The Process

West of Greatness was developed by a dedicated team of independent filmmakers, led by director Jared Cliff LaReau.

With years of experience in the indie film scene, the team brought a deep understanding of how to build something ambitious with limited resources. From the outset, they approached the production with the belief that great storytelling comes from trust, mutual respect, and a willingness to challenge traditional hierarchies on set.

Rather than working within rigid departments or siloed roles, the crew embraced a collaborative environment where every team member was empowered to contribute creatively. This spirit of openness fostered a dynamic atmosphere that prioritized the best idea over job title, allowing the film to evolve organically throughout production.

The film’s structure posed a serious challenge. It was designed to look and feel like a documentary, but it’s actually a scripted drama framed by real-life events. To make it work, the team launched a legitimate bodybuilding competition with strict timelines, real weigh-ins, and a $15,000 cash prize. Real men signed up. Real stakes were in play. There was no guarantee the actors would reach their goals, and no control over how the other competitors would perform. Filming took place over 18 months, during which the team built deep relationships with the people involved. The result is a film that blurs the line between fiction and reality, offering something emotionally grounded and formally bold.

  • Man with dark hair and beard wearing a brown blazer and floral shirt standing in front of a wall with text that reads "Bentonville Film Festival" and various logos.

    Jared Cliff LaReau, Writer & Director

  • Two men in formal suits, one holding a microphone and the other holding a bouquet of flowers, standing on stage with a large screen behind them displaying partially visible text.

    Chris Tucci, Executive Producer

  • Two men smiling at an event with a black background featuring the words "Wowie Greatness" in orange text. One man has curly hair and is wearing a dark suit, the other has wavy dark hair and a beard, wearing a floral shirt.

    Samuel Macaluso, Director of Photography

  • A smiling woman with long wavy brown hair wearing a colorful patterned dress standing next to a smiling man with glasses and a beard, wearing a white t-shirt, in front of a black backdrop with orange text that says "West of Greatness".

    Stevie Cavalier, 1st AD & Producer

  • Two smiling people, a man with curly hair and glasses and a woman with long hair and glasses, standing in front of a black backdrop with orange and yellow text that reads 'West of Greatness'.

    Lloyd Moffett, Editor

  • A young man with glasses, dark hair, and a beard smiling in front of a colorful background with yellow and orange lettering that says 'We Screa...'

    Mathew Mozzoni, Composer

  • Two men at an event, with a black backdrop displaying orange text that reads 'West of Greatness.' One man has gray hair, is is wearing a gray suit jacket and an orange shirt, and the other has dark, wavy hair, glasses, and is wearing a dark jacket and light shirt.

    David Pons, Producer

  • A man with short black hair and a small amount of sweat on his face, wearing a dark sports jacket, looks slightly to the side in a gym setting.

    Bum Lee, Producer

Group of people at a film festival event, standing in front of banners that say Bentonville Film Festival and MARS, smiling and posing for a photo.
A man and a woman sitting on chairs, engaged in a discussion, holding microphones. The man is wearing a beige blazer and dark pants, while the woman is wearing a black top and tan pants. They are in a room with dark walls and what appears to be an ev
Three people sitting on chairs in a panel discussion. The person on the left is holding a microphone, wearing a red jacket and black pants. The middle person is in a dark suit, smiling with hands resting on their lap. The person on the right is weari
Two men seated on chairs in a discussion or interview setting, one holding a microphone. One man is wearing a Chicago Bulls jacket, and the other is dressed in a suit.
Panel of six people sitting on chairs on a stage at the Bentonville Film Festival, with a large screen behind them displaying a colorful graphic with text 'Welcome to the Bentonville Film Festival' and an illustration of a woman.
A group of people at an event standing in front of a step-and-repeat banner with logos of Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Bentonville Film Festival.
Four people sitting on chairs on stage, engaging in a discussion or interview. One person is holding a microphone to another person, who appears to be speaking. The stage has a dark background and a brick floor.
A woman with short blonde hair wearing an orange jumpsuit and white sneakers, sitting on a chair on stage, holding a microphone and speaking, with a dark background.
A group of people seated and standing in an auditorium, listening to a man wearing a red Chicago Bulls jacket who is pointing towards the audience. The audience appears engaged and some are clapping.
Audience in theater style seats clapping and smiling during a presentation or performance, some standing and others seated.
People on stage speaking to an audience seated in a theater, with some audience members standing and clapping.
Woman sitting on a chair holding a microphone, smiling and gesturing with her hands during a discussion or panel.