“After a recent boom in Native-led TV shows and films — a list that includes Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Reservation Dogs, Dark Winds, Rez Ball, Fancy Dance and more — a question has continually surfaced: What does the future hold for indigenous storytelling? Studio of the Americas hopes to provide an answer. The”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
Studio of the Americas hopes to provide an answer. The full-service Native American-owned film and television studio has launched with a home base at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta and a mission to produce “films and television series that authentically portray Native American stories, culture and traditions,” per the studio. In doing so, it has assembled an early slate of projects and a partnership with the Georgia Film Academy to help build a pipeline of talent by providing Native American students the opportunity to gain valuable on set production experience.
GFA, a unit of the University System of Georgia, is committed to advancing the entertainment arts industry and its workforce in the state which has become home to many productions over the years. The state has also earned the nickname “Hollywood of the South.”
“Studio of the Americas represents an opportunity to tell the stories of the first peoples of this land with authenticity and respect,” said Robert Wilson, who serves as CEO and co-founder of Studio of the Americas. “We are honoring Native American history and traditions while delivering stories that resonate universally.”
Added chairman and co-founder Clifton Chippewa: “Our mission is to preserve and share the stories of Native American culture in a way that is both entertaining and meaningful. We aim to heal, inspire, and empower our communities through storytelling, which is medicine for the soul.”
Wilson has also made a career as a novelist and a number of his projects are in development at Studio of the Americas. The list includes adaptations of Wilson tomes like Crooked Tree, IceFire and Second Fire. The first book on that short list explores ancient Native spiritual practices and modern struggles with identity and evil. The slate also includes Smoke Alarm, a documentary narrated by veteran actor Eugene Brave Rock (Dark Winds) that follows the journey of tobacco from its ceremonial origins to its modern commercialized impact.
“The work and vision of Clifton Chippewa and Robert Wilson of Studio of the Americas align with a deep sense of cultural storytelling, creativity, and purpose,” offered actor Rock, who launched the Oki Language Project. “Their mission to cultivate emerging voices and honor cultural narratives is truly inspiring. And the stories they tell are flat out block-buster entertainment.”
A poster for Smoke Alarm narrated by Eugene Brave Rock. Courtesy of Studio of the Americas