trail of a traditional western- bounty hunters, six-shooters, tension and revenge. However, I wanted to delve into another aspect of westerns that often is not mainstream: Imagine you're a lonesome cowboy trekking an icy trail. The cold is nipping at your neck and the flurry of snow clouds your vision. Suddenly, your horse stops and begins to fuss, sensing something you don't. For the first time in your ride, you do not feel alone.
The eerieness and isolation of the wild west is something I wanted to tap into. With inspirations like The Hateful Eight, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Until Dawn, this story puts you in an isolated cabin during a blizzard as you try to unravel the mystery of its inhabitant, a cold female bounty hunter.THE THEMESMany themes revolve around this story: Justice, humanity, revenge, and seeing one for as they are. When writing this piece, I wanted to breathe a fresh perspective into the genre by not only including supernatural elements, but by also introducing a prominent female character. My goal as a filmmaker is to broaden the horizons of the script and explore these territories for women not only in fictional tales, but also historical ones.THE VISUALSVisually, the film is aiming for a dark, gothic approach. Candlelight and moonlight will glow in each scene, and with the help of costume design and set design, the world beyond the screen will feel alive. With strong blues, reds, and oranges, the contrast in each frame will be as strong as blood on snow.

My name is Jonna Lutz, and I am currently a film student at Ohio University! I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and currently my dream is to be a writer/director in the film industry! Besides filmmaking, my hobbies include photography and gaming.
I have directed a few other films during my time at OU, but this project is meant to be my "magnum opus," I want to leave undergraduate film school with a bang!
I have been workshopping this script for over a year, and I am so excited to finally bring the setting and characters to life!You can find more about me and my work here.

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