We were lucky to catch up with Leo Shelley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Leo, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Creating the feature film Cowboy & Indian is perhaps the most significant project I’ve undertaken in recent years.

Stories on screen shape our perceptions—some more profoundly than others. While not every narrative may seem impactful, each has the potential to affect us. I believe there is a notable shortage of meaningful films, particularly those that strive to unite people and encourage tolerance through ideological differences.

I chose filmmaking to present realistic stories inspired by real people and events. Cowboy & Indian is my second feature film and the project that truly defines my career as a filmmaker. My first film, Persona, is set to be released worldwide soon and has been instrumental in my development as a filmmaker.

Cowboy & Indian tells the story of four people from vastly different backgrounds: an American truck driver who supports former President Donald Trump, a well-read immigrant from India, a resilient woman of African descent from Brazil, and a confident American woman entrepreneur. They meet by chance but choose to stay together despite their ideological clashes. Even though they have the choice to part ways, they opt to remain united and continue supporting one another through their challenges.

The film emphasizes that the true reward of tolerance and patience is invaluable. Without resorting to judgment, teaching, or preaching, it gently inspires viewers to treat each other with greater kindness and respect than is often practiced toda

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My first attempt to be useful as a human was to become a doctor after a few years in medicine I transitioned to the field of pharmaceuticals. Produced generic medicines in India and imported them to Easter Europe for the people who could not afford costly analogues. After a decade of service in medical field I transitioned to Computer Sciences focusing on Data, its Analytical part and AI.

Since 2019 I started writing a story to present it as a film to American people, by 2022 I started full time film-making, co-produced a thriller feature film and now I am directing my dream project Cowboy & Indian.

I was born in India, I lived in Russia and its neighboring nations for over 25 years. I have travelled many countries in 4 continents, I speak and think in 3 languages and I am able to understand many more.

Having spent over 25 years studying across five countries and four continents, I’ve cultivated a lifelong passion for learning. Now, at 50, I’m directing my varied experiences into filmmaking, ready to share my perspectives and stories with the world.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to create films that offer emotional relief, address our anxieties, and appeal to our inherent kindness. I strive to craft art that inspires without judgment, uplifts without belittling, and avoids portraying human villains. In my stories, the real antagonists are our fears, misunderstandings, and inflexibility.

My mission is to steer clear of demonizing any group and instead, inspire everyone to strive for personal growth and compassion every day.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I was born and raised in India and moved to Russia for my studies at 19. The transition was significant, especially in the early 90s when Russia presented numerous challenges. For foreign students like me, adapting to the harsh winters with temperatures averaging -20°C and learning Russian required both mental and physical resilience. This period marked my first major test of endurance, and overcoming it strengthened my ability to face future obstacles.

A profound test of resilience came at 40 when I was running a pharmaceutical business in Ukraine. In 2014, I witnessed the start of the revolution from my office window at Maidan in Kyiv. Within weeks, my office was looted and burned, leading to a series of tragic events.

In 2015, I had to rebuild my life from scratch. I moved to the US, returned to school, pursued a new field of study, and started over.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cowboy-indian.com
• Twitter: @shelleyPra62725
• Other: IMDB:
  https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm13192142/?rf=cons_nm_more_allow_mypg&ref_=cons_nm_more_allow_mypg

Image Credits

Persona LLC, feature film Persona.