Bolio

A comedy about men, feelings, and other disasters.

Logline

Bolio is a heartfelt comedy about modern masculinity, loneliness, and the terrible advice men keep giving each other. It asks what being a man even means, then answers with humor, heart, and one very meaningful horse.

Bolio is a touching comedy centered on Dale Bolio (Eugene Cordero), a shop teacher struggling with depression, whose life takes an unexpected turn after meeting Chuck Swayze (Gabriel Hogan), a life coach facing his own personal hurdles. As Chuck supports Dale through a painful separation from his wife Gale (Tawny Newsome), their connection grows stronger, leading Dale to view Chuck as a genuine friend—until he uncovers surprising truths about Chuck.

When Dale hits rock bottom, he encounters Sondra and Tag (Brooke Adams and Tony Shalhoub), who help him rediscover his self-worth. With a horse named Chango by his side, Dale finds renewed confidence. The film thoughtfully addresses complex issues like depression, suicide, and abandonment with honesty, blending laugh out loud humor to keep viewers entertained and rooting for Dale, the unlikely hero.

CAST

Dale

Eugene Cordero

Chuck

Gabriel Hogan

Tag

Tony Shalhoub

Gale

Tawny Newsome

Sondra

Brooke Adams

Clara

Emily Tarver

Paula

Sarah Baker

Principal

Kevin Heffernan

Team

In association with Broken Lizard and House Of Water, Moody Independent, J. Todd Harris Inc, Jamieson Shea and Jim Issa have joined forces to develop and produce a modest budget film with humor, heart and  break-out commercial  potential.

Director Statement

BOLIO is a buddy comedy with actual feelings. Instead of macho posturing and cheap jokes, it follows two damaged men fumbling their way toward honesty, friendship, and the occasional spectacular bad decision. 

I have at times felt like Dale; the lonely and depressed shop teacher, and like Chuck; the gregarious life coach who feels like he can talk his way into happiness.

Bolio is warm, funny, and sneakily profound—a film about modern masculinity, male loneliness, and the terrible advice men keep giving each other. It asks what being a man even means, then answers with humor, heart, and one very meaningful horse.

 Thank you for the opportunity to share my film with you; I hope you laugh and take a breath to reflect on your personal journey of mental and emotional happiness.   - Jim