To assist Buck Bloomingdale perceive cowboy tradition as he fine-tuned the script for his heist movie “Driving Damage,” the staff from Teton Ridge Leisure took the screenwriter to look at some bull driving. 

“We introduced him out to Texas for the American Rodeo,” says Jillian Share, the president of Teton Ridge Leisure. “We obtained him into the bullpen, , the place he was up shut and private with the bulls, after which we took him to drinks with all the parents who had competed within the rodeo. We needed him to get ingrained in that world.”

The purpose is for “Driving Damage,” which unfolds on this planet {of professional} bull driving, to have the grit and authenticity that may make it recognizable to part of America that Hollywood historically ignores. Catering to “purple state” clients is Teton Ridge’s enterprise mannequin. And the manufacturing firm is hoping to capitalize on a growth in Western leisure, one which’s seen “Yellowstone” high the scores, Bella Hadid rock cowboy boots and Beyoncé and Put up Malone debut nation albums. 

“We’re watching issues actually transfer within the route of this a part of the nation, as a result of it’s an enormous viewers,” says Share. “We’re seeing it in trend; we’re seeing it in music. We wish to assist speed up it in movie and tv.” 

Earlier than she boarded the nation and western wagon prepare, Share oversaw movie manufacturing at eOne and was an government at Legendary Leisure and Heyday. Since she joined the corporate in 2024, Teton Ridge has outbid opponents for a collection of splashy initiatives. Not solely did it purchase Bloomingdale’s spec script for seven figures, nevertheless it landed the rights to Larry McMurtry’s “Lonesome Dove.” The corporate expects to show the sprawling novel collection a few group of cattle herders into a movie or TV present. 

“These books are so beloved — they’re like ‘The Lord of the Rings’ of the West,” says Share. “Getting the rights has been a calling card for us.”  

After all, not each try to succeed in the viewers that Teton Ridge needs to draw has been profitable. There have been faith-based hits like “Sound of Freedom” and blockbusters which have over-indexed in states like Texas or Oklahoma, comparable to “Twisters,” which highlighted a cowboy-hat sporting Glen Powell in its advertising. However different formidable initiatives, like Kevin Costner’s “Horizon,” flamed out spectacularly. 

One benefit that Teton Ridge has is its deep-pocketed backers, together with Thomas Tull, the previous head of Legendary. It additionally is an element of a bigger conglomerate. Its father or mother firm, also referred to as Teton Ridge, owns a number of Western sports activities and media properties, together with The Cowboy Channel and the American Rodeo.  

Share insists she gained’t simply be telling tales of the Previous West that will have starred John Wayne again within the day. Teton Ridge movies could be something from modern thrillers to rom-coms, so long as they continue to be rooted in a sure geographic setting. 

“We wish to increase on the concept of what the Western is,” Share says. “Individuals consider the Western style as dusty previous saloons and shootouts and outlaws with bounties on them. We’re going, ‘How do you flip that on its head and discover methods to take a look at Western as extra of a life-style?’”