Interview with Brian Skiba on Guns of Redemption -

Jeff: What inspired you to tell this story, and what themes do you explore in Guns of Redemption?

Brian: I mean, I think the biggest inspiration was the story of a penitent Confederate soldier realizing that the things he did during the war were wrong—that he was on the wrong side. And then, him having to once again face the Union Army, but this time, the Union Army are the bad guys.

I think that’s a really strong thematic element. It challenges the traditional protagonist-antagonist roles, which makes it interesting. War is ugly, it’s mean, it’s gross, and it doesn’t matter what side you’re on—everyone is wrong in some way. So the themes here are definitely about repentance, redemption, and a man just trying to find direction in his life.

Jeff: Casper Van Dien plays a gunslinger haunted by his past. What made him the perfect choice for this role?

Brian: Casper and I had worked together before on a film called The Second, where he actually played a bad guy. But we’ve been friends for a long time—probably twelve or thirteen years. Casper is truly one of the most heartfelt, kindest people I know. He’s just a great person in real life.

To take a character who visually represents the “wrong side”—a Confederate soldier—and have an audience sympathize with him, you need the right actor. Casper really brings that emotional depth. He plays a broken man, someone searching for answers and forgiveness.

When we first talked about the film, it was clear he was the right pick. He was going to bring his A-game and give 110%, and that’s exactly what he did.

Jeff: Jeff Fahey and Sean Astin bring strong supporting performances. How do their characters shape Luke’s journey?

Brian: Jeff Fahey plays the antagonist. He’s a phenomenal actor and a fantastic bad guy. He really embodies the past that Luke is trying to repent for—he’s like a living reminder of Luke’s darker days.

Then you have Sean Astin, who plays the pastor. He’s on the opposite end of the spectrum. Early on in the film, Sean’s character has a line that really defines his role: “It doesn’t matter where you came from or what you did. As long as you leave it in the past, you’re welcome in my church.” That’s a very Christian mantra, but it’s also a universal one.

No matter your background—whether you’re Christian, Muslim, whatever—the idea is that everyone makes mistakes. If you truly seek redemption and change, you can find peace.

So Jeff and Sean’s characters serve as these two opposing forces in Luke’s life, and by the end of the movie, it becomes clear which path Luke chooses.

Jeff: Westerns thrive on atmosphere. How did shooting in Cave City, Kentucky help create the right setting for the movie?

Brian: Shooting in Cave City was amazing because it’s surrounded by actual Civil War battlefields. There were four or five major campaigns that ran through that area—Confederate armies would invade from Tennessee, push up into Kentucky, then retreat back down. So the history is literally all around you.

Cave City is next to Horse Cave, which is next to Munfordville. Munfordville was a key train depot, and there’s this massive bridge crossing a river that was a major supply line for the Union Army. The Confederates kept trying to blow it up because it was one of the only Union supply lines for their campaigns into Tennessee and Georgia.

We were actually allowed to film on one of these preserved battlefields, which made the film historically accurate in terms of locations. So when you see those landscapes in the movie, that’s exactly what it would have looked like back then.

Jeff: Your film touches on revenge and redemption—classic Western themes. What makes Guns of Redemption stand out in today’s landscape?

Brian: I think what makes it stand out is the way we tell the story and how it concludes. It’s not your typical Western where everything builds up to a high-noon gunfight. The ending is different, and in my opinion, much better.

A lot of modern filmmakers feel like they have to flip the genre on its head—throw in aliens, monsters, supernatural elements. I even did that myself with Dead Man’s Hand, where I added supernatural twists. But what I kept hearing from Western purists was: “You don’t need to change anything. Just give us a classic Western!”

There’s a massive audience for traditional Westerns—just look at Yellowstone and 1923. That fan base wants to relive John Wayne and Clint Eastwood-style storytelling. They don’t need gimmicks. They just want strong characters, classic themes, and an authentic Western experience.

That’s what I tried to deliver with Guns of Redemption—a film that pays homage to classic spaghetti Westerns while still feeling fresh and engaging.

Jeff: What are your all-time favorite Westerns, and did any influence your approach to this movie?

Brian: Oh, definitely. Pale Rider, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and Unforgiven.

If I had to pick a favorite, it’d be Unforgiven. That film really influenced this one. I love how it flips the traditional Western narrative—lawmen turn out to be the bad guys, and the supposed “villain” becomes the hero. That’s a theme I used in Guns of Redemption as well.

Jeff: What do you think are the key ingredients to making a great Western?

Brian: It’s all about sticking to the classic themes.

Most great Westerns focus on antiheroes—outlaws like Billy the Kid, or gunfighters who are technically “bad guys” but have good intentions. Meanwhile, the supposed lawmen often turn out to be corrupt. Look at Tombstone, for example.

Then you’ve got those classic Western underdog stories—two gunfighters against impossible odds, fighting 100 guys and somehow pulling it off. That’s the kind of storytelling Western fans love.

The key is not trying to reinvent the wheel. Western fans want Westerns—not Cowboys vs. Aliens. It’s a huge but very loyal audience, and they know what they like. If you give them a solid, classic Western, they’ll embrace it.

Jeff: Kevin Costner has been a major force in revitalizing the Western. What are your thoughts on Horizon: An American Saga so far?

Brian: I think Costner and Taylor Sheridan together revitalized the Western. Yellowstone was a huge part of that resurgence.

Costner has been in some amazing Westerns, and his love for the genre really shows. But I think the miscalculation with Horizon was treating it as a theatrical blockbuster. Westerns aren’t Marvel movies. The audience for them leans more toward home entertainment—streaming and on-demand.

If you focus your marketing and distribution strategy around that, you’ll do well. I think Costner went too big on the theatrical side, expecting it to be a massive hit in theaters, and unfortunately, that didn’t pan out.

Jeff: Would you ever consider directing a large-scale Western like that?

Brian: Absolutely! I’d love to take on something big—something with 50 or 60 shooting days, a huge production, and an epic scale. If you’ve got a great script and enough time, you can make an incredible Western.

Jeff: If you had unlimited resources, what kind of Western would you love to make?

Brian: I’d love to tell some of the lesser-known true stories from the Old West. Everyone knows Billy the Kid, but there were so many other fascinating figures—Quanah Parker, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett.

My kids don’t even know who Davy Crockett is! I’d love to make a film that brings those real-life legends back into the spotlight. There are so many great untold stories out there, and I think Western fans would love to see them on screen.

Jeff: That sounds incredible. Brian, thanks so much for your time!

Brian: Thanks, Jeff! Appreciate it.