As the dust settles in the air and the sun dips lower over the rugged Pennsylvania farmland, two figures clutch their holsters, prepared for a duel against a shadow of their past. On September 20, the Oaks Center Theater presents Taffy, Rita, and the Rattlesnake, a unique story unlike any Western you’ve seen before. Underneath the leather and blood, this film explores humanity, growth, and identity in the American frontier. And at the heart of it all is writer, director, actor, and West Chester University alumnus, Greg Poppa, ready to bring his vision to the big screen in an exciting local showcase event for fans of indie films, creatives, and anyone looking for a compelling story.
Meet the Cast
The film is directed by Greg Poppa, produced by Sugey Cruz, and stars the musically gifted Austin Greene. It will debut as part of the Roaming shadow showcase on Saturday, September 20th at the Oak Center Theater in Oaks, Pennsylvania. The event is much more than just a premiere; it is also a celebration of local talent. There will be a showcase block, displaying shorts by other Pennsylvania-based creatives.
Poppa details how passionate he is about building a community with local filmmakers. He emphasizes this event is a great opportunity for doing so, “Get to know people who are in your community that you might never get a chance to talk to,” Poppa explains. “We’re trying to do a lot of community building.”
Film Details
In addition to spreading awareness of aspiring filmmakers, the main event of the night promises to deliver an intriguing short film for all audiences. Set in 1880s, Taffy, Rita and the Rattlesnake tells the story of an innocent young man and a woman consumed with vengeance. They team up with one common goal: finding the notorious outlaw, Sam “Rattlesnake” King. This trailer only gives the audiences a taste of what’s to come, combining classic Western tropes with a more introspective approach.
Director Greg Poppa describes how the loss of innocence is a persistent theme throughout the story, “It’s the process of growing up and seeing the world as how it actually is versus how you want it to be… the world can be an ugly place and (Taffy’s) trying to find where he fits in.”
The film not only explores deep interpersonal conflicts, but it also showcases an authentic Western set design that was thoroughly researched and locally sourced. Producer Sugey Cruz reflects on the crew’s decision to immediately hire their costume designer, Crescentia. Cruz emphasizes, “You don’t really feel your character sometimes until you’ve put on all the garb.”
The Production Process
An integral part of the filming process was pinpointing locations in Pennsylvania that could accurately portray a Western scenery. Poppa shared that the idea for this film first emerged while conducting this process for another film of his. He explains “(We) drove past this house and I just took a glimpse of it… (and it was a) dogtrot house. I just barely saw it and there was a little pond in the front of it and I just loved that look. And I was like, I’d love to have a shootout in that breezeway.”
Soon after the idea for the film was created, producer Sugey Cruz recounts how she made their vision come to life, “The first people we contact as a team are the creative minds — production design, costuming. That’s one of the things that we do a little bit differently than a lot of independent filmmakers.” After receiving creative input, the co-owners of Roaming Shadows Productions then started casting, which landed Austin Greene, Taffy’s actor, his first major role. Greene notes that this role was not only emotionally taxing but also physically demanding. He reflects on a scene where he had to “roll around” and “fall on (his) back a bunch of times.” Greene clearly put a great deal of work into molding Taffy’s character, and he expressed his excitement to share it on the big screen.
WCU Connection
Greg Poppa, who graduated from West Chester University in 2015 with a bachleor’s degree in Liberal Studies, went on to become a writer, director, and actor for multiple award-winning films. His path from student to a full-time creative exemplifies how taking initiative can turn a college passion into a career. Poppa emphasizes that so long as you surround yourself with the right people and start creating, there is no wrong path.
Future Endeavors
For this dynamic creative team, Taffy, Rita and the Rattlesnake is only the beginning. There are plans to eventually release the continuation to this short story and build an eventual trilogy. But for now, they’re looking forward to growing their community and entertaining everyone at the premiere. “We have something for everyone,” Cruz promises.
How to See the Premiere
Here’s are the details on The Roaming Shadow Showcase & Western Premiere:
Date and time: Saturday, September 20, 6 PM – 10 PM (Red carpet, showcase, premiere, Q&A, networking)
Location: Oaks Center Theater, Oaks, PA
Purchase your Tickets at Oaks Center Cinema 24
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