NOTICES
Second Annual
Four Directions
Talent Search
Kicks Off
Due to the tremendous success of
last year’s Four Directions Talent
Search, the Oneida Nation and NBC are
expanding this year’s search by offering
American Indian and First Nations
comedians a chance to audition at one
of 15 venues across the United States
and Canada.
The search is not limited to comedy
acts. Screenplay and teleplay writers
also are being sought.
This year’s event will kick off with
the first round of tryouts on Oct. 4 at
the American Indian Community House
in New York City. Tryouts will continue
Oct. 5 in three locations: Seattle,
University of Washington; Denver,
University of Colorado; and
Cambridge, Harvard University. The
Oct. 6 search will be held in the
following venues: Calgary (TBA);
Missoula, University of Montana; and
Toronto, University of Toronto.
Additional tryouts will be Oct. 16
in Kansas City, Haskell Indian Nations
University; Phoenix, Arizona State
University; and Chicago, University of
Illinois. Venues on Oct. 20 will include
Norman, University of Oklahoma;
Albuquerque, University of New
Mexico; and Raleigh, North Carolina
State University.
Nov. 2 tryouts will be held in
Sacramento, California State Uni
versity; Minneapolis, University of
Minnesota; and Athens, University of
Georgia. On Nov. 3, the search will be
held at San Bernardino, California State
University; Vermillion, University of
South Dakota; and New Orleans (TBA).
Those chosen at each venue will go
on to the semifinals at the Oneida
Nation’s Turning Stone Casino Resort
in Verona, N.Y, on Nov. 16-17, with
the finalists going to PSNBC in New
York City on Nov. 18.
More than 200 American Indian
and First Nations actors and comedians
tried out at one of five venues last
year or submitted written work
for consideration.
Vanessa Shortbull, an Oglala
Lakota and a finalist in the inaugural
Four Directions Talent Search, became
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Siletz News
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Alcatraz Is Not An Island to Air Nationally on PBS
They eventually were joined by
Independent Television Service
institutions plus human rights and social
thousands of Native Americans in
(ITVS) and KQED presents director activism venues.
retaking “Indian land” for the first time
The occupation of Alcatraz
James M. Fortier and
since the 1880s.
was not just an Indian
producer Jon Plutte’s
Alcatraz Is Not An Island is the
story, it’s a story of
one-hour
“Alcatraz is not an
story of how this historic event altered
people seizing control
documentary
island ... Alcatraz is an
U.S. government Indian policy and
of their own futures
Alcatraz Is Not An
inspiration, it is the idea
programs, and how it forever changed
through social and
Island, with Law
that you can control
the way Native Americans viewed
political activism. In
and Order star
your own destiny, and
themselves, their culture, and their
these times of re
Benjamin Bratt
self-determine your own
examining the role of sovereign rights.
(Quechua)
future.” Richard Oakes,
The story of the occupation of
activism in America,
providing voice-
Mohawk
Alcatraz is as complex and rich as the
the
1969
Indian
over narration.
history of Native Americans. This
occupation of Alcatraz
Alcatraz Is Not An
reminds us that a place for documentary examines the personal
Island is the first in-depth look
sacrifices, tragedies, social battles, and
action exists in the political world
at the history, politics, personalities,
political injustices many Native
and that positive change can be
and cultural reawakening of the
Americans experienced under
made despite overwhelming
1969-71 American Indian occupation
the U.S. government’s
government resistance.
of Alcatraz Island. It won the
policies of assimilation,
This is an opportunity to
“The govern
Best Documentary Feature award
termination,
and
educate, to continue a
ment did all these
at the American Indian Film Festival
relocation - all
dialogue on these issues,
things and sat on
in San Francisco,was a Land Grant
eventually leading
and to inspire the next
tribes for so many
Award finalist at the 2001 Taos
to Alcatraz.
generation of activists.
years... and yet
Talking Pictures Festival and was
Out of Al
Perhaps most impor
still, in 1969, there’s
an official selection for the 2001
catraz came the
tantly, it’s a chance to
still a group of
Sundance Film Festival.
“Red
Power”
honor those who have
people who were
The film will premiere sacrificed so much and
movement of the
willing to stand up
nationwide on PBS on Nov. 7, 2002, dedicated their lives to
1970s, which has
and say, we want
at 10 p.m. (check local listings), and the advancement of all
been called the
our freedom. We
is a co-presentation of ITVS and
lost chapter of
free people.
want to be Native
KQED. Additional funding was
the civil rights
For thousands of
people. We want our
provided by the California Council for
era. Thirty years
Native Americans, the
own governments.
the Humanities, the Pechanga Band of infamous Alcatraz is 1
after the takeover,
We want the right to
Luiseno Mission Indians, and the
Alcatraz Is Not An
not an island - it’s an
self-determination.
Muscogee Creek Tribe of Oklahoma.
Island provides the
inspiration. After gener-
; It’s a revolutionary
The filmmakers also are working
ations of oppression,
act.” Wilma Mankiller, first in-depth look at
with ITVS to develop a community
this historic event,
assimilation, and near
Cherokee
outreach program to bring the film
which sparked a new
genocide, a small group of
directly to reservation and urban Indian
era of Native American
Native American students and
political empowerment and a
communities with an emphasis on
“urban Indians’’ began to occupy
Alcatraz Island in November 1969.
cultural renaissance.
Native youth, as well as educational
the new Miss South Dakota in June,
which made her eligible to compete in
the Miss America finals Sept. 21 in
Atlantic City.
Jim Ruel, an Ojibwe from
Milwaukee, another of last year’s
finalists, landed an invitation to attend
a casting call for the NBC series Ed.
“It’s time to break the stereotypes
of American Indians present in the
entertainment industry,” said Ray
Halbritter, Oneida Nation repre
October 2002
sentative. “Our cultures have been co-
opted and distorted by the mainstream
media for the entertainment of others.
The talent search is yet another way for
all of us to help ensure that Native culture
remains relevant for today’s young
people and for generations to come.”
For more information or an
application, call 315-829-8399 or visit
www.fourdirectionstalent.com.
All participants must submit proof of
tribal membership.