Native Film Talk

Let's run away together and live off the land...let's get some Sonics!

Episode 3 brought us talk about shapeshifters, bad medicine, Sonics, legendary knockout stories, and reconnecting with our kin.

Listen as I discuss the show's subtle humor it brings, so hard. Also how I'm worried this is going to be stolen by other people who see how much attention this show is getting. Last, hear me wrap up my thoughts about the show thus far.

I hope you all enjoy this awesome episode that brought us Gary Farmer as Uncle Brownie. Have a great one everybody!

Hi there everybody!

Episode 2 brings us to the IHS clinic, of all places. I discuss how this is something I didn't know I needed, real life interactions at the clinic. It's such a random place where you can meet elders, family members, and maybe find love.

Reservation Dogs continue to set the bar on Native representation in TV and the hits keep coming with each episode.

Let me know what you think and look out for episode 3 coming soon!

Aho Young Warrior!

I decided to do a mini season the show. The next eight episodes will be dedicated to the show. All other work feels like table scraps right now. I can't help but find myself only consuming this show and I want to talk about it.

I love this show, the representation is so authentic it should have it's own enrollment card. I can't believe this show exists, so I had to take the time to talk about the show and why it's so awesome.

Not a spoiler alert!

I give a quick reaction to the first two episodes of Reservation Dogs being dropped on Hulu! It was so good, I discuss how next level it is and why I'm so excited for the rest of the season to air! Can't wait.

I also bring up happenings with Spirit Rangers (Netflix), Dexter: New Blood, Rezball being produced by Lebron James, Avatar: The Last Airbender live action TV Show, Dark Winds TV Show, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Ice Road, Rutherford Falls Season 2, and Grey's Anatomy.

I had fun offloading these news bits and I look forward to doing this more in the future. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

I had a wonderful chat with Angelique Midthunder and Stacey Rice, both of whom work for Midthunder Casting. A casting agency that has a particular eye for Native talent. A primary focus of their work is casting Native actors so naturally we talk about how hard it is to find Native talent, is it hard to spot a Pretendian, what is the outlook like for Native film/TV?

Also we discuss Angelique's journey in the film industry and her experience in casting/consulting. AND we discuss the upcoming show Reservation Dogs, which comes out on August 9th, and Midthunder Casting worked with Director Sterlin Harjo to find Native talent for that show! I had a wonderful chat with Angelique and Stacey. Check it out!

We don't see enough of ourselves in sports film and television. So I talk Basketball or Nothing (2019), Edge of America, Chiefs (2002), Off The Rez (Shoni Schimmel), and Smoke Signals.

Also I discuss why sports are so important to us as Natives. In addition our history with sports and how it was introduced to use through boarding/residential schools. Playing sports was no doubt a way to survive in these schools and provides hope to our communities. Hope that we can be better each year and come out victorious. There is so much to tell regarding sports in our communities...so where are all the movies/TV!?

That's what I finish off discussing, why we don't see enough sports movies with Natives in it and/or about Native people. Sports are massive in our communities, with no preference to support either gender, just lovers of the talent that our community is putting out there. We've been in this "Us vs. Them" battle for so long, let's tell THAT story!

I had a great chat with Majerle Lister, host of Wósdéé podcast!

I am a fan of his podcast and we had been kicking the can down the road for too long. We just linked up and did an episode! I'm so happy he came on because he brought thought provoking conversation.

Accurate Native representation is important but why now? Why is it all seem to be happening now? Is this going to become another form of cultural appropriation/exploitation that indigenous people will need to battle? I think history tells us we need to prepare ourselves for that possibility. Majerle did a lot of research on the historical events that back up this theory about how we got here. Also and more important, where do we go from here?

Enjoy the conversation everyone, I had a wonderful chat with him and can't wait to bring him back on!

Allie is many things, an activist, actor, writer, founder, etc. She's a leader and most recently founded Protect the Sacred. An organization founded to combat COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation. With the many challenges that the Navajo Nation faced, we needed help and Allie saw a way to fill a void and just went for it. Time was not on our side with COVID-19 and the Navajo people so her quick action saved lives and made a lasting impact on the youth.

She was also in the film industry prior to her current role, running Protect the Sacred. We delve into her experiences as an Indigenous woman in the film industry but also how that informed her about where Hollywood is with Native representation.

Listen to this conversation and enjoy!

Mark is many things, he is an activist, educator, poet, and thought leader. He should also add badass to that list. Mark is an impressive individual who I look to for wisdom. While he is much younger than an elder, he brings the elder knowledge. I'm excited to bring you all this chat I had with him because I have been looking forward to having this chat.

I would consider us friends, but if Mark asked me what I think of him, I'd tell him I needed a Lakota friend to fill my quota.

This dude is a smart AF and wise beyond his years. I'm excited to see what this guy does with his life and the impact he leaves everywhere he goes. I brought him on to talk film, but we ended up just talking. I want to bring him back on to talk specifically about representation, but thankfully that's for another time.

Ryker is one impressive guy. I have such respect for anyone who is willing to do anything to make themselves better. He is eager to learn, hungry for knowledge, and a Native stuntman/actor/cinematographer/writer/father/etc. Of all the great things he has done in his career, he's so humble and chill. I had a blast learning about Ryker's journey, work ethic, past projects, and future work. He is someone that I will constantly check in on because this guy is going to be big.

I decided to not talk about movies/television but just had a great chat with a Native actor about the industry, his work, where he wants to go, and where we go from here. Hope you all enjoy!