Monday, May 27, 2002

Quote of the Day "I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth, even if it costs them their jobs." --Sam Goldwyn Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 15:55:55 -0400 (EDT) From: IndigenousNews@webtv.net Subject: Windtalkers Movie boosts modern Indians Launch of 'Windtalkers' boosts modern Indians by: Jim Adams / Indian Country Today An action scene from "Windtalkers, the MGM/UA release directed by John Woo, based on the role of the Navajo Code talkers in World War II. The studio is investing a big budget in promoting the movie in the midst of a crowded summer block-buster field. SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Studio publicists are promoting the World War II action movie "Windtalkers" with a rare sense of mission. As all Indian country will soon know, the film centers on the much-honored Navajo code talkers at a moment of extreme danger in the Battle of Saipan. But the publicists are learning they have much more than a battlefield summer block-buster on their hands. They see the movie as a breakthrough in portraying the American Indian in the modern world, unfiltered by the stereotypes of Hollywood, or the mainstream society. "I think it is very important," said Jamie Geller, senior vice president of MGM Worldwide Publicity. She told Indian Country Today she took a personal interest in the movie's break with traditional stereotyping because of her own Jewish background. Scenes in the movie portraying the prejudice of the time resonated with her, she said, "when you see the same thing psychologically that they went through." Jackie Bissley, a contract publicist for the movie (and contributor on movies to ICT), said "Looking at 'Windtalker,' you see a milestone being created by the impact of the film both inside and outside the community." Inside the Indian world, she said, "it has broken a lot of stereotypes by the way the characters are developed by Adam and Roger." (Adam Beach, Ojibwe, star of "Smoke Signals", and Roger Willie, Navajo, an acting newcomer, portray the main code talkers.) The impact in the outside world, she said, is coming from a promotional campaign that is just getting into stride. Originally hired as liaison to the native press, Bissley said her role had rapidly expanded as interest from the mainstream media came to focus on the Indian actors and the Navajo background. "Eighty to 90 percent of the press requests are for Roger Willie, Adam Beach and the code talkers," she said. The executives at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists have responded, said Bissley, with an unprecedented outreach to Indian country in the promotional campaign. Native journalists will be included in the traditional press junket to Hollywood, and two of the movie's five premieres are scheduled for the Four Corners heart of Navajo Country. The showings in Kayenta, Ariz., on June 12 and Gallup, N.M. on June 13 will honor the families of all the code talkers, both the handful of survivors and those who have passed on. The premieres begin June 4 in Washington, D.C., June 6 with an industry screening in New York City and the formal opening in Los Angeles on June 11. Geller declined to reveal the promotional budget or the total cost of the film but said "It's a definite major movie." It will open on more than 2000 screens, her staff later informed ICT, a launch leagues ahead of the art-house release of "Smoke Signals" and the non-release, say, of "Doe Boy." Planning for the ad campaign is so extensive that it was largely responsible for the decision last fall to postpone release of the movie in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Although the delay aroused some criticism among Indian movie buffs, Geller explained it as a product of the uncertainty in making a major buy of television air time. "We had to commit $8 million of advertising," she said. But so much television air time had been pre-empted by the national emergency, the studio didn't know if it would be able to air its commercials for the planned release on Veteran's Day, Nov. 9. The formal opening on June 14, Flag Day, raises its own anxieties, since it falls in the middle of the crowded summer blockbuster season. The competition so far includes "Spiderman," the new Star Wars episode and "Men in Black 2." On June 14, "Windtalkers" will open against "The Bourne Identity," "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys," and "Scooby-Doo." The movie can count on the drawing power of its non-Indian stars Nicholas Cage and Christian Slater and director John Woo, who has successfully imported the artistic violence of Hong Kong movies to his previous Hollywood projects. But for the promotional staff, the relation with Indian country has given the project a special spirit. Bissley praises the teamwork among the 15 or more promotional staff. "It's a rarity," said Bissley. "There just haven't been any egos." "We are very proud of this movie," said Geller. "We are very proud to have been able to work with the people whom it depicts." This article can be found at http://IndianCountry.com/?1021861994 Reprinted under the Fair Use Law: Doctrine of international copyright law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html 7:50:30 PM    comment

THIS WEEK (5/16) ON FIRST PEOPLES TV "Soop on Wheels" Everett Soop is a Blackfoot political cartoonist and humorist who lives on the Blood Indian Reserve in southern Alberta. Soop's survival tools include an outrageous sense of humor, artistic gifts and the spiritual values taught to him by his grandparents. Afflicted by muscular dystrophy, he has nevertheless produced a remarkable body of published work, and is the only Aboriginal artist represented in the permanent collection of the National Archives of Canada's Museum of Caricatures. Despite these achievements, Soop remains ostracized in his community, partly because of his outspokenness. His story communicates a universal message in raising questions about how any human community treats individuals with disabilities and also about our tendency to marginalize the truth-tellers. For more information about Everett Soop, click here. "Soop on Wheels" is part of the "First Peoples' TV" series made possible by DreamCatchers, a non-profit organization working to bring Native films to a wider audience. Thu, May 16, 10:00 PM ET (Thu, May 16, 7:00 PM PT) Fri, May 17, 4:00 AM ET (Fri, May 17, 1:00 AM PT) Fri, May 17, 10:00 AM ET (Fri, May 17, 7:00 AM PT) Fri, May 17, 4:00 PM ET (Fri, May 17, 1:00 PM PT) Tapes Available from: Available from The National Film Board Of Canada 800 267 7710 (Canada) 800 542 2164 (USA) http://www.nfb.ca FOR MORE INFORMATION: For program descriptions visit http://www.dreamcatchers.org/fptv or for program schedules visit http://www.worldlinktv.org FIRST PEOPLES TV WorldLink TV (www.worldlinktv.org), the first nationwide television network providing Americans with global perspectives on news, events and culture, is broadcasting a new weekly series by and about the tribal peoples of the world. "First Peoples TV" features 26 award-winning documentaries and dramas focusing on the lives of contemporary Native and Aboriginal people and the issues they face. WorldLink's programming consists of first run documentaries, foreign feature films, global news reports and eight hours of world music each day. Launched in December 1999, the channel is available in over 17 million U.S. homes via basic service on the direct-to-home satellite services DIRECTV® (Channel 375) and EchoStar's DISH Network® (Channel 9410). "First Peoples TV" is the first time a regularly scheduled TV series concerning tribal peoples will be accessible to all urban areas, including the territories of every Indigenous nation in the United States. Curated by DreamCatchers (www.dreamcatchers.org), a non-profit organization working to bring Native films to a wider audience, and airing each Thursday Night, First Peoples TV includes documentaries confronting fishing rights; Lighting The Seventh Fire by Sandra Sunrising Osawa, sacred sites; Backbone Of The World by George Burdeau, and religious freedom; The Peyote Road by Fidel Moreno. The series features dramatic films dealing with government attempts to destroy tribal cultures; Where The Spirit Lives by Bruce Pittman and Indigenous political activism; Tushka by Ian Skorodin. Native actors, comedians and educators introduce each episode. Hosts include Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order, Blood In-Blood Out, Pinero), Tantoo Cardinal (Legends Of The Fall, Black Robe, Dances With Wolves), Steve Reevis (Geronimo, Last Of The Dogmen, Fargo), Elaine Miles (Northern Exposure, Smoke Signals, RezRobics) and up and coming Apache funny man, Drew Lacapa. The one non-Native host will be legendary historian of world religions, Huston Smith. DreamCatchers has previously produced health and fitness videos for American Indian communities including, The Red Road To Sobriety, documenting the contemporary Native American sobriety movement, and Rez Robics, a pow-wow dancing and martial arts inspired aerobics video designed to combat diabetes. Series curator Gary Rhine has previously produced award-winning documentaries including Wiping The Tears Of Seven Generations and Your Humble Serpent; The Wisdom Of Reuben Snake. 5:49:51 PM    comment

"Healing the Hurts" WORLDLINK PREMIERE An intimate look at the painful but rewarding healing process of a group of adult survivors of various Native American boarding schools in the United States and Canada. The group experienced an intense four-day workshop on healing the hurt and shame of the boarding school experience, which was designed to forcibly assimilate Native peoples into mainstream society by breaking ties to their cultures and traditions. This film is part of the "First People's TV" series made possible by DreamCatchers, a non-profit organization working to bring Native films to a wider audience. Thu, Mar 07, 10:00 PM ET (Thu, Mar 07, 7:00 PM PT) Fri, Mar 08, 4:00 AM ET (Fri, Mar 08, 1:00 AM PT) Fri, Mar 08, 10:00 AM ET (Fri, Mar 08, 7:00 AM PT) Fri, Mar 08, 4:00 PM ET (Fri, Mar 08, 1:00 PM PT) http://www.worldlinktv.com "DTV" Channel 375 Echostar Communications Corporation's "DISH®Network" Channel 9410 For more information: Gary Rhine - email rhino@kifaru.com 5:48:51 PM    comment

"Wiping the Tears of Seven Generations" the multi award winning documentary will air this Thursday night on WorldlinkTV Produced by Gary Rhine, Directed by Fidel Moreno & Gary Rhine In December of 1990, 300 Lakota Sioux rode 250 miles, in two weeks, through bitter sub-zero winter weather, to bring their people out of 100 years of mourning for the loss of loved ones at the Wounded Knee massacre of 1890. This film is part of the [base "]First People[base ']s TV[per thou] series made possible by DreamCatchers, a non-profit organization working to bring Native films to a wider audience. AVAILABLE ON: "DTV" Channel 375 "DISH®Network" Channel 9410 FOR MORE INFO: http://www.worldlinktv.com OR http://www.dreamcatchers.org 5:48:10 PM    comment

REZ ROBICS DreamCatchers has joined forces with The Northern Navajo Medical Center Health Promotions Program of Shiprock, New Mexico to produce a health and fitness 2 video set entitled REZ ROBICS and REZ ROBICS FOR COUCH POTATO SKINS. The project was inspired by the fact that Diabetes has become one of the most serious threats to the health of Indian people both on the reservations and in urban settings. The videos are currently in post production with expected completion in early Spring 2002. REZ ROBICS will be a full fledged aerobics video mixing pow wow dancing and martial arts with normal aerobics movements. REZ ROBICS FOR COUCH POTATO SKINS, which November of 2001 won "Best Public Service Announcement Award" at The American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, will be a half hour comedy featuring two prominent Native actor / comedians; Elaine Miles (Northern Exposure, Smoke Signals) and Drew LaCapa, the up and coming comedian who calls himself "300 pounds of love". For more information about REZ ROBICS and information on how to receive the 2 video set free of charge, visit the REZ ROBICS section of the DreamCatchers site, or go directly to the order information page to learn how TO GET A SET OF REZ ROBICS VIDEOS. 5:46:15 PM    comment

SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDED TO ASPIRING NATIVE AMERICAN SCREENWRITERS Since 1998, DreamCatchers, in association with WRITER'S BOOT CAMP, has been providing scholarships to aspiring Native American dramatic screenwriters to attend courses designed to bring their movie and television ideas from concept to finished first draft. Classes are one night a week for six weeks and are held in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Indian writers committed to bringing their stories to the screen may contact Gary Rhine, daytimes, at (310) 457-1617. 5:45:51 PM    comment

SEEKING BUSINESS MINDED NATIVE AMERICANS FOR ONE YEAR ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS PROGRAM In its' continuing effort to encourage more creative and successful moviemaking by American Indian filmmakers, DreamCatchers offers a scholarship to qualifying business minded Indian people to attend the Entertainment Industry Business Program taught by The Academy of Entertainment & Technology of Monica College. The program trains students in current industry practices in production, entertainment law, entertainment accounting, human resources, media marketing and communications, and ethics in the entertainment industry. The objective of the program is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the business side of the entertainment industry. View the curriculum. Serious minded would-be movie producers contact Gary Rhine , daytimes, at (310) 457-1617. 5:45:18 PM    comment

DREAMCATCHERS ACTS AS FISCAL SPONSOR TO NATIVE AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS While we are not able to offer funding, DreamCatchers can offer technical advice to Indian documentary producers as well as act as fiscal sponsor for Native contemporary issue media projects. For more information contact Gary Rhine, daytimes, at (310) 457-1617. 5:44:48 PM    comment

AMERICA'S SHADOW STRUGGLE; INDIAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM In December of 1999 DreamCatchers facilitated a group of eight Native American leaders to travel to Capetown, South Africa to participate in the Parliament of the World's Religions. A ten hour special symposium was held within the Parliament entitled, AMERICA[macron]S SHADOW STRUGGLE, that addressed issues of Native religious freedom such as sacred sites protection, effects of the destruction of Native languages, the rights of Native prisoners and more. Speakers included Walter Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) of the Native American Rights Fund, Boulder, CO, and Winona LaDuke (Anishinaabe) of Honor The Earth of Minnesota. These eloquent speakers participated in dialogs with Huston Smith, the renowned professor of religious studies and subject of a recent PBS/Bill Moyers TV series entitled The Wisdom of Faith. Our intention was to bring the issues of religious freedom for American Indian people to the forefront of this worldwide gathering of religious leaders and scholars and offer Parliament participants an opportunity to engage and assist in efforts to correct the injustices. While in Capetown, the Indian delegation met formally with South African tribal leaders and with government officials working in behalf of the tribes to reclaim land taken during the Apartide regime. A video production crew from Kifaru Productions documented the symposium and associated meetings and a feature length video documentary is now being produced outlining the state of religious freedom for Indian people as we enter the new millennium. A radio program and a book are also being created from the sessions. Foe more information, check back in again at either of the following web sites: 5:43:21 PM    comment

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