Short Summary
The writer and director is Lauren Monroe Jr., a visual artist from the Blackfeet Tribe in Montana, as a mid-career visual artist, Lauren has exceptional talent and vision in creating art and imagery that creates dialogue and energy. Growing up on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, Lauren as always been drawn to visual art, and upon graduating from University of Montana-Missoula, he has worked on independent films in Montana as Art Production.
Currently Lauren is attaining his MFA in Screen Writing from the Institute of American Indian Art, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This is Lauren's first directed short, and second written script. Lauren remains active in the Pikanni culture, and is a co-creator of the Creative Indigenous Collective, an indigenous collective made up of visual artists in Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Promoting Indigenous issues in and outside of Montana, the group continues to make headway in galleries, art museums, and any venue that will be a good format for conversations.
This campaign is a culmination of Lauren's creativity and vision, with the traditional Pikanni Culture, a tribe that's part of the greater Blackfoot Confederacy. The weaving of story and land with the language will truly be an original experience for the viewer. The importance of these authentic stories is immeasurably important in creating a voice for us as Indigenous people. Too often we are relegated to the past and over looked by the mainstream world.
By supporting this unique project, the contributors will be helping the world get a unique and visionary tale told through our perspective and allowing an Indigenous filmmaker to create an authentic short film. One that will be as unique in look as well as language.
What We Need & What You Get
The funds raised will go entirely in to creating the short film. The cost of production, travel, locations, meals and lodging. All of this go into creating the best possible versions of this short film with the amount we raise.
We are anticipating our campaign raises $7500, enough backing to get the larger cast and crew to the hills of Pikanni Country. The area is very rural, with limited amenities, so the cost of production will be higher than say a film shot in a city or areas with less travel time.
The unique perks range from being a credited producer on Kills Last, to behind the scenes reels, to original works of art from the Directer, Lauren Monroe Jr. Any amount given will receive a perk, from 10$ to 1000$, we will make sure your contribution not only brings this story to life, but you are receiving unique gifts from the territory and minds of the Pikanni.
If the entire goal is not met, we will still shoot but will be limited in our capacity to bring our dreams to life in portraying a unique and authentic story.
Our Team
Lauren Monroe Jr., Director
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Lauren Monroe Jr. is one of the Blackfeet Nation’s most celebrated visual artists. His art reflects Blackfeet cultural motifs and imagery as well as his personal experience of living and growing upon the reservation. Lauren is in the process of completing an MFA in Screenwriting from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM and has years of experience working in the filmindustry in Art Production. Film credits include: Winter in the Blood, Walking Out, Winter Light,Jimmy P, and The Ballad of Lefty Brown. This will be his first directed film and second written screenplay.
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Eddie Roqueta, Director of Photography
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Eddie Roqueta is an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer whose work has premiered at film festivals throughout the US. He has an MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking from Montana State Universityand 5 years of experience producing, directing, and shooting a variety of work. Notably Roqueta has shot two feature docs (still in editing), produced a variety of short docs for nonprofits, and produced a short web series profiling Native American Artists in Montana for the Montana Film Office.
JENNINGS BARMORE: PRODUCER
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Since receiving his BFA in Film and Photography from Montana State University, Jennings has worked as an award winning freelance filmmaker for commercials, music videos, and documentaries. However, his passion is for short and feature length narrative films. He has worked as a writer, director and producer in the independent film word for the past several years, ever seeking greater stories to tell and better ways to tell them.
Trevor Spotted Eagle: Camera/VFX Supervisor
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Trevor Spotted Eagle spent the beginning of his life on the Blackfeet Indian reservation. The second half was spent achieving a film degree in Phoenix Arizona, where he managed to produce and create several award-winning short films. Dealing mostly in Visual Effects, Trevor has lent his talents to projects such as Eleven Eleven (feature) and organizations such as the UCLA police department and the Mary Lou Fulton teachers college.
Preston Spotted Eagle, Shoots First
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Preston Spotted Eagle is a member of the Blackfeet Tribe and is a devout believer in the culture and language. He’s well versed in our tribal customs and history, and serves as a perfect example of our culture being passed down. This will be Preston's first debut on screen and will bring much authenticity to his role as Shoots First.
The Impact
When you contribute to this film, you're not only helping a short film come to life. You're helping an authentic Indigenous experience and story come to life. As often with most films, they are written by non-indigenous persons, with a lens outward looking in. This short story was and will be directed by a member of the Pikanni people, giving the chance at providing an original portrayal and story to come to life.
The story itself is also about the land and the language, two very important conversations among many Indigenous cultures. The use of the Pikanni language and land base are truly characters within their own right. It also gives the chance of Indigenous film makers, whether the writer, actor or producers chance at honing their craft. This being the second and first directed short by Lauren Monroe Jr., it affords the opportunity to continue to create compelling and authentic Indigenous stories when it otherwise might not happen.
Risks & Challenges
The unique challenges of this short film are not without come possible complications, namely the art production.However we feel that they can be overcome by hard work and diligence before filming. The amount of work and time involved before filming will be exceptionally useful in bringing this short to life and creating an accurate portrayal of the script.
The amount of production and thought that will go into costume creation will be intense, luckily we are the people who the film is about, Pikanni. We hold a special and unique stake in the accurate depiction of the language, the land, and the culture. We know what we're creating.
We feel fully confident in telling a compelling story, with authentic art production pertaining to the Pikanni culture, as well as the creating the world in which the story takes place. Getting the amount of individuals together, on a small budget will be intense.
Other Ways You Can Help
If a person is unable to contribute financially, just sharing the campaign on social media would be great! Getting the word out is immeasurably important for a film such as ours. Thank you all for the interest and support, our team truly appreciates it all.