Post by Okwes on Aug 22, 2006 9:59:04 GMT -5
Filmmakers thrilled with U.P. locations
www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=5779
<http://www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=5779>
Filmmaker James Ludwig, left, and "A Face in the Rock" author
Loren Graham were at the Falling Rock Cafe in Munising Friday for a
book-signing and brief presentation on the preproduction efforts
currently ongoing, working to bring Graham's 1998 book about Grand
Island Native Americans to the screen. (Journal photo by John Pepin)
By JOHN PEPIN, Journal Munising Bureau
MUNISING — A film crew with members from Los Angeles and New York
has been thrilled with what they've seen so far in scouting
locations in the Upper Peninsula for a screen adaptation of Loren
Graham's Chippewa Indian tale set on Grand Island.
"We're about halfway through our principal photography right now
and every day we shoot we get more excited," said James Ludwig, of
Back40 Films.
Ludwig, 38, lives in New York, but grew up in Iron River.
"The Yooper connection is very strong," he said.
Ludwig, and partner Matt Fabiano of Road 27 Pictures, are hoping to
produce a film not shot "in a bubble," but rather showcasing the
spectacular panoramic scenery of Lake Superior, Grand Island and the
Munising area.
The crew has roughly eight days of shooting on this pre-production visit
that is expected to produce a short preliminary film. The crew of up to
20 began shooting in Sault Ste. Marie earlier in the week and is
expected to be finished before Aug. 28.
"Weather-dependent, we'll be done shooting by then," said
Ludwig, who gave a short presentation on the project along with Graham
Friday at The Falling Rock Cafe and Bookstore in Munising.
Ludwig had read Graham's 1995 historical book about a heroic
Chippewa Indian after it was suggested to him by his father, who is a
surgeon in Sault Ste. Marie.
Graham, 73, who spends half his year on Grand Island and half in
Cambridge, Mass., said the film idea is great. He met Ludwig initially
in New York in 2003 to discuss the potential project.
"I think it's fantastic that we have these fantastic people
coming from New York and Los Angeles to make a film here," Graham
said. "I am deeply complimented."
Graham, who said he spent 40 years researching the book, wrote "A
Face in the Rock," on the Anishinaabe culture of Grand Island. Local
Native Americans have praised Graham's work in writing the book
about the bravery of the Indian "Powers of the Air," who worked
his way back east to Grand Island from a bloody battle in Minnesota.
The island band had not wanted to fight against a warring band of Sioux
Indians living to the west. But after being pressured by other Ojibways
on the mainland to fight, the Grand Island Indians reluctantly joined
the battle.
All of the men from the island were killed in the fighting except
"Powers of the Air," who was sent back by his tribesmen to tell
the story of the band's demise.
This is the story in Graham's book and the basis for the film.
A likeness of the Chippewa was carved into a sandstone wall along the
coast of Lake Superior at AuTrain in 1820 by a sailor who was part of
the famed expedition north of Governor Lewis Cass.
Ludwig said the filmmakers are working extensively with the cooperation
of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Bay Mills
Tribe.
A great deal of information is being provided by the tribes on local
customs, language, costumes, while all of the actors, except Graham, who
appear in the short preliminary film are Native American and will speak
in their traditional language, with subtitles.
Graham said he's delighted to see Indians of the Great Lakes region
become the interest of filmmakers.
"We've had a lot done on the Indians out west, but there's
not been a whole lot from this area," Graham said. "I've
long thought the Chippewa-Ojibwa culture has been
under-appreciated."
The filmmakers have no firm schedule for when production of the
full-length feature film may occur.
www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=5779
<http://www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=5779>
Filmmaker James Ludwig, left, and "A Face in the Rock" author
Loren Graham were at the Falling Rock Cafe in Munising Friday for a
book-signing and brief presentation on the preproduction efforts
currently ongoing, working to bring Graham's 1998 book about Grand
Island Native Americans to the screen. (Journal photo by John Pepin)
By JOHN PEPIN, Journal Munising Bureau
MUNISING — A film crew with members from Los Angeles and New York
has been thrilled with what they've seen so far in scouting
locations in the Upper Peninsula for a screen adaptation of Loren
Graham's Chippewa Indian tale set on Grand Island.
"We're about halfway through our principal photography right now
and every day we shoot we get more excited," said James Ludwig, of
Back40 Films.
Ludwig, 38, lives in New York, but grew up in Iron River.
"The Yooper connection is very strong," he said.
Ludwig, and partner Matt Fabiano of Road 27 Pictures, are hoping to
produce a film not shot "in a bubble," but rather showcasing the
spectacular panoramic scenery of Lake Superior, Grand Island and the
Munising area.
The crew has roughly eight days of shooting on this pre-production visit
that is expected to produce a short preliminary film. The crew of up to
20 began shooting in Sault Ste. Marie earlier in the week and is
expected to be finished before Aug. 28.
"Weather-dependent, we'll be done shooting by then," said
Ludwig, who gave a short presentation on the project along with Graham
Friday at The Falling Rock Cafe and Bookstore in Munising.
Ludwig had read Graham's 1995 historical book about a heroic
Chippewa Indian after it was suggested to him by his father, who is a
surgeon in Sault Ste. Marie.
Graham, 73, who spends half his year on Grand Island and half in
Cambridge, Mass., said the film idea is great. He met Ludwig initially
in New York in 2003 to discuss the potential project.
"I think it's fantastic that we have these fantastic people
coming from New York and Los Angeles to make a film here," Graham
said. "I am deeply complimented."
Graham, who said he spent 40 years researching the book, wrote "A
Face in the Rock," on the Anishinaabe culture of Grand Island. Local
Native Americans have praised Graham's work in writing the book
about the bravery of the Indian "Powers of the Air," who worked
his way back east to Grand Island from a bloody battle in Minnesota.
The island band had not wanted to fight against a warring band of Sioux
Indians living to the west. But after being pressured by other Ojibways
on the mainland to fight, the Grand Island Indians reluctantly joined
the battle.
All of the men from the island were killed in the fighting except
"Powers of the Air," who was sent back by his tribesmen to tell
the story of the band's demise.
This is the story in Graham's book and the basis for the film.
A likeness of the Chippewa was carved into a sandstone wall along the
coast of Lake Superior at AuTrain in 1820 by a sailor who was part of
the famed expedition north of Governor Lewis Cass.
Ludwig said the filmmakers are working extensively with the cooperation
of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Bay Mills
Tribe.
A great deal of information is being provided by the tribes on local
customs, language, costumes, while all of the actors, except Graham, who
appear in the short preliminary film are Native American and will speak
in their traditional language, with subtitles.
Graham said he's delighted to see Indians of the Great Lakes region
become the interest of filmmakers.
"We've had a lot done on the Indians out west, but there's
not been a whole lot from this area," Graham said. "I've
long thought the Chippewa-Ojibwa culture has been
under-appreciated."
The filmmakers have no firm schedule for when production of the
full-length feature film may occur.