The Show
In Arizona,
the cattle business isn’t operated by suits or a corporate committee – it’s run
by Cowboys. There are dozens of active cattle ranches in Arizona, spanning
millions of acres, run by up to three generations of Cowboy families, and there
are literally hundreds of compelling stories of the struggles, heartbreak and
joy that take place on these ranches every day.
Arizona Cowboys follows five ranchers on an annual roundup in their daunting struggle to survive. The roundup is everything to the cowboy. Once a year, they sell their cattle, in hopes of making enough money to make it through another year. If the cows don’t gain enough weight, or the price per pound goes down, or mountain lions kill too many cows – they could lose everything.
Follow the ranchers
and their hired hands as they battle tough terrain, angry bulls, extreme temperatures,
rattlesnakes, mountain lions and increased regulation against
ranching. In spite of all they face, the cowboy lives
on. Not for the money (there isn’t much to be made), not for glory
(they receive little to none), but for love of the lifestyle – Love of being a
Cowboy.
Key Production Points:
•Our team has relationships with more than two dozen active Arizona cattle ranching families that are eager to work with us on this project, so there will be many options when casting.
•October is the main round up season, but there is a medium size round up every April. With the abundance of off the ranch activities like Rodeo, Lion Hunting, and Wild Cow Catching, there will be plenty of material to fill a longer season.
•Through our time shooting the sizzle reel, our production team has established itself with the Ranchers and now possesses the knowledge required to shoot and produce this show right.
•Arizona offers a wide variety of contrasting landscapes and this show will feature the full range of terrain from the rockiest desert trails, to the pine covered mountains and the wide open plains.
Bios:
Joe Mundo,
Producer/Co-Creator
Specializing in physical
production and finance, Joe has extensive experience in
business, television and film. Joe physically produced the feature
documentaries THE HEART IS A DRUM MACHINE, JOHN HENRY: THE
STEEL DRIVING RACEHORSE (with the producer team behind the Sundance Grand
Jury Prize nominated film I.O.U.S.A.) and WHEN THE WORLD BREAKS, which
takes a fresh look back Depression era art, cinema, literature, music,
architecture, business, culture, and politics. WHEN THE WORLD BREAKS
features interviews with Depression Era survivors such as Mickey Rooney,
Phyllis Diller, Buzz Aldrin, Ray Bradbury, Jack LaLanne, Art Linkletter, and
Jerry Stiller.
Donald Mundo, Executive
Producer/Co-Creator
Don has proven successes in
product development, marketing and capital formation. Don co-founded a very
successful Country Music record label with his partner Nelson Larkin. The two
launched the career of Earl Thomas Conley, who enjoyed tremendous success in
the 1980’s scoring 17 consecutive #1 hit records. In addition, Don co-founded
two very profitable television direct marketing companies where he produced
more than 50 long and short form Infomercials and was awarded numerous gold records
for his efforts. Don put the Arizona Cowboys Project together and provided
funding for the Sizzle Reel.
Jason Sallee, Producer/Co-Creator
Jason has translated his experience in business management to a successful career in film. He began in the production office with films like NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED and JOLENE.. He worked closely with all elements of production in Location Management for TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT starring Topher Grace, AWAY WE GO starring John Krasinski, ON THE ROAD with Kristen Stewart and EVERYTHING MUST GO with Will Ferrell.
In 2010, he produced a feature
length documentary with Joe Mundo entitled WHEN THE WORLD
BREAKS about creativity spawned during difficult times like the Great
Depression. Most recently, he Coordinated a Western starring country
music star Kix Brooks entitled TO KILL A MEMORY, Line Produced a feature length
horror directed by Danielle Harris entitled AMONG FRIENDS and Line
Produced a feature length Christmas movie entitled SAVING SANTA, with Joey
Lauren Adams, Kevin Pollack and Illeana Douglas.
Dave Hastings, Story Consultant
Dave is a third generation
Arizona native and has been associated with Arizona ranches his entire life. Dave
was a managing partner of the 42,000 acre TH Ranch near Show Low where they ran
500 cows year round. In 1979, Dave founded Hastings and Company Ranch
Brokerage, specializing in the listing and sales of Arizona Ranches and
Agriculture properties. For over 30 years, Dave has been highly respected as a leading ranch broker with a reputation of
impeccable integrity. Dave competed on the rodeo team in the timed events at
Brigham Young University, where he graduated in 1970 with degrees in business
management and animal science. Dave actively competes in team roping events
today.