"Lane Frost's Documentary LANE: Life | Legend | Legacy by Tough Draw"
Dec 11, 2024 at 2:44 PM
The American way of life has long held a significant place in global media and entertainment. From the silver screen to various forms of art, Western culture continues to make its mark. One such figure is Lane Frost, the champion bull rider whose life and story have been immortalized through film and media.
James Trawick, co-founder of Tough Draw Entertainment, emphasizes Lane Frost's significance. "Lane Frost is our Dale Earnhardt and our Tiger Woods, and all are the heroes of their respective sports." He further explains, "He was very personable and would speak to people in a way that made them feel important. And I say that after having sat in on over 50 interviews with people that are 35 years removed from that interaction and still have emotion about how Lane made them feel."
"When I think of Western culture, I think about my Grandad and about hard work. And I think about basic morality and the basic principles of life, which for us reflects God, family, and country," said Brad Hughes. "That’s what we champion and what we stand for, and that’s why cowboy culture matters."
After the success of Yellowstone, there was a resurgence in Western culture. "8 Seconds was the first film I can remember feeling emotion watching because I was such a huge rodeo fan. Then, to have the opportunity to tell Lane Frost’s story the way that the family wanted it done, in the true manner of how it was presented, was a full circle moment," he added.
The three-day Hondo Rodeo Festival gave fans a glimpse of the future of rodeo. It brought together world champions in the sport with a Western culture fan festival and some of country music's most decorated acts. Positioned as "the voice to the modern-day cowboy," Tough Draw Entertainment produced the festival in partnership with others.
For a first-year festival, the artist line-up was impressive, including Old Dominion, Brooks & Dunn, Hank Williams Jr., and the Zac Brown Band. A total of $1.1 million was awarded to the cowboys and cowgirls, and the festival is already a frontrunner for a nomination.
Chris Bellinger from PepsiCo Foods US highlights Fritos' connection to Western culture. "Fritos is no newcomer to Western culture – the brand has been feeding the cowboy spirit since 1932. With the recent resurgence of country in pop culture, Fritos continues to tap into our cowboy origins with cult-favorite television series Yellowstone, and most recently through a partnership with the Hondo Rodeo Festival."
"There’s a ton of new interest in our space and in our world following this event, and I think it permeates all the way through our work in the media industry," said James Trawick. "Our goal, and our privilege, is to represent this community."
Uncover the Lasting Impact of Lane Frost and Western Culture
On Film and in Entertainment
In film, Western culture has been prominently featured, with legends like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood becoming synonymous with the category. Television shows such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, and Dallas have also contributed to its representation. Currently, through creative storytelling by Taylor Sheridan and others, Western culture continues to thrive. For instance, the documentary 'LANE: Life | Legend | Legacy' showcases the life of American cowboy and champion bull rider Lane Frost. Considered one of the best bull riders of all time, Lane Frost was tragically killed in 1989 at the age of 25. But his legacy lives on through various mediums. First, with Luke Perry portraying Lane Frost in the 1994 theatrical 8 Seconds, and now through 'LANE: Life | Legend | Legacy' from Tough Draw Entertainment.James Trawick, co-founder of Tough Draw Entertainment, emphasizes Lane Frost's significance. "Lane Frost is our Dale Earnhardt and our Tiger Woods, and all are the heroes of their respective sports." He further explains, "He was very personable and would speak to people in a way that made them feel important. And I say that after having sat in on over 50 interviews with people that are 35 years removed from that interaction and still have emotion about how Lane made them feel."
The Tough Draw Entertainment Journey
Brad Hughes, the visionary behind Tough Draw Entertainment, began his journey while sitting in a University of Texas Screenwriting class. After interning in Hollywood for Ridley Scott and Ron Howard, he decided to dive back into the writing process and officially started Tough Draw. The company aims to maintain and share the traditions and culture of the West by depicting the authentic experiences and people involved in the Western lifestyle."When I think of Western culture, I think about my Grandad and about hard work. And I think about basic morality and the basic principles of life, which for us reflects God, family, and country," said Brad Hughes. "That’s what we champion and what we stand for, and that’s why cowboy culture matters."
After the success of Yellowstone, there was a resurgence in Western culture. "8 Seconds was the first film I can remember feeling emotion watching because I was such a huge rodeo fan. Then, to have the opportunity to tell Lane Frost’s story the way that the family wanted it done, in the true manner of how it was presented, was a full circle moment," he added.
LANE: Life | Legend | Legacy
'LANE: Life | Legend | Legacy', which recently launched on video on demand, explores Frost’s faith, challenges, and why he remains a celebrated figure in Western culture. It is told through the perspectives of people close to Frost and those impacted by his legacy. The cinematography by Jordan Thiem is a key component of the production.The three-day Hondo Rodeo Festival gave fans a glimpse of the future of rodeo. It brought together world champions in the sport with a Western culture fan festival and some of country music's most decorated acts. Positioned as "the voice to the modern-day cowboy," Tough Draw Entertainment produced the festival in partnership with others.
For a first-year festival, the artist line-up was impressive, including Old Dominion, Brooks & Dunn, Hank Williams Jr., and the Zac Brown Band. A total of $1.1 million was awarded to the cowboys and cowgirls, and the festival is already a frontrunner for a nomination.
Chris Bellinger from PepsiCo Foods US highlights Fritos' connection to Western culture. "Fritos is no newcomer to Western culture – the brand has been feeding the cowboy spirit since 1932. With the recent resurgence of country in pop culture, Fritos continues to tap into our cowboy origins with cult-favorite television series Yellowstone, and most recently through a partnership with the Hondo Rodeo Festival."
Looking Ahead
While the rodeo world is in Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) event, the team at Tough Draw is focused on connecting more brands with Western-themed stories and events. They are entertaining more feature length documentaries and series format content based on athlete profiles and discussing an investment in the feature film that started it all. They also aim to grow the Hondo Rodeo Fest."There’s a ton of new interest in our space and in our world following this event, and I think it permeates all the way through our work in the media industry," said James Trawick. "Our goal, and our privilege, is to represent this community."
