The drama of Ransom Canyon might simmer on screen, but off camera the vibe was all camaraderie, laughter, and long days that felt like a dream job. Jack Schumacher—who brings the conflicted newcomer Yancy Grey to life in Netflix’s sweeping Western—calls the experience “the most fun” he’s ever had on a production. Between marathon shoot days, impromptu photo sessions, and a cast that clicked instantly, the actor found a second home while filming in the Southwest.
Life Off Camera in a High-Stakes Western
Ransom Canyon blends rugged Texas landscapes with intimate character drama, and Schumacher’s Yancy Grey is right at the center of that tension. He’s a man trying to make amends and carve out a fresh start—an arc that demanded emotional honesty and a willingness to show vulnerability. For Schumacher, that challenge was a gift. He relished playing someone hungry for growth, even as Yancy’s past keeps intruding on his future.
While the series amplifies friction between characters, the real dynamic behind the scenes was surprisingly relaxed. Over nearly six months shooting in New Mexico, the cast forged tight bonds. They spent their downtime together, traded ideas on set, and leaned on one another during the most demanding scenes. That off-screen trust helped inform the on-screen chemistry—especially when friendships in real life contrasted with rivalries in the story.
Set Glam, Under-Eye Strips, and a Rodeo Queen Moment
One favorite snapshot captures Schumacher with Lizzy Greene, who plays Lauren. He jokes that he looks rough most mornings until the gold under-eye patches work their magic. On this particular day, Greene was in full glam—“queen of the rodeo” hair and all—for a sequence that demanded a big, high-drama look. The two loved the contrast and made sure to memorialize the moment before the next setup.
Pitched Ideas and Good-Natured Shootdowns
Creativity flowed freely on set, even when suggestions didn’t stick. Schumacher fondly recalls talking with writer Paul Haapaniemi during a rodeo shoot day—tossing out a couple of ideas that got vetoed with a smile. He laughs about his batting average: he’ll pitch, but three-quarters of the time, it’s a polite “not this one.” One memorable miss involved eating a sandwich mid-scene, which, as Haapaniemi pointed out, didn’t quite fit the moment. The back-and-forth kept the atmosphere light and collaborative.
Long Days, Beautiful Locations, and a Lot of Caffeine
Episode two brought the production to Los Poblanos, a stunning hotel and restaurant in Albuquerque with serene grounds and gorgeous interiors—an inspiring backdrop for the cast and crew. It was the kind of day that demands stamina. By Schumacher’s count, he, Garrett Wareing, Andrew Liner, and Marianly Tejada were deep into their energy drinks, trading cameras, and snapping artful photos whenever they had a beat between takes. The younger cast members, he notes, have serious photography chops; their images became a living time capsule of the shoot.
“Yancy Pants” and a Sweet Birthday Surprise
When Schumacher’s birthday rolled around on June 8, the team delivered a cake crowned with an affectionate cheer: “You can do this, Yancy Pants.” The nickname stuck, and so did the memory of that celebratory sugar rush. He tried to show restraint—once he starts on sweets, there’s no going back—but the gesture captured the cast’s spirit. It wasn’t just a crew; it felt like a family determined to lift each other up through a grueling schedule.
Carbs, Craft Services, and an Intense Scene
Some days demand a different kind of fuel. After a week of cutting and prepping for an intimate scene, Schumacher found himself famished and thinking in macros. He requested simple carbs for quick energy, and once the “cut” finally sounded, he staged a friendly raid on craft services. It was part reward, part recovery—proof that even small indulgences can mark a milestone on a long shooting day.
Showing Up for the Final Days
When Garrett Wareing and Lizzy Greene hit their final (or next-to-last) day on the schedule, Schumacher stopped by just to watch, support, and hang between setups. It’s one of his favorite ways to spend time on a production—witnessing co-stars work, appreciating their choices, and celebrating what everyone brings to the world of Ransom Canyon. Those moments of quiet encouragement help cement the ensemble’s natural rhythm.
Staying Ready Between Takes
Long hours—sometimes up to 18 in a day—are a fact of life on a series of this scale. Schumacher kept dumbbells in his trailer to stay energized and combat the downtime lull. If he wasn’t needed on set, he was lifting, stretching, or otherwise getting his blood moving. And when a photo shoot popped up after wrap, he’d grab a few quick sets to look and feel his best. That mix of discipline and spontaneity helped him preserve focus through an extended production block.
Yancy Grey’s Inner Battle—and Why It Resonates
Yancy Grey is the kind of character that sticks with you: layered, guarded, and determined to do better. Schumacher approaches him with empathy, highlighting the messy path of redemption without sanding down the rough edges. It’s a role that demands range—quiet uncertainty in one scene, raw urgency in the next—and the actor’s enthusiasm for that challenge is evident. The more he explored Yancy’s backstory, the more he found parallels with the show’s larger themes: second chances, small-town loyalties, and the collision of past and present in a place like Ransom Canyon.
That personal connection also fueled the on-set relationships. Even when characters clashed on screen, the cast’s off-screen trust made it safe to push harder in the moment. It’s a dynamic you can feel in the performances—there’s a tension that reads true because everyone involved did the work together.
A Visual Diary Worth Saving
Ask Schumacher what he treasures most from the shoot, and he’ll point you to the images. Between scenes at rodeo grounds and quiet interludes at Los Poblanos, the cast built a running gallery of candid shots that bottled the mood of the production: the grit of Western life, the elegance of the New Mexico setting, and the laughter that punctuated even the toughest days. Those photos aren’t just souvenirs; they’re a reminder of a team that showed up for one another and made something special in the process.
He’s quick to credit his co-stars for championing the visual storytelling beyond the script. With so many cameras floating around, the group captured angles of Ransom Canyon most viewers will never see—tiny rituals in the hair and makeup trailer, small victories after nailing a take, and the playful chaos of a cast that refuses to take itself too seriously.
Why This Matters
Behind-the-scenes stories like these reveal what makes Ransom Canyon more than a Western drama on Netflix. They show the craft, humor, and heart sustaining a production that spans months, miles, and countless setups. For fans, it’s an invitation to look closer: every tense stare-down, every tender apology, and every dust-soaked frame is anchored by a cast that trusts each other and a crew that cares about the details.
For Jack Schumacher, that alchemy transformed a demanding job into a formative experience. It’s there in the birthday cake frosting, in the under-eye patches, in the ninth energy drink of the day, and in the quiet reps with trailer dumbbells. Most of all, it’s there in the work—an earnest portrayal of Yancy Grey’s fight to be better, forged by friendships that make the story ring true. If this is the energy powering Ransom Canyon, the road ahead looks bright.