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Post by lynette on May 1, 2012 0:39:05 GMT 8
I'm amazed you are even aware that SKINS or Naturally Native even exist! They respectively only got onto a dozen screens in this country and most of those were at film festivals! Wish I could help you but neither got wide distribution, even on DVD. I think you might be able to rent them here, or maybe ebay a screener if you are really lucky but that's it. Wish I could be of more help. I've always had a weakness for movies with an issue or a history of Native Americans. In addition, I have great sympathy for the actors as Eric Schweig and Adam Beach. I searched for movies, where they played. I was looking other indigenous films with actors, I began to interested in their history - the history of Native Americans, mainly from North America. Our state television ČT2 had in its program the film Smoke Signals first 10 years ago, the television special zones "Film Club" - topic "Independent films". Later, films such as Skins or The Doe Boy, and more. Naturally Native is not available for Eastern Europe, yet. I found this film so that I read a magazine several years ago and there were interviews with indigenous actress and producer Yvonne Russo, who at that time working on this film, or rather she promoted the film at festivals throughout the U.S.. I have found interesting topic of the film, I remembered again recently and I started to look for the film, but without success. I'm sure Naturally Native has never been in our tv. VHS or DVD is not. Smoke Signals and Skins are still in our video rental or purchase. I would like to see more such films were available for Europe and other continents, or a specific country. These are films for thought, no superficial wannabe art.  |
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Post by Gg on May 1, 2012 4:11:02 GMT 8
You are absolutely right about that Lynette, these films made by and about American Indians are hard to see, even in America. I think the distribution companies assume that because the films are made or about American Indians that nonAmerican Indian people will not care to see them. I think you are proof that this assumption is wrong. Now if only the distribution companies would take a chance a larger audience could build. I am working with an American Indian right now in production and there are stories to be told - that is certain. And lessons for all of us!
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Post by lynette on May 2, 2012 1:09:00 GMT 8
You are absolutely right about that Lynette, these films made by and about American Indians are hard to see, even in America. I think the distribution companies assume that because the films are made or about American Indians that nonAmerican Indian people will not care to see them. I think you are proof that this assumption is wrong. Now if only the distribution companies would take a chance a larger audience could build. I am working with an American Indian right now in production and there are stories to be told - that is certain. And lessons for all of us! It is surprising to me, I thought that in America these films are more accessible to viewers, etc. I am still very naive ... I think the problem is still some discrimination against native peoples from different parts of the world. It's very sad because these people can give a lot of our "modern white" civilization. In the Czech Republic, where I live, indigenous Indian culture is very popular, many people learn their philosophy of life, natural life, shamanism, etc. Many people have left the Czech Republic to the indigenous Indians even, that they lived as a natural nations. Some of them find a life partner there. Czech Republic (specifically from Jablonec nad Nisou, where is located factory for the fashion jewerelly ) supplied glass beads for the production of Indian tribal things in the U.S. I think that Native Americans still buy our glass beads in large quantities. I wish these people much better life and dignified conditions for their livelihood. This is a task for the government, I think, to offer a better solution.  |
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Post by Gg on May 2, 2012 10:52:29 GMT 8
Being part of the culture and being part of the film industry are two entirely different things! I have three American Indian neighbors and it is important to remember that though we call them "American Indians", though some still use "Native American" -- it's really an ethnic label -- there are Nations within the "American Indian" world and they consider themselves identified with their nations as, if not more, strongly than their ethnic label. Across the street is a Mohican derivative, not far from her, a Crow, and further down, a Cherokee, the guy I worked with in production this week - Lakota Sioux -- their beliefs are as varied and specific as any ethnicity. I learned this when I went to a Cheyenne wedding with a Cherokee and when the bride and groom stood on the ceremonial blanket he whispered in my ear "why are they doing that?"... Not his nation so as foreign a practice to him as it was to me. If you see a "ritual" in a film by one nation, that doesn't necessarily mean a thing outside of that nation's culture. For years they have been depicted in film as quaint, or savage, or spiritual, and perhaps all of that and none of it is true, depending on your perspective. But films MADE BY American Indians still have huge obstacles to overcome in order to be received as a viable, and more importantly MARKETABLE commodity... and that after all is what gets a film seen. More and more independent films by North American Indians are being made and the more people find a way to see them, the more marketable they will be come... here's hoping. Sundance Film Festival is, after all, named after one of the Seven Sacred Rites - and one banned to outsiders. There is actually a long history of many clans feeling that photography of any kind was a sacred violation that would steal the subjects soul... that would pose an obstacle when making a film! But now that I realize this Lynette, I'll keep a look out for you!
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Post by lynette on May 2, 2012 20:40:23 GMT 8
Being part of the culture and being part of the film industry are two entirely different things! I have three American Indian neighbors and it is important to remember that though we call them "American Indians", though some still use "Native American" -- it's really an ethnic label -- there are Nations within the "American Indian" world and they consider themselves identified with their nations as, if not more, strongly than their ethnic label. Across the street is a Mohican derivative, not far from her, a Crow, and further down, a Cherokee, the guy I worked with in production this week - Lakota Sioux -- their beliefs are as varied and specific as any ethnicity. I learned this when I went to a Cheyenne wedding with a Cherokee and when the bride and groom stood on the ceremonial blanket he whispered in my ear "why are they doing that?"... Not his nation so as foreign a practice to him as it was to me. If you see a "ritual" in a film by one nation, that doesn't necessarily mean a thing outside of that nation's culture. For years they have been depicted in film as quaint, or savage, or spiritual, and perhaps all of that and none of it is true, depending on your perspective. But films MADE BY American Indians still have huge obstacles to overcome in order to be received as a viable, and more importantly MARKETABLE commodity... and that after all is what gets a film seen. More and more independent films by North American Indians are being made and the more people find a way to see them, the more marketable they will be come... here's hoping. Sundance Film Festival is, after all, named after one of the Seven Sacred Rites - and one banned to outsiders. There is actually a long history of many clans feeling that photography of any kind was a sacred violation that would steal the subjects soul... that would pose an obstacle when making a film! But now that I realize this Lynette, I'll keep a look out for you! Thanks for the comprehensive answer.  I never saw in real life the Native American from North America. In the nineties, I saw several Indians from South or Central America, they were very skilled musicians. Sure, people are different, actually all the same, no matter if it is the white race or black race, or Indian. Everywhere there are good and bad people, pure materialistic or spiritual beings. We are all "in black and white" inside with our strengths and weaknesses. I can not talk in depth about the issues around the Native Americans. My "knowledge" about them from books, articles, films. It is little enough, but I'm glad I met you, that you know something about it. Sundance Film Festival is every year in Utah, I think, it is very famous festival. The founder is Robert Redford, or is this my misconception?  |
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Post by Gg on May 3, 2012 8:51:54 GMT 8
That is right - Robert Redford founded the now famous Sundance Film Festival (and this year for the first time a London Sundance festival, just ended) named after the ceremony itself - Wi-wanyang-wa-c'i-pi. He played a character called "The Sundance Kid" - who stole a saddle in Sundance, Wyoming, back in the 1800s. Sundance, Wyoming is also named for the ceremony.
The only difference between you and I, where this is concerned, is geography! I think you would be fascinated by the people and places you could meet and see here.
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Post by lynette on May 3, 2012 20:27:34 GMT 8
That is right - Robert Redford founded the now famous Sundance Film Festival (and this year for the first time a London Sundance festival, just ended) named after the ceremony itself - Wi-wanyang-wa-c'i-pi. He played a character called "The Sundance Kid" - who stole a saddle in Sundance, Wyoming, back in the 1800s. Sundance, Wyoming is also named for the ceremony. The only difference between you and I, where this is concerned, is geography! I think you would be fascinated by the people and places you could meet and see here. That is true. I remember that I read once in some magazine.  I think so, other cultures has always attracted me. |
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I never saw in real life the Native American from North America. In the nineties, I saw several Indians from South or Central America, they were very skilled musicians. Sure, people are different, actually all the same, no matter if it is the white race or black race, or Indian. Everywhere there are good and bad people, pure materialistic or spiritual beings. We are all "in black and white" inside with our strengths and weaknesses. I can not talk in depth about the issues around the Native Americans. My "knowledge" about them from books, articles, films. It is little enough, but I'm glad I met you, that you know something about it. Sundance Film Festival is every year in Utah, I think, it is very famous festival. The founder is Robert Redford, or is this my misconception? 
