Post by Okwes on Jun 14, 2007 10:49:21 GMT -5
American Indians Struggle to Find Parts in Hollywood
Hollywood can be a tough town for just about any
aspiring actor. But for American Indians, it's not just tough, it's
nearly impossible.
"Berlin Blues" is a new play which features an all American Indian
cast and crew. They're one of many groups here in Southern
California working to change stereotypes about American Indians in
the media.
From "The New World" to "Dances with Wolves," American Indians are
most often portrayed in movies and TV as barbaric and uncivilized.
"The image and perception of American Indians in the world and U.S.
has been destroyed. We're looked upon as savage warriors," Mark
Reed, chairman of American Indians in Film & TV, said.
It's an image American Indians are working hard to correct.
"We are doctors and lawyers and garbage collectors and everything
else that exists in America. But what's missing in TV is the fact
that we're not represented whatsoever. Unless we're in loincloth and
feathers and riding a horse," Sonny Skyhawk, the founder of American
Indians in Film & TV, said.
A group called American Indians in Film and TV surveyed the four
major TV networks. They looked at primetime scripted programs from
the fall of 2005 to fall of 2006 to see how many American Indians
were working in front of or behind the camera. The results were
disturbing.
"Collectively the networks cast 8,000 guest starring roles. There
was not one American Indian playing a contemporary role," Reed said.
Their report card on the networks? Mostly F's.
ABC is taking steps to change that, sponsoring a recent mixer. It's
all about providing access to actors.
"This is a great opportunity for our casting directors to be exposed
to Native American talent," Tim McNeal, VP, Disney Talent
Development & Diversity, said.
"I couldn't turn around and say all these casting directors are the
big bad wolf and they're out to get us, because I don't believe
that ... it just happens that we're overlooked," Michael King, an
actor, said.
"We don't have to be in buckskin and playing the period pieces, we
are contemporary people," Princess Lucaj, an actress, writer, and
director, said.
Two new short films "Pow Wow Dreams" and "He Can't be Caught" won a
Script to Screen competition sponsored by the Southern California
Indian Center.
Everyone involved is American Indian.
"Because there are a lot of talented Native actors, writers,
directors and producers in Hollywood. They're just not getting
opportunities or access to opportunities," James Lujan, of the
Southern California Indian Center, said.
Opportunity is the first step, activists point out that even
those "leather and feather" roles are often filled by non-Native
Americans.
Mexican-born Anthony Quinn often portrayed Native Americans.
Even in "The Outsider," a 1960s biopic of American Indian and Iwo
Jima war hero Ira Hayes, Tony Curtis of Hungarian descent, played
the title role.
Last year's "Flags of Our Fathers" told the same story, but this
time movie-makers cast American Indian actor Adam Beach as the
reluctant hero.
"Berlin Blues" is being performed at the Autry National Center in
the Wells Fargo Theater. It's located at 4700 Western Heritage Way
in Los Angeles.
The show will be performed at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Fridays, and
Saturdays from March 1st through March 24th. The show will be
performed at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from March 3rd to March
25th. Please note there is no 2 p.m. performance on Saturday March
24th.
For ticket information please call (323) 667-2000, ext. 354, or
contact TicketWeb at 1-866-468-3399 or go to www.ticketweb.com.
Tickets are $25 or $15 for members.
9354 West Hillrose Street
Shadow Hills, Ca. 91040
Triplep.ranch@verizon.net
(818) 353-8777
(818) 378-4370
American Indians in Film & TV
Mark S. Reed, American Indians in Film and TV
Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, this report and the grades earned
by the four major networks are based on information provided by
them. The report focuses only on primetime scripted programs from
Fall of 2005 to Fall of 2006. It grades the networks in all
categories, on numbers on where they are as of this date. Given that
we are in our seventh year of diversity, the American Indian remains
the invisible American.
In 2004 American Indians announced a new approach to
diversity, "Diversity – by – Design --- Not Diversity – on –
Demand". Through our working partnerships with the networks we are
creating new and exciting outreach and training programs. We are
creating a solid foundation for future growth and employment. We are
looking at the future with optimism for our young and developing
professionals.
American Indians remain invisible in primetime TV. There was a
combined average employment of 8,000 guest staring roles, 400
recurring roles and 1,000 regular roles cast by the four networks.
It is appalling that only one recurring and two guest staring roles
were filled by an American Indian. Fox Entertainment cast John
Hensley as "Matt McNamara" on nip/tuck, Steve Reevis and Kalani
Queypo guest stared on the Fox show "Bones". To quote Jerry Jacobsen
of Fox, "American Indians have become a moving force in the economy
and politics and we are aware of that. Our goal is for our products
to reflect the world and we can't do that with out them". Jerry
Jocobsen and the Fox team are beginning to have a progressive
outlook that includes American Indians.
ABC, CBS, and NBC have failed to hire any American Indian actors.
After seven years all four networks have failed to hire any writers
or directors that happen to be American Indian. The real change that
needs to take place is in the hiring practices at the networks. It
is obvious there is still an active Romantic Discrimination of the
American Indian. This needs to change.
In our 2005 report we stated our image needed an overhaul. In order
for this to take place it would take a commitment from the entire
industry. The Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America
and the Screen Actors Guild would need to actively organize and
recruit American Indian talent. They need to create progressive
outreach programs and actively promote their members to the networks
and where need be, enforce their contracts.
We met with the DGA, WGA West, PGA and the Screen Actors Guild. Here
is a brief summary of those meetings;
DGA: The DGA supplied a minority report of the top Forty Prime Time
Series Directors. These forty shows created 767 episodes of which
Caucasian directors directed 93% of them. Not one American Indian
director. In fact there are just over 14,000 members and there are
only 11 self-identified American Indian directors.
I did get the genuine feeling from the meeting that they are not
happy with the lack of diversity in the hiring of directors and they
are committed to change. In fact they have working relationships
with ABC, NBC and HBO to increase diversity in directors.
The DGA needs to create an aggressive recruitment and training
program for American Indian directors.
WGA WEST: The WGA West failed to supply a diversity report. After
Zara Buggs Taylor retired they hired Sonya Augustine to head up the
diversity department. The second in command Danny Slu, resigned.
Both Zara and Danny were strong advocates for diversity and a great
loss for the membership. Miss Augustine fulfilled just under 11
months of here two year contract. This position at the Writers Guild
has yet to be filled. Is this guild committed to diversity? Ricardo
Montelban once said "if it's not on the page – it's not on the
stage". Our writers are the single most important element in the
creative process. It was said that there are only 40 self-
identified American Indian writers in the WGA west.
The WGA west needs to create an aggressive recruitment and training
program for American Indian writers.
PGA: In a telephone conversation it was reported that they do not
track minority membership. So they do not generate a minority
report. They do have a minority workshop that has been quite
successful. They failed to send a report on this workshop, so I have
no further comment.
SAG: I am a proud member of this guild. I am devastated by the
guild's response to the invisibility of the American Indian and our
repeated request for action to be taken on our behalf.
Four years ago the American Indian community presented a resolution
to the national membership. This resolution called for the creation
of a national committee for American Indians. It was passed with a
unanimous vote; it went on as an advisory motion to the national
board. That same year the American Indian sub-committee was
silenced. For the next couple of years the resolution was sent to
committee after committee. Finally a presentation was allowed at a
national board meeting. This sparked a fierce political debate. The
resolution was sent back to the president's committee for a
recommendation.
After the board meeting I received a number of calls from national
board members describing the actions of others to be mean spirited.
They offered an apology.
The president's committee rejected the need for an American Indian
committee and recommended to the national board to reject the
resolution. This action violated SAG's constitution. A motion
requesting a role call vote on the resolution was presented at the
next national membership meeting. This was passed with a unanimous
vote. This advisory motion has still not been addressed by the
national board.
Last month in a meeting with the president, first vice president and
staff we asked the question, "In the last four years how many
producers have you met with to enforce our contract, to portray the
American scene". Reply was, "not one". If our guild is not enforcing
our contracts and denying us a voice, then what are American Indian
actors paying for?
It has come to our attention that contact information for American
Indian actors provided by the guild to casting directors is useless.
It is the responsibility of the actor to update his or her contact
information or use a franchised agent of the guild. The agent sends
a contract to the guild with the information triggering an update.
In a recent review of the data provided to casting directors, it was
found to be 70% incorrect. This percentage is based on actors with
franchised agents.
In a recent statement made by our president, "I am devastated that a
black woman who is doing an incredible job would be replaced by a
white man". Does our president see the world as black and white? I
further question why the Screen Actors Guild continues to reject our
request to speak on our own behalf. Is there a racist under current
towards American Indians?
We have requested a petition to overturn the national board vote. If
anyone would like to help circulate the petition contact our office
at (818) 353-8777. The signatures have to be guild members who are
paid up and of good standing. Once the petition is complete, the
resolution will be sent to the national membership. I have full
confidence in our fellow actors to pass this resolution allowing us
our God given right to speak on our own behalf.
In years passed the media present has not covered the Romantic
Discrimination of the American Indian. I ask each and every one of
you to do a story on the Invisible American – The American Indian.
All of you have the power of the press to shine the light on this
modern day discrimination. Help change the negative image the
entertainment industry created on America's first people, The
American Indian.
Network Grades:
FOX Entertainment;
Actors – D
Fox is the only network to have a recurring role filed by an
American Indian.
Writers – F
Directors – F
Program Development – F
Procurement – FI
Entertainment Executives – C
Fox has shown a continued commitment in their outreach and training
of future executives. The hiring of Jerry Jacobsen has significantly
increased their outreach to Indian country. The entire Fox diversity
team is committed to the increased visibility of American Indians in
executive positions.
Network Commitment to Diversity -- B
Fox in the last year has increased its outreach and training
programs. Fox has created partnerships with Indian organizations to
increase their ability to include American Indians in their
products. These efforts have given us a optimistic out look for the
first time in years. We thank you.
ABC;
Actors – F
Writers –F
Directors – F
Program Development – F
Procurement – FI
Entertainment Executives – D
ABC continues its commitment to identify and train American Indians
for key positions. The next step is placement.
Network Commitment to Diversity – B
ABC has been a leader in their commitment to diversity. They have
increased their outreach and training programs for American Indians.
The results of these efforts will be seen in the future. ABC has
also created optimism for our future in the entertainment industry.
We thank you.
CBS;
Actors – F
Writers – F
Directors – F
Program Development – F
Procurement – FI
Entertainment Executives – D
CBS has shown a continued effort to train and hire American Indian
professionals. CBS would benefit by hiring an American Indian to
help in their diversity efforts.
Network Commitment to Diversity – C
CBS has shown a strong desire to change the invisibility of the
American Indian. They have also expressed the desire to increase
outreach and training programs for American Indians. We look forward
in our working partnership to effect change for American Indian
talent.
NBC;
Actors – F
Writer –F
Directors – F
Program Development – F
Procurement – FI
Entertainment Executives – D
NBC this year has started an outreach program to the colleges that
have American Indian students. They want to open the door for
careers at NBC. NBC would also benefit by having an American Indian
on their diversity team. The benefits would include a deeper
understanding for the American Indian community and how to include
Indians on their team.
Network Commitment to Diversity – C
NBC has shown a strong commitment for change. They are in the
process of increasing their outreach and training programs for
American Indians. We look forward to our working partnership to
effect positive change.
The American Indian remains Americas Invisible American in today's
media. We are looking forward with optimism. The networks all
acknowledge this exclusion and have expressed a desire to correct
the invisibility of the American Indian.
This concludes our report.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen.
Mark S. Reed
National Rep. for American Indians in Film & TV
Grand Coalition
Hollywood can be a tough town for just about any
aspiring actor. But for American Indians, it's not just tough, it's
nearly impossible.
"Berlin Blues" is a new play which features an all American Indian
cast and crew. They're one of many groups here in Southern
California working to change stereotypes about American Indians in
the media.
From "The New World" to "Dances with Wolves," American Indians are
most often portrayed in movies and TV as barbaric and uncivilized.
"The image and perception of American Indians in the world and U.S.
has been destroyed. We're looked upon as savage warriors," Mark
Reed, chairman of American Indians in Film & TV, said.
It's an image American Indians are working hard to correct.
"We are doctors and lawyers and garbage collectors and everything
else that exists in America. But what's missing in TV is the fact
that we're not represented whatsoever. Unless we're in loincloth and
feathers and riding a horse," Sonny Skyhawk, the founder of American
Indians in Film & TV, said.
A group called American Indians in Film and TV surveyed the four
major TV networks. They looked at primetime scripted programs from
the fall of 2005 to fall of 2006 to see how many American Indians
were working in front of or behind the camera. The results were
disturbing.
"Collectively the networks cast 8,000 guest starring roles. There
was not one American Indian playing a contemporary role," Reed said.
Their report card on the networks? Mostly F's.
ABC is taking steps to change that, sponsoring a recent mixer. It's
all about providing access to actors.
"This is a great opportunity for our casting directors to be exposed
to Native American talent," Tim McNeal, VP, Disney Talent
Development & Diversity, said.
"I couldn't turn around and say all these casting directors are the
big bad wolf and they're out to get us, because I don't believe
that ... it just happens that we're overlooked," Michael King, an
actor, said.
"We don't have to be in buckskin and playing the period pieces, we
are contemporary people," Princess Lucaj, an actress, writer, and
director, said.
Two new short films "Pow Wow Dreams" and "He Can't be Caught" won a
Script to Screen competition sponsored by the Southern California
Indian Center.
Everyone involved is American Indian.
"Because there are a lot of talented Native actors, writers,
directors and producers in Hollywood. They're just not getting
opportunities or access to opportunities," James Lujan, of the
Southern California Indian Center, said.
Opportunity is the first step, activists point out that even
those "leather and feather" roles are often filled by non-Native
Americans.
Mexican-born Anthony Quinn often portrayed Native Americans.
Even in "The Outsider," a 1960s biopic of American Indian and Iwo
Jima war hero Ira Hayes, Tony Curtis of Hungarian descent, played
the title role.
Last year's "Flags of Our Fathers" told the same story, but this
time movie-makers cast American Indian actor Adam Beach as the
reluctant hero.
"Berlin Blues" is being performed at the Autry National Center in
the Wells Fargo Theater. It's located at 4700 Western Heritage Way
in Los Angeles.
The show will be performed at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Fridays, and
Saturdays from March 1st through March 24th. The show will be
performed at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from March 3rd to March
25th. Please note there is no 2 p.m. performance on Saturday March
24th.
For ticket information please call (323) 667-2000, ext. 354, or
contact TicketWeb at 1-866-468-3399 or go to www.ticketweb.com.
Tickets are $25 or $15 for members.
9354 West Hillrose Street
Shadow Hills, Ca. 91040
Triplep.ranch@verizon.net
(818) 353-8777
(818) 378-4370
American Indians in Film & TV
Mark S. Reed, American Indians in Film and TV
Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, this report and the grades earned
by the four major networks are based on information provided by
them. The report focuses only on primetime scripted programs from
Fall of 2005 to Fall of 2006. It grades the networks in all
categories, on numbers on where they are as of this date. Given that
we are in our seventh year of diversity, the American Indian remains
the invisible American.
In 2004 American Indians announced a new approach to
diversity, "Diversity – by – Design --- Not Diversity – on –
Demand". Through our working partnerships with the networks we are
creating new and exciting outreach and training programs. We are
creating a solid foundation for future growth and employment. We are
looking at the future with optimism for our young and developing
professionals.
American Indians remain invisible in primetime TV. There was a
combined average employment of 8,000 guest staring roles, 400
recurring roles and 1,000 regular roles cast by the four networks.
It is appalling that only one recurring and two guest staring roles
were filled by an American Indian. Fox Entertainment cast John
Hensley as "Matt McNamara" on nip/tuck, Steve Reevis and Kalani
Queypo guest stared on the Fox show "Bones". To quote Jerry Jacobsen
of Fox, "American Indians have become a moving force in the economy
and politics and we are aware of that. Our goal is for our products
to reflect the world and we can't do that with out them". Jerry
Jocobsen and the Fox team are beginning to have a progressive
outlook that includes American Indians.
ABC, CBS, and NBC have failed to hire any American Indian actors.
After seven years all four networks have failed to hire any writers
or directors that happen to be American Indian. The real change that
needs to take place is in the hiring practices at the networks. It
is obvious there is still an active Romantic Discrimination of the
American Indian. This needs to change.
In our 2005 report we stated our image needed an overhaul. In order
for this to take place it would take a commitment from the entire
industry. The Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America
and the Screen Actors Guild would need to actively organize and
recruit American Indian talent. They need to create progressive
outreach programs and actively promote their members to the networks
and where need be, enforce their contracts.
We met with the DGA, WGA West, PGA and the Screen Actors Guild. Here
is a brief summary of those meetings;
DGA: The DGA supplied a minority report of the top Forty Prime Time
Series Directors. These forty shows created 767 episodes of which
Caucasian directors directed 93% of them. Not one American Indian
director. In fact there are just over 14,000 members and there are
only 11 self-identified American Indian directors.
I did get the genuine feeling from the meeting that they are not
happy with the lack of diversity in the hiring of directors and they
are committed to change. In fact they have working relationships
with ABC, NBC and HBO to increase diversity in directors.
The DGA needs to create an aggressive recruitment and training
program for American Indian directors.
WGA WEST: The WGA West failed to supply a diversity report. After
Zara Buggs Taylor retired they hired Sonya Augustine to head up the
diversity department. The second in command Danny Slu, resigned.
Both Zara and Danny were strong advocates for diversity and a great
loss for the membership. Miss Augustine fulfilled just under 11
months of here two year contract. This position at the Writers Guild
has yet to be filled. Is this guild committed to diversity? Ricardo
Montelban once said "if it's not on the page – it's not on the
stage". Our writers are the single most important element in the
creative process. It was said that there are only 40 self-
identified American Indian writers in the WGA west.
The WGA west needs to create an aggressive recruitment and training
program for American Indian writers.
PGA: In a telephone conversation it was reported that they do not
track minority membership. So they do not generate a minority
report. They do have a minority workshop that has been quite
successful. They failed to send a report on this workshop, so I have
no further comment.
SAG: I am a proud member of this guild. I am devastated by the
guild's response to the invisibility of the American Indian and our
repeated request for action to be taken on our behalf.
Four years ago the American Indian community presented a resolution
to the national membership. This resolution called for the creation
of a national committee for American Indians. It was passed with a
unanimous vote; it went on as an advisory motion to the national
board. That same year the American Indian sub-committee was
silenced. For the next couple of years the resolution was sent to
committee after committee. Finally a presentation was allowed at a
national board meeting. This sparked a fierce political debate. The
resolution was sent back to the president's committee for a
recommendation.
After the board meeting I received a number of calls from national
board members describing the actions of others to be mean spirited.
They offered an apology.
The president's committee rejected the need for an American Indian
committee and recommended to the national board to reject the
resolution. This action violated SAG's constitution. A motion
requesting a role call vote on the resolution was presented at the
next national membership meeting. This was passed with a unanimous
vote. This advisory motion has still not been addressed by the
national board.
Last month in a meeting with the president, first vice president and
staff we asked the question, "In the last four years how many
producers have you met with to enforce our contract, to portray the
American scene". Reply was, "not one". If our guild is not enforcing
our contracts and denying us a voice, then what are American Indian
actors paying for?
It has come to our attention that contact information for American
Indian actors provided by the guild to casting directors is useless.
It is the responsibility of the actor to update his or her contact
information or use a franchised agent of the guild. The agent sends
a contract to the guild with the information triggering an update.
In a recent review of the data provided to casting directors, it was
found to be 70% incorrect. This percentage is based on actors with
franchised agents.
In a recent statement made by our president, "I am devastated that a
black woman who is doing an incredible job would be replaced by a
white man". Does our president see the world as black and white? I
further question why the Screen Actors Guild continues to reject our
request to speak on our own behalf. Is there a racist under current
towards American Indians?
We have requested a petition to overturn the national board vote. If
anyone would like to help circulate the petition contact our office
at (818) 353-8777. The signatures have to be guild members who are
paid up and of good standing. Once the petition is complete, the
resolution will be sent to the national membership. I have full
confidence in our fellow actors to pass this resolution allowing us
our God given right to speak on our own behalf.
In years passed the media present has not covered the Romantic
Discrimination of the American Indian. I ask each and every one of
you to do a story on the Invisible American – The American Indian.
All of you have the power of the press to shine the light on this
modern day discrimination. Help change the negative image the
entertainment industry created on America's first people, The
American Indian.
Network Grades:
FOX Entertainment;
Actors – D
Fox is the only network to have a recurring role filed by an
American Indian.
Writers – F
Directors – F
Program Development – F
Procurement – FI
Entertainment Executives – C
Fox has shown a continued commitment in their outreach and training
of future executives. The hiring of Jerry Jacobsen has significantly
increased their outreach to Indian country. The entire Fox diversity
team is committed to the increased visibility of American Indians in
executive positions.
Network Commitment to Diversity -- B
Fox in the last year has increased its outreach and training
programs. Fox has created partnerships with Indian organizations to
increase their ability to include American Indians in their
products. These efforts have given us a optimistic out look for the
first time in years. We thank you.
ABC;
Actors – F
Writers –F
Directors – F
Program Development – F
Procurement – FI
Entertainment Executives – D
ABC continues its commitment to identify and train American Indians
for key positions. The next step is placement.
Network Commitment to Diversity – B
ABC has been a leader in their commitment to diversity. They have
increased their outreach and training programs for American Indians.
The results of these efforts will be seen in the future. ABC has
also created optimism for our future in the entertainment industry.
We thank you.
CBS;
Actors – F
Writers – F
Directors – F
Program Development – F
Procurement – FI
Entertainment Executives – D
CBS has shown a continued effort to train and hire American Indian
professionals. CBS would benefit by hiring an American Indian to
help in their diversity efforts.
Network Commitment to Diversity – C
CBS has shown a strong desire to change the invisibility of the
American Indian. They have also expressed the desire to increase
outreach and training programs for American Indians. We look forward
in our working partnership to effect change for American Indian
talent.
NBC;
Actors – F
Writer –F
Directors – F
Program Development – F
Procurement – FI
Entertainment Executives – D
NBC this year has started an outreach program to the colleges that
have American Indian students. They want to open the door for
careers at NBC. NBC would also benefit by having an American Indian
on their diversity team. The benefits would include a deeper
understanding for the American Indian community and how to include
Indians on their team.
Network Commitment to Diversity – C
NBC has shown a strong commitment for change. They are in the
process of increasing their outreach and training programs for
American Indians. We look forward to our working partnership to
effect positive change.
The American Indian remains Americas Invisible American in today's
media. We are looking forward with optimism. The networks all
acknowledge this exclusion and have expressed a desire to correct
the invisibility of the American Indian.
This concludes our report.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen.
Mark S. Reed
National Rep. for American Indians in Film & TV
Grand Coalition