Indian Comics Irregular #167

Last year I participated in the Creative Spirit short-film competition
here in Los Angeles. The competition was organized by James Lujan
(Taos Pueblo), a filmmaker and playwright whom I mentioned in ICI #157
and #160. Here's some background on Lujan's venture from Indian
Country Today (12/26/07):

Creative Spirit puts out a nationwide call for American Indian
short film scripts in late summer or early fall. Scripts are read
and judged by a panel of industry professionals, who select two for
production in Los Angeles. Each production is given a budget, cast
and crew. Films have three days to shoot and three to edit, and
are screened at the end of the production week.

I was one of the judges. It was great to see all the Native writers
out there who are striving to tell authentic Native stories. And one
of the two scripts I picked was chosen to be produced.

Two months later I saw the winners at their big-screen debut. Here's
how Lujan described the event on NativeFilm.com:

From the rez to the red carpet. That could be the best way to sum
up the second successful year of Southern California Indian
Center's Creative Spirit initiative, which began with a short
script contest won by two first-time Native American screenwriters
and concluded with a world premiere on November 10, 2007, at
Paramount Studios' Sherry Lansing Theater.

The purpose of the Creative Spirit program is to initiate
employment and training opportunities for American Indians in the
film industry. This includes creating meaningful relationships
between Native cinematic artists with industry professionals by
providing an environment for professional collaboration.

Such was the case with both short films, "Ancestor Eyes" written
and directed by Kalani Queypo (Blackfeet/Hawaiian), and "Two
Spirits, One Journey," written and produced by Shawn Imitates Dog
(Oglala Lakota).

Even better, I got to interview Queypo and Imitates Dog after the
show. They gave me the inside story on their stories. I wrote a
report on the films that was published by NativeVue.org (12/29/07).

For more on Creative Spirit, go to
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/namovies.htm .

Hatter Fox News

In November I also attended a screening as part of the city's Native
American Heritage Month. Hosting the event was actress/activist
Joanello Romero (Apache/Cheyenne), who once starred as "The Girl
Called Hatter Fox." She showed several short films and finished with
a pilot for "Home, Home on the Rez"--supposedly the first American
television drama produced by Indians.

Afterward I interviewed her at a McDonald's about her many projects.
In particular, we talked about her Red Nation Television Channel,
which she hopes will become the CNN/HBO of Indian country. I wrote an
article on her that was published in Indian Country Today (2/27/08).

I also saw Romero in February at the 2008 Western Indian Gaming
Conference in Palm Springs. She was there to drum up support for her
work. You go, girl!

More Indians on TV

You never know when you'll see or hear about Indians on TV. They keep
popping up in unexpected places.

Recently, a physicist on "Journeyman" asked how the Inca could've
created clay models of airplanes. A "politically correct" professor
on "The Simpsons" bemoaned a Patriots/Redskins game. John Redcorn
returned to "King of the Hill" as a lusty ladies' man. And Iron Eyes
Cody appeared on KITT's screen in the new "Knight Rider" movie.

You can read about Joanelle Romero and other Indians on the tube at
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/natv.htm .

Rob Schmidt
Blue Corn Comics