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.

Puzzling over the FAITA awards

Despite all I've written about this year's FAITA ceremony, I don't understand the awards themselves. I mean, who is Chauntal Lewis and what the heck is Seance? (A mediocre 2006 made-for-TV movie, apparently.) I saw Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, but I don't remember Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse's performance. Tortilla Heaven, for which Irene Bedard won an acting award, was completed in 2000 but not released until last year.

Were these really the top performances of 2007? The year produced a bumper crop of Native movies: Four Sheets to the Wind, Mile Post 398, Imprint, and Turquoise Rose. Yet they earned only one FAITA award between them (to Sterlin Harjo for directing Four Sheets). What's up with that?

In November I listed the American Indian Film Festival's winners. I've seen all these films and yes, these people are deserving. Other performances may have been just as good--for instance, you might prefer Tamara Podemski as supporting actress in Four Sheets--but these are sound choices. They're a lot sounder than FAITA's choices seem to be.

Winners of the 2008 FAITA awards

Saturday evening I attended the 16th annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) awards ceremony. It was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in (of course) Beverly Hills. With comedian Charlie Hill as the MC, a good time was had by all.

Here are the awards, in the order they were presented, and the presenters, to give you an idea of who was there.

Will Sampson Memorial Award:  First Nations Composer Initiative. Presented by Mary Kim Titla, the San Carlos Apache woman running for Congress in Arizona.

Outstanding Performance by an Actor, TV (Mini-Series), Lead:  August Schellenberg for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Presented by Gil Birmingham. (Schellenberg wasn't present.)

Birmingham said that Schellenberg said that Sitting Bull was his favorite role. Schellenberg first played Sitting Bull in Crazy Horse.

Outstanding Achievement in Directing:  Sterlin Harjo for Four Sheets to the Wind. Presented by producers Gale Anne Hurd and Valerie Red-Horse.

Harjo noted that he was amazed by Will Sampson's first words in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: "Juicy Fruit." Amazed that an Indian said something modern--in this case about chewing gum. He said these words stuck with him and were partially responsible for his making films about modern-day Indians.

Outstanding Musical Achievement (Contemporary):  Fara Palmer. Presented by actor Miko Hughes. (Palmer wasn't present.)

Outstanding Performance by an Actress, TV:  Tonantzin Carmelo for CSI: Miami. Presented by newswoman Hattie Kauffman and Oneida Representative Ray Halbritter.

Carmelo noted that the CSI: Miami episode has caused some controversy, but she thanked CBS for devoting an hour to a modern-day Indian story. (An episode about an Indian murdering and scalping someone? I'll say it caused some controversy.)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor, TV Series:  Adam Beach for Law & Order: SVU. Presented by FAITA trustee Shawna Clay and Gary Farmer. (Beach wasn't present.)

Outstanding Literary Achievement:  Drew Hayden Taylor for his book Me Funny. Presented by Jhane Myers, head of the American Indian National Center for Television and Film.

Trustee Award:  Christina Wright for costume design for Native Voices at the Autry. Presented by Mark Reed of American Indians in Film and TV.

Outstanding Performance by an Actor, TV (Mini-Series), Supporting:  Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Presented by Delanna Studi.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:  Chauntal Lewis for Seance. Presented by Bird Runningwater of the Sundance Institute.

Outstanding Musical Achievement (Traditional):  Davis Mitchell. Presented by FAITA trustee Donna Talamantes and Saginaw Grant. (Mitchell wasn't present.)

Legacy Award: Silent actress Minnie Ha Ha. Presented by Maree Cheatham.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Film:  Irene Bedard for Tortilla Heaven. Presented by actor Zahn McClarnon.

For more on the subject, see First Americans in the Arts.

All about FAITA

First Americans in the Arts

Governor's office responds to FAITA article

Received via e-mail:Rob,

Thank you for your article regarding the 15th Annual First Americans in the Arts Awards. I am the woman you are referring to from Governor Schwarzenegger's office. I would also like to add that I am a Nez Perce tribal member as well and I've had the honor of representing the Governor at various Native American events. Maybe our paths will cross in the future and I would have an opportunity of meeting you in person.

Respectfully,

Rika

Rika Powaukee
Assistant to the Director/Office Manager
Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
300 South Spring Street Suite 16701
Los Angeles, CA 90013

How FAITA got started

A Native night in HollywoodIn 1991, a group of people gathered in Harrison Lowe's apartment just on the edge of Hollywood to start an organization dedicated to American Indians in the arts that would not only support and promote the established artist, but also provide funding opportunities for up-and-coming American Indian artists. They also believed that part of their organizations' mission would be to honor Native actors and actresses for their achievements in the arts. Today this group is known as the First Americans in the Arts.

"There were not many opportunities for Native American actors and actresses, especially in the early '90s. Our group did not have any money; as a matter of fact, we started off in the hole but continued to reach out to the communities and studios. And now look, we just celebrated our 15th annual awards show," explained Lowe, Navajo, FAITA founding trustee.

More FAITA pix

More of the First Americans in the Arts awards--April 14, 2007

Comment:  These photos were taken by professionals, so they're a lot better than mine. Check 'em out.

The FAITA award ceremony

My Evening with the First Americans

By Rob SchmidtThe ballroom was holding some sort of John Wayne confab. What was this, I thought? Where were the Indians? Had the cowboys pushed them out once again?

Then I spotted a sign for the First Americans in the Arts celebration across the lobby. I’d arrived at the Beverly Hilton on a mid-April Saturday to see the First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) awards ceremony. It was the 15th annual show and the 12th in a row I’d attended.

Pix of the FAITA ceremony

Plus views of Los Angeles:

First Americans in the Arts awards--April 14, 2007

FAITA video on Fox

First Americans in the Arts Awards Saturday was a big night in the American Indian acting community. The First Americans in the Arts awards took place in Beverly Hills. Amy Murphy brings us the story.Comment:  Mark Reed misstated the statistics on Native actors once again. If he's going to keep doing this, I'm going to keep correcting him.

In fact, I informed him by e-mail that his numbers were wrong. His insistence that there were no Native actors on prime-time TV in the 2005-2006 season is annoying, to say the least.