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Your new movie Little Chief
- in a few words, what is it about?
The
lives of a Native woman and nine-year-old boy intersect over the course of
a school day on a reservation in Oklahoma.
What were your sources of inspiration when writing Little
Chief, and is any of the story based on personal experiences?
There
are certain stories I find myself telling over and over again, and I love
talking about my mother and the work she does in our Native community. She
has been an educator for most of my life, and she has sacrificed so much
to provide safety and knowledge to our youth. Growing up, these sacrifices
were just the reality that I knew and it wasn’t until I was much older
that I realized the unique set of challenges she faces as an Indigenous
woman teaching Indigenous children. There is a real lack of understanding
about modern Native America, and Little
Chief offers
a simple exploration of one reality set against the complicated constructs
in which it exists. According
to my information, you've chiefly made documentaries before Little
Chief - so how does making a narrative film compare to shooting a
documentary, and which to you prefer, actually?
I
have always wanted to tell stories that I'm interested in. Filmmaking is a
lot of work and it is a much longer process than most people realize. For
me, whether it is documentary or narrative, the story has to be something
I am going to be interested in and feel passionate about for a long time.
I find both mediums to be highly challenging and rewarding and def
couldn't pick a favorite between the two. I hope I am privileged enough to
get the chance to continue working in both. What can
you tell us about your overall directorial approach to your story at hand?
This was my first narrative film so I knew that casting was going to be
a big key to the success of the film. I wrote Little
Chief with Lily Gladstone in mind and was thrilled
when she said yes to the project. Once we found Julian Ballentyne to
play Bear I was able to relax because I knew I had two fantastic leads
that would help bring my narrative debut to life. After the cast was
secured I worked with my DP, Marshall Stief, to bring Oklahoma winter to
life. We spent a lot of time discussing color and how to stage our shots
so the film would feel like you were there with these two characters as
they navigated a difficult day. Where
was Little Chief
filmed, and what was it like filming there? Little
Chief was
predominantly shot on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. We shot
at the school where my mother and sister taught for many years. It's a
place I spent a lot of time over the years. It was really incredible to
be there with youth from my Nation. Most of them had never seen a film
set before and we had a blast. Do talk
about your key cast, and why exactly these people?
I have been a fan of Lily Gladstone for years. She is
exceptionally talented and when I was writing Little
Chief I imagined her as Sharon. Julian is a young
actor from Canada and when I met him to read I was blown away by his
maturity. He is just a delight to be around and I learned so much from
him. The other classroom children are all enrolled members of the
Seneca-Cayuga Nation. It was such a great experience to work with them.
Your
cast includes a group of young children - so did working with children put
any extra challenges on you as a director?
I am not sure why but on the day we were working with the children I
wore a pair of overalls. They started calling me Farmer Joe and teased
me relentlessly throughout the day. They definitely had the upper hand
but we had a blast and got through everything we wanted to get with
them. I was just recently home and saw a couple of them and they are
asking when they get to do it again.
What can you
tell us about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
We shot for 5 days in Northeastern Oklahoma, and despite a freak
snowstorm we had a blast. It was a great set filled with a lot of really
talented folks. The
$64-question of course, where can Little
Chief be seen?
Little
Chief
is
premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Screenings as follows:
Monday, January 27, 5:30 p.m. - Egyptian Theatre, Park City, UT
Wednesday, January 29, 8:30 a.m. - The MARC Theatre, Park City, UT
Thursday, January 30, 4:00 p.m. - Holiday Village Cinema 4,
Park City, UT
Friday, January 31, 9:00 p.m. - Temple Theatre, Park City, UT
Saturday, February 1, 3:00 p.m. - Broadway Centre Cinema 6, Salt Lake City, UT
Anything you can tell us about
audience and critical reception of Little
Chief yet?
The film will premiere at Sundance, so we haven't had the chance
to receive much feedback. I did have a private screening in Oklahoma for
members of my tribe and the response was very positive. I made the film
for my community so it was amazing to get their seal of approval. Any future projects you'd like to
share?
I am currently writing a feature called Fancy Dance about
a two-spirit woman who kidnaps her niece from a foster home on the way
to a powwow. The U.S. government has long been removing Native kids from
their homes and placing them with Non-native wards, and I want to
explore the devastating impacts of this but in a way that allows us to
take a few breathers from all the trauma and have some fun on a road
trip movie. I am also working on a feature documentary called Sister’s
Gone that investigates the epidemic of missing and
murdered Indigenous women in Alaska.
Erica on set |
What got you into filmmaking in the first place,
and did you receive any formal training on the subject?
As a two-spirit Haudenosaunee woman, I am drawn to stories that
actually drive change. There’s a huge responsibility that comes along
with having access to make films and media. It took me a while to figure
that out, and it inhibited me as an artist and an activist. I was
desperately trying to mimic what already existed and fit into this
mainstream form that was actively working against me and the authentic
stories I wanted to tell. I don't have any formal training and I still
have a lot to learn, but I am no longer interested in working on things
that don’t have a direct and positive impact on my community. It is
incredible to have the backing of an organization like Sundance, but
even outside of that, the art legitimately matter the moment it exists. How would you describe yourself as a
director?
I'm inspired by the people in my community that make up the
fabric of our culture. The standard tropes of Indigenous people on
screen are relentless and violent, and I feel a responsibility to try
and push against that narrative with the experiences I have had and have
witnessed.
Filmmakers who inspire you?
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I am endlessly inspired other Indigenous storytellers who are out there
doing their work - Sterlin Harjo, Zoe Hopkins, Elle-Maija
Tailfeathers and Danis Goulet to name a few. I am also a huge fan of
Kelly Reichardt. She has been a huge cinematic force in my life. Your/your movie's website, Facebook, whatever
else?
https://www.instagram.com/ericajtremblay/
https://www.instagram.com/littlechieffilm/
Thanks for the interview!
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