Screening Creative Spirit's 2009 films

Saturday night I headed to the Autry Museum for a film screening. The occasion was the first public showing of Creative Spirit's 2009 short films: Indios Primeros and The Search for the World's Best Indian Taco.

As you may recall, I was a judge for Creative Spirit's 2009 script competition. I wrote about the competition and the films here:

Filming World's Best Indian Taco
2009 script winners named

That evening we saw an encore presentation of 2008's films, a featurette on Creative Spirit, and finally this year's winners. They were entertaining--about as good as they could be given the program's limited time and money.

Afterwards, Creative Spirit director James Lujan held a Q&A with actors Noah Watts, Crystle Lightning, and JR Redwater. He also introduced Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, and Sonny Skyhawk in the audience.



For more photos, see Creative Spirit Film Screening.

Among the tidbits of information we gleaned:

Lightning mashed a taco into Redwater's face eight times to capture a key scene in World Best Indian Taco.

Lujan had to play the lead in Indios Primeros after his first two choices couldn't make it and his third choice injured a shoulder just before the shoot.

Even though it didn't hold a ceremony in 2009, First Americans in the Arts gave Creative Spirit's people its Will Sampson award for meritorious service to the industry.

If it can get the funding, Creative Spirit may try to do a feature film next year.

For more on the subject, see Creative Spirit Film Competition and The Best Indian Movies.

Below:  The Search for the World's Best Indian Taco teaser trailer.