A film about dreams, desperation, and bodybuilding.
Hunger. Sweat. Muscle
Watch the trailer below.
West of Greatness is an experimental documentary + narrative feature film. It’s about two scrawny young men as they compete in a local bodybuilding competition. They have eight months to gain as much muscle as possible. At the competition, their gains, their posing ability, and their personality will determine who wins. The winner gets $15,000. This is their primary motivation. Win the cash and get the hell out of town.
Our two main characters dedicate themselves to this foreign lifestyle. Set in the trenches of a dying river town, we explore their home lives, friendships, and struggles in and out of the gym. Our other characters are real competitors. Real people from the area, desperate to also win the competition
Be a part of something great
Get involved with our film
Making Something Great
Listen to our podcast!
Making Something Great is a behind-the-scenes podcast about the making of this film. We will interview actors, filmmakers, and fitness experts to learn more about the craft of filmmaking and the craft of fitness, especially bodybuilding. Join Chris Tucci, the executive producer and our resident fitness expert, and Jared LaReau, the writer and director of West of Greatness.
What makes this film unique?
Blending art with reality, West of Greatness is doing something different. Our two leads are working with professional trainers, nutritionists, and other experts. You will witness the transformation of two scrawny men into fit and muscular competitors. The rest of the cast are real people that we will follow and get to know as they try their hardest to win the $15,000.
Meet the Writer & Director
This film draws from my experience growing up.
In Northwest Arkansas, where I was raised, there wasn’t a lot to do when you were bored. Skateboarding on cracked parking lots, smoking our parent’s stolen cigarettes, and running into trouble as often as possible.
Hanging out in my friend’s trailer while his mom played online poker and drank cheap beer all night. Getting high and listening to loud music, so you didn’t have to think anymore.
Meaninglessness takes hold, and you drift away, lost in the confusion of a directionless world. We grew up with or around addiction, poverty, and anger. I got clean and got out. But a lot of us didn’t.
But don’t get it twisted. These people are my heroes. People who work hard just to get through the day. Who lie to themselves to survive.
This film is for anyone who's had to make up a reason to get out of bed.
Inspiration
This film is inspired by the movies that broke ground and innovated storytelling. Films that had guts, heart, and sweat. Films that broke through the screen and reached audiences of all kinds. This isn’t simply a film about bodybuilding and the gym. It’s about growing up. It’s about friends. It’s about surviving.
