“Man in the Can” Documentary Wins Award
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – “Man in the Can,” a rodeo documentary by independent filmmaker Noessa Higa, had its world premiere May 1 at the Hill Country Film Festival in Fredericksburg, Texas – near where much of it was shot – and was named Best Texas Film by the festival committee.
The 38-minute film follows the personal journey of aspiring rodeo clown and barrelman Ronald Burton, a Mississippi native, as he seeks to reach “the major leagues of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) before he gets taken out by a bull.”
Higa, who has worked on Adam Sandler films “Click,” “Anger Management” and “The Longest Yard,” spent 2½ years following Burton’s career in arenas all over Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, producing hundreds of hours of film and 386 pages of transcribed interviews.
While the film focuses on the tight-knit rodeo community and small-town America, it tells a more universal story about following your dream, second chances and the sacrifices that can come from following your passion.
“Ronald was really open to the process of being filmed,” Higa said. “He gives people a glimpse into rodeo culture, which is fascinating and wildly entertaining. Everyone can relate to having a dream, and I think audiences will be pulling for him to get into the PRCA.”
“Man in the Can” will make its West Coast premiere June 2 at the Dances With Films festival at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. Burton, PRCA announcer T.C. Long and PRCA Director of Rodeo Administration and Chief Operating Officer Aaron Enget, who also appear in the film, will be attending the 2:45 p.m. screening.
“We can all be proud of this film, and I hope everyone in the rodeo community has a chance to see it,” Enget said. “We’re pleased to have another vehicle to share our great sport with a mainstream audience and I know Ms. Higa’s film has already created new fans for ProRodeo.”
For more information about the film, visit www.maninthecanmovie.com.
Courtesy of PRCA