Clare McKay of Juntura will be premiering her feature film, Living an American Dream, at the Rex Theater in Vale Sunday, March 5, at 7 p.m.

Theater owner Mike Mclaughlin noted that Clare frequented the Rex with her family when she was young.

He added, “We are honored to premiere [the film] at our Historic Rex Theater, which was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.”

The film is a documentary about Clare’s family, ranch-life, and community. It also depicts the rodeo experiences of her brothers, Luke and Gabe.

Clare and her five siblings were adopted from Haiti as infants and raised on the McKay ranch in the small town of Juntura.

Clare’s documentary film includes a cast of local cowboys, cowgirls, ranchers, and family members relating the beauty of ranch life, love of God, and the important role cattlemen and women play as stewards of the land in Eastern Oregon.

The core of the film began as a documentary about Luke and Gabe’s involvement in rodeo, but expanded to share the joy and community welcome that the McKay children received.

“Yes, we are Black, but that’s not who we are. That’s our skin color. We are trying to get people to get over that. We just want to be cowboys, cowgirls, ranchers, filmmakers, psychologists, welders…whatever it is that we are. That’s it. It doesn’t matter your skin color; it doesn’t matter your sex — just as long as you’re a good person, you want it bad enough, and are willing to go out and get it. That’s the American dream. That’s what the documentary is about. That’s what life is about,” Clare explained.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in communications media, Clare came back to Juntura to pursue her dreams as a filmmaker. She said anything is possible, anywhere, if you put in the hard work and strive to accomplish your goals. She added that her community never made a big deal about her and her siblings being black with white parents.

“You only see color if you’re looking for it, and no one’s ever really looking for it out where we live,” she said. “It’s not about that for any of us. It doesn’t matter if you’re a woman. It doesn’t matter if you’re Black,” Clare said.

She emphasized that being a good, honest human is all that truly matters.

The Rex Theater and Drexel H Foundation are proud to partner in presenting this premiere. The Rex will be the first venue to show this film and support Clare.

Tickets are available at the door and on Eventbrite. Admission is $15. Children ages 12 and younger can watch the film for $5, and admission is free for children ages 5 and younger.

Sandijean Fuson, president of the Drexel Foundation, noted that all proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to Clare, so she can enter her work into 2023 film festivals.

Clare was involved in Drexel Foundation’s Engaging Young Voices in Shaping our Community project in 2019.

“She has certainly used her voice,” Fuson said. “She has been an important role model for other artists, cowboy poets, and young women in Malheur County.”

Clare will kick off the premiere event on March 5 with a quick introduction and thank you to key contributors. Living an American Dream will be shown directly afterward.

Following the screening, guests will have the opportunity to meet the director, cast, and crew members of this spectacular film and be dazzled by a special one-night-only performance of the original song, Juntura, written and composed by local Anna Pozzi. A question and answer session will follow the performance. During this time, guests can ask Clare about the film and her journey to get it on the big screen. Attendees will then be encouraged to mingle until the event comes to a close.

Come share this once-in-a-lifetime moment as Clare premieres her first feature film, Living an American Dream.

If you can’t make it the the premiere, The Rex Theater will show the movie again on Saturday, March 11 at 7 p.m.

Fuson said, “I really hope people turn out for these two events, as [Clare] shares her appreciation for family and the beauty in the ranching way of life in this film. Come support Clare, not only as a local filmmaker, but as a woman and one of our own cowgirls. She has an important message for all people to chase their dreams.”

Everyone is invited to dress up for this premiere and walk the red carpet at the Rex Theater for this joyous event on March 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door. They are also available on Eventbright.

Reserve your ticket now. Space is limited for the premiere event! For more information, or to see the film trailer, visit “Living An American Dream” on Facebook.