Mikes Film Talk

Writer/Director David Kobzantsev presents the 2025 “Rom/Com) Gold Hearts of Hot Rod County. It’s about love. Kobzantsev, via his director’s statement reveals it is also about a lot more than that. At just under 20 minutes, the film will leave you with certain memories. Some good, some bad, but all about growing up and the emotions that go with all that.

Gold Hearts of Hot Rod County Story

Farmer’s daughter Callie lives on the spread with her dad. The two run the place and she is growing up fast. Enter Zack. He is that itch needing to be scratched. Callie may have something to prove here, to herself and her target.

The Cast

Shayla Stensby is Callie.

Noah Fearnley is Zack.

Travis Joe Dixon is “dad of Callie.”

Emma Nasfell is Zack’s Girl.

Let’s Talk

So Gold Hearts of Hot Rod County is about love and romance and all that entails. The battle for another’s heart along with the innate tackiness of the intended beau. From the outside looking in, we know that Zack is a snotty acting handsome man-boy.

Callie’s dad is right, this kid is never going to change. Callie, however? Callie is different and this film shows us, pretty neatly, how strong she really is. The film looks great. The actors all bounce off one another very well. Everyone brings their “A” game to the film and it helps.

One Not so Small Issue

Gold Hearts of Hot Rod County does so many things right. The car chase sequence is one done exceedingly well. However, that airborne tractor scene is a tad dubious. *This is all mentioned sort of “tongue in cheek” if you will. This bit is comic in its delivery but signifies so much more.”*

The recorded dialogue is sharp and easy to hear. Music does not drown out the verbal exchanges, a trait that Chris Nolan has which drives me to despair.

Regardless of the “issue” Cinematographers John Frost and Jeremy Osbern work brilliantly with the film’s Editor Zoé Kraft. Casting is all too important and kudos to Lisa Roth for a job well done.

Gold Hearts of Hot Rod County Verdict

This one gets an easy 4.95 stars out of 5. That bit with the tractor, despite how pleasing the entire sequence is, knocked off .05 of a star. This film is “hot off the press.” Kobzantsev tells us that it is headed to film festivals soon. We wish the film well, we liked his love letter to rebellious young love.