The first – of what its creators hope will be many – episode of a modern western screened at the Canyons of the Ancients Guest Ranch, where it was filmed last summer.
It’s called “Horsepower,” and on Friday, Oct. 18 people paid $8 to see the premiere of its pilot episode at the ranch.
The pilot is what they’ll show to streaming services and festivals in hopes they like it and will continue the show, said Joseph Sernio, a lead actor, producer and co-creator of “Horsepower.”
It rained steadily that night, but people made their way out to the ranch anyways, which is nestled in the scenic McElmo Canyon about 20 miles west of Cortez’s city center.
Puddles peppered the dirt road that snaked through the property, and homemade signs barely legible from the all the rain pointed guests to the Ranch House, which was part of the set during filming and decorated with string lights for the occasion.
People parked their cars there, and walked to another cabin where they screened not only the pilot, but a behind the scenes video, trailer and a special thank you message from the cast and crew.
Though it was cold outside, inside was cozy. Not a single chair was empty, and adults stayed warm with a choice of wine from Sutcliffe Vineyards just up the road.
Dan Robertson, the assistant director, said a few words to the crowded audience before the show began.
“Every frame felt like a painting,” said Robertson. “The ranch was undeniably a main character of the film.”
Robertson told the audience that this viewing was the first and it would be the only for some time to come.
And with that, the show began.
The pilot was just over 30 minutes long. It centers on a guy named Fletcher Miller, who Sernio plays. Miller is running for governor – or so he thinks. He ends up making a big mistake and things sort of unravel for him from there.
“This is violent!” a child squeaked mid-showing.
It’s an action-packed thriller of a show, akin to “Yellowstone” and “Banshee.”
But it’s not geared to developers taking land away and subsequent blackmail; “Horsepower” is more about characters, consequences and politics, Sernio said.
“It’s got a different feel,” said Sernio. “It’s still modern, with a western feel.”
Sernio told The Journal that he doesn’t really like Fletcher Miller, who he plays in the show. He called him cocky, the kind of character with a “you can’t touch me” attitude.
But it was fun to lean into a persona that’s completely opposite of who I am, Sernio said.
Costner Hernandez, a 14-year-old actor in the show from Cortez, said he had a lot of fun in the filming process, too.
“I’d never done anything like this before,” said Hernandez. “It was really fun.”
Though his moment in the limelight was brief, Hernandez said it took a while to get “the perfect shot.”
All those involved – including Ming and Garry Adams, the ranch owners – agreed filming at the ranch was a great time.
“They were such a respectful, professional group,” said Ming Adams. “It didn’t feel serious at all. We were all having fun, building family.”
Ming went on to say how exciting it was to see how things are done behind the scenes, and what it takes to make things like fight scenes and shootings look realistic.
Last April, Sernio and Peter Dobson, a producer and actor in the film, came out to see the ranch for the first time.
“They said they were trying to find a western ranch to film on, I didn’t know them at all,” Ming said.
“We noticed Canyons of the Ancients Guest Ranch and totally fell in love,” Sernio said.
The whole crew came out in August 2023 and filmed what would become the pilot over a five-day period.
Robertson, in his role as assistant director, said he had to keep people in line and figure out when and where to film things.
“It’s like a puzzle,” said Robertson. “I thought of it like one big Disneyland campus.”
In his brain, he divvied up the different areas of the ranch into different parks.
“Our job is make-believe,” Robertson said.
Their job is also to make things believable, and since Sernio isn’t a cowboy by trade, he came out early to train on horseback.
But right before shooting the scene of him on the horse, the horse got sick, so they had to bring in a new horse last minute. Sernio had little chemistry with the new horse, something the audience of locals picked up on and mentioned when the crew asked for feedback at the premiere.
“You don’t know how to brush a horse,” someone said when Sernio called on them.
Another person from the audience said, “I don’t watch a lot of movies, but you captured my interest. I’ll certainly vote for you as governor.”
The pilot was really to show people what they can do, and the private showing was a big “thank you” to the community of Cortez and Ming and Garry, Sernio said.
“I just really hope to be back, making episodes. It’s hard to leave a place like this,” Robertson said.
Since filming, Sernio said he’s been back to the area every month since, and he always stays with Ming and Garry at their ranch.
