What happens when you bring together the non-conformist multi-hyphenate genius of The Bullitts, Jeymes Samuel and the Award-Winning Bulleit Bourbon label founded by former lawyer Tom Bulleit?
That question was answered when They Die By Dawn debuted in New York City at an exclusive screening event at Tribeca Cinemas on March 19.
The partnership between Bulleit Bourbon and Jeymes Samuel launches an ongoing commitment by Bulleit Bourbon to collaborate with emerging artists in film, art, and music who are passionate about making their visions a reality like a founder Tom Bulleit who quit his successful law practice to resurrect his family’s Bulleit Bourbon distillery.
They Die By Dawn, the film, and the soon to be released album is the latest passion project from musician, director, writer, producer, artist Jeymes Samuel. They Die By Dawn is a 50-minute Western, starring a dream cast of the most talented actors of color working in entertainment today.
The film is the true untold story of an era that still fascinates in this post in modern time. The western is the iconic American film experience and just like Sergio Leone in the 70’s it is a non-American director that is pushing the genre forward.
When asked about his inspiration for the film Jeymes discussed his love of Classic Western films like Who Shot Liberty Vance and Calamity Jane but the story of the “Black Cowboy” was missing from the big screen.
“They were chilling! We were cowboys! There was Rufus Buck, Nat Love, Stagecoach Mary, Ben Hodges, John Taylor, all of these cowboys and cowgirls that we have never, ever learned about that weren’t slaves. They were free and law-abiding citizens making a name for themselves that people can read about over a hundred years later. That is an abomination, not only to Black people, but to white people, and people of every color. How can you teach one and not the other? You never see Mexicans in Westerns, and when you do, they’re subservient. You never see Chinese people in Westerns, they’re doing laundry. It’s the craziest thing. So it would irritate me that you’d see the misappropriation and misrepresentation of our history; not just me as a Black person but as a human being. History is for everyone” says Jeymes.
So Jeymes set about to create his vision of a western. Having collaborated on video and musical projects with acclaimed artists across all genres like Jay Z, Tori Amos, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Rosin Murphy, Estelle, Mos Def and the reclusive Jay Electronica. Jeymes reached out to everyone he knew to recruit his dream cast. He spent two years finding out who knows that person or who knows that person and flew directly to meet the actors. He met Giancarlo Esposito in Upstate New York and sought out Isaiah Washington in Nigeria. He sat down with Michael K. Williams in LA, where they talked for hours at Soho House about the Black outlaw, Nat Love who he would go on to play in the film. Michael also suggested the director cast Felicia “Snoop” Pierson in the role of the bartender originally written for Heavy D. Rounding out the stellar cast is Red Tails Star Nate Parker, The Bullitts collaborator Rosario Dawson, TV Star Kelly Hu, and Neo-Soul Queen Erykah Badu. The production also features veteran black actors like Roger Guenveur Smith, Clifton Powell, and Harry Lennix.
They Die By Dawn is filled with tension and drama and is also a cliff-hanger, like a throwback 30’s serial. It’s a part two begins filming this Spring and is called The Notorious Nine.
The Cowboys are on a mission and with a bigger budget in the words of the director “I swagged out the cast for They Die By Dawn, trust me when I’m telling you, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Wait till you see what we got coming, I swear we’re gonna change cinema.”
They Die by Dawn was an epic at 50 minutes so I believe a change is coming.
For the cocktail enthusiast, try the signature cocktail of the evening:
The Bulleit Rye Manhattan
- Ingredients:
-
- 1 oz Bulleit Rye
- .25 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 3 dash Angostura Bitters
- Preparation:
- Stir. Strain. Serve over ice in a rocks glass with a lemon twist.
Always remember to drink responsibly