Wheeler movie poster

When Lake Highlands High School graduate Ryan Ross graduated from the University of Texas in 2006, he told friends and family he planned to become a “film maker,” and they had every reason to believe him. While at UT, he had worked as an intern on the sets of Richard Linklater’s Oscar-winning Boyhood and his A Scanner Darkly, and he moved on to various other projects, always staying busy. This week, he makes his directorial debut with Wheeler, featuring Stephen Dorff and Kris Kristofferson.

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You can view the film’s trailer below and watch Dorff chat with the girls on CBS’ The Talk here.

Ross also co-wrote and co-produced the film, which is the tale of an aspiring musician from Kaufman, Texas who heads to Nashville to try his luck in the world of country music. Dorff wore prosthetic make up to shed his recognizable L.A. actor persona and “become” Wheeler, and he journeys with real people to real locations, performing live.

Wheeler opens in theaters and On Demand Friday, Feb. 3rd.

Ryan’s proud parents, Keith and Debi, still live in Lake Highlands.