Short Film: Cowboy's Last Up

Interview With Mark Brent
By Dave Wilson

1) Cowboy's Last Up premiered in 2005, did it have a festival run?

Wow! It's going to be like that! It tripped out of the starting gate. It went to one festival, STIFF and won Best Looking Actress for Jaquis Olivas.

2) Did you make the film with thoughts of an Internet release?

Cowboy's Last Up was made as a festival film. However, we shot it quickly and downtown. We didn't allow for money to loop in studio sound. So, the film didn't have the best sound it could have. Due to cash limitations it became feasible to mix the movie for the Internet. Basically, my mistakes as a producer cost the sound of the film. I managed to salvage the sound, but feel that festivals were not accepting it for that reason. Actually, I don't know why festivals didn't accept it (they don't tell you), and got tired of sending them my money. Next question.

3)How long is the life-span of a short?

A short is great once. After it is seen, it is dead. (This is what I've been told.) I just keep finding ways to show it to new audiences. I think Cowboy's Last Up is worth showing to new audiences. I feel this way based on the feedback that I get.

4) Do you consider yourself a short filmmaker?

No, I'm six foot tall. Ummm..... I used to think I was good at shorts, until I realized my films weren't true short films. I make moments of feature length stories. A true short film is one thread, one point, one epiphany--it's not a matter of length. So, I guess I'm not a short filmmaker. However, I haven't made a feature film yet, so maybe I am not a filmmaker.