Love Letter to Texas

A short film by Jeff Nichols celebrating the iconic films and filmmakers of Texas. Take a look behind the scenes with commentary from Jeff and executive producer Scott Ballew.

From Writer & Director

Jeff Nichols

“The intention behind this from the beginning was to pay tribute to Texas films and filmmakers. However, regardless of the association with Texas, these films like Tender Mercies— Paris, Texas — HUD —Badlands. These are films that shaped me as a filmmaker, as a storyteller. And it means an incredible amount to me to be able to pay tribute to those films and filmmakers. This truly is my love letter to cinema. And it is a love letter to Texas. I hope you enjoy it.”

A man in a suit stands outdoors in a barren landscape, flipping a coin with one hand while the other hand is in his pocket. The image is in black and white.

A boy in a white T-shirt and jeans sits on a wooden fence outdoors under a clear blue sky.

A woman with long hair stands outdoors at sunset, looking into the distance. She is wearing a brown jacket over a white top. Dry grass and open land are visible in the background.

A man and a woman stand together on a dirt road beside an open car door in a rural landscape, with power lines and open fields in the background.

A car drives on a dirt road beneath tall power lines, raising a trail of dust across a flat, grassy landscape under a cloudy sky.

Tecovas VP of Creative

Scott Ballew

“This idea started when we found ourselves in Marathon, TX in room #3 of the Marathon Motel. The old carpets and wood paneling walls and neon sign became eerily familiar upon entry, and it soon dawned on us that we were standing in the exact same spot where Wim Wenders and Harry Dean Stanton had stood 40 years ago while filming the cult classic (and personal favorite) Paris, Texas.

The overwhelming feeling from filming on hallowed ground was inspiration to go further, and dive deeper into our favorite locations and characters. The result was Love Letter to Texas — a short film born out of pure homage, but that took on a life of its own. Like good art or good folk music, it's hard to push the boundaries of the future without studying the beauty of the past.”

A man in a white robe and black boots walks along the side of a highway at dusk, with blurred car headlights in the background.

A film clapperboard labeled "Love Letter to Texas" rests on a bag, showing scene 05, take 3, dated 02/16/25, with dry ground visible in the background.

Two people, one adult and one child, walk through a dry, grassy field at dusk. The adult carries a stick over their shoulders, and both wear denim jackets and jeans.

A person in a coat and hat stands in an open field while another person adjusts a large spotlight nearby. The scene appears to be part of a film or photo shoot.

Written and Directed by JEFF NICHOLS
Executive Producer SCOTT BALLEW

CAST
Sam RYAN BINGHAM

Tess HASSIE HARRISON

Gus MICHAEL SHANNON

Narrator SISSY SPACEK

Charlie COOPER MALLOY

Salesman JACK SANDERS

Date CALLETANA VARGAS

Poker Player 1 STEVEN ANDREWS

Poker Player 2 NICOLÁS BUSTILLOS

Precision Driver JEFF MILBURN

Original Score ROB BARBATO 

Edited by BENSON ELLIS 

Costumes Designed by LARISSA JAKS 

Production Designer ASHLIE ADAMS 

Director of Photography ADAM STONE 

Produced by SARAH GREEN 

Line Producer JOHN GILLILAND 

Senior Creative Producer EMILY VINSON 

Presented by TECOVAS

“BLUE SKIES” 

Written by Ryan Bingham 

Courtesy of The Bingham Recording Co. 

Off the album “They Call Us The Lucky Ones”

“LOVE LETTER THEME SONG” 

Written by ROB BARBATO and SCOTT BALLEW 

Performed by ROB BARBATO 

Courtesy of SQUEAK E. CLEAN MUSIC

A person stands outdoors in a field, silhouetted against the sky, holding a camera with a large telephoto lens and looking through the viewfinder.

Love Letter to Texas

Now Streaming on Youtube.

Watch the Short Film