Seminole resident R.J. Hendricks II has seen plenty of saloon shootouts, cattle drives and bank robberies play out on the big screen. His lifelong love of classic Westerns put him on a path to sharing his own stories as a writer and director.
“A Gunfighter’s Deal,” his most recent project, won several awards last month at the Wild Bunch Film Festival in Tucson, Arizona.
“A Gunfighter’s Deal,” filmed in Florida, was released on digital platforms and DVD on Tuesday. The cast of the feature film includes Jesse Kove, Kevin Sorbo, Martin Kove and Terry Kiser.
The movie had its world premiere at the Wild Bunch Film Festival. At the festival’s award show on Oct. 26, it picked up a total of eight awards. In addition to being recognized as Best Western Feature Film at the festival, Hendricks took home the award for Best Director. Jeremiah Baumbach picked up the award for Best Cinematography, Terry Kiser for Best Actor and Tommi Rose for Best Actress. The film also won awards for Best Ensemble Cast, Best Supporting Actor and Best Song.
The film’s success highlights Hendricks’ powerful direction, a talented cast and a creative team dedicated to honoring the tradition of the American West.
“The inspiration came from my love of classic Westerns and stories about redemption,” Hendricks told Beacon Media. “‘A Gunfighter’s Deal’ explores second chances, faith and the cost of doing what’s right — even when it’s hard.”
Set against the unforgiving landscape of the American West, the story follows Silas Johnson (Jesse Kove), a reluctant gunfighter whose life is forever changed by a mysterious stranger. Promised the title of the fastest gun alive, Silas quickly rises to infamy, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.
Many members of the film’s cast and crew are locals from Seminole and the Tampa Bay area, bringing hometown pride to the national stage.
“Tampa Bay is my hometown,” Hendricks said. “I grew up in Seminole and wanted to bring together talented people from the community, who love storytelling as much as I do. Tampa Bay has an incredible pool of artists and filmmakers, so it was important to showcase that local talent on a bigger stage.”
Hendricks, known for his work in the Western and action genres, attended Seminole High School. Other Seminole High alum who worked on this production include Eric Ondrey, Frankee Hendricks, Lesslee Hendricks, Shane Doyle, Kori Ralston, Kadi Tubbs and Kristi Bulluck. Freddee Hendricks, who also worked on the film, is a current student at Seminole High. Osceola High alum who worked on “A Gunfighter’s Deal” include Kenneth Winkle and Star Ralston.
Hendricks said his films emphasize strong character-driven storytelling, visual authenticity and a deep respect for classic western traditions. Prior to “A Gunfighter’s Deal,” he wrote and produced “The Hanging of William Cane,” a 30-minute Western that premiered at the Studio Movie Grill in Seminole in September 2022. He is also a bestselling author and has written a series of books about a 19th-century bounty hunter named Frank Vito.
Hendricks credits his father for supporting his desire to become an author and filmmaker.
“After years of talking about stories that I wanted to tell, he introduced me to a book editor, who encouraged me to write my first novel, ‘The Beale Treasure,’” he said. “It went on to become an Amazon No. 1 bestseller, and that experience opened the door to screenwriting and filmmaking.”
Hendricks’ father died shortly before filming began on “A Gunfighter’s Deal.”
“He was my hero and biggest supporter,” the director said. “It was incredibly tough to keep going, but I knew he’d want me to finish what I started. My faith in God and knowing that I’ll see my dad again carried me through every day on set.”
Asked what advice he would offer to anyone in high school or college considering a career in the film industry, Hendricks echoed his father’s motivational spirit.
“Start creating now — don’t wait for permission or the ‘perfect’ time. Write, film and learn from every project. Stay humble, work hard and surround yourself with people who believe in you. Most importantly, keep your faith in God and never give up when the road gets tough.”