When rodeo legend Ivan Daines tuned into the Academy Awards last month, it was time to pick up his guitar and sing a special cowboy tune.
But it was no ordinary song by the famed cowboy. This one was dedicated to his vivid memories as a special skills extra during the Canadian Rockies filming of The Revenant, the blockbuster Hollywood flick that won best actor and director Oscars on Feb. 28. Daines, an accomplished country recording artist, brings it all back to life in a song called Ivan Daines -- Movie Song Track 2015.
“It's a long hard shout to bring to life to the folks who knew Leonardo, John, Alejandro, a thousand plus Argentines too,
The Revenant climbs out from and revenge is all he sees
With life and loss of these times finally brings him to his knees.”
“The Revenant is such a great movie. I was very proud when Leonardo (DiCaprio) won, and proud Alejandro (González I-árritu) won,” said Daines the day after Oscar night. “It's almost a western movie and I enjoy that kind of stuff, the action and drama of the outdoor Wild West movies, you know. There is not a lot of great westerns around.”
Daines' time on the Rocky Mountain set was shared with 40 other Canadian cowboys, who were all hand picked by famed Longview, Alta. wrangler specialist John Scott.
Along with Daines, Scott's selection of cowboys included two-time world saddle bronc titlist Mel Hyland of High Prairie, former Canadian calf rope champion Mark Nugent of Water Valley, and renowned Innisfail-area horse trainer Bob Leggette, whose special skilled extra role in the film was that of a trapper.
The cowboys faced long, arduous days of filming but it did not matter. They had a job to do. But when evenings came, Daines found the time to kick back and find his special inspiration.
“There's nothing like the breath you breathe and the lessons you have within,” sings Daines, whose tune – now uploaded onto YouTube -- includes a tribute to cast and crew in the chorus.
“In the Rockies of Alberta The Revenant is coming to a close
Great First Nations, fur traders, mountain men change in regular clothes
The work begins at tearing down and focus on the next site.
The folks who work in the movies make sure everything is right.”
And when all was said and done on set, Daines was saluted with praise, not unlike he earned countless times during his rodeo days.
“They said, ‘Ivan, that chorus will live forever in movies,'” he said with a wink.
Ivan Daines
"The Revenant is such a great movie. It's almost a western movie and I enjoy that kind of stuff, the action and drama of the outdoor Wild West movies, you know. There is not a lot of great westerns around."
