In 2013, Cross, along with producers James Deen and Charles Mead, mounted a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised nearly $115,000 to finance a short film called "Cowboys & Engines". Described as a "Steampunk Western," the short starred Malcolm McDowell, Walter Koenig and Richard Hatch. According to the film's website filming was completed in early June, 2013, and the film's trailer premiered at the 2013 Comic-Con. The film had its cast & crew premiere at the Landmark Theater on January 14, 2015. The official "Cowboys & Engines" trailer was released online in February 2015, and according to the film's blog, "Cowboys & Engines" had been accepted by several film festivals to be screened in 2015/2016.