SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Fantasy, Western, Adventure, Horror
A band of long–dead American Indians warriors and their war ponies rise from massacre sites to reclaim the bones of their brothers stolen by archeologists and return them to their rightful graves.
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
A ragged band of long-dead American Indians warriors and their war ponies rise from massacre sites into the present day to reclaim the bones of their brothers stolen by archeologists and return them to their rightful graves.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Action/adventure/fantasy/si-fi/surreal/horror
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
This story has domestic and international appeal to those who desire to watch a visual action-packed ballad about American Indians. This is also a movie for those who seek a moving story about overcoming hardship. The underdog American Indians for once win the ultimate battle and regain cultural pride.
With recent interest in Native American culture on the rise, there has been no movie, since “Dancing With Wolves” (a financial box office domestic and intertnational success) that has so eloquently captured their spirit and their struggle.
The story gives much deserved respect to Native Americans (and all Indiginous People) who have had their land stolen, their graves desecrated, their human rights violated, their families masacred, their language and culture denied for over 500 years.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Righting wrongs
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
I have a lot of favorite movies: Shawshank Redemption. Die Hard. Lethal Weapon. Handcock. Natural Born Killers.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I have lived, sweated and worked with Dakota, Lakota and Navajo tribes for many years and gathered bits and pieces that grew into this story. The Lakota say “If it is in your heart, it is in your blood.” Native Americans are in my heart and in my blood.
How many stories have you written?
Twelve screenplays, one sale, one work for hire, two options, two books written and illustrated (McGraw Hill), many magazine features, many short stories, fiction, non-fiction, and creative non-fiction.
What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
“Turn me on” by Nora Jones. And all of Bob Dylan.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Ensuring the story did justice to the true plight of the American Indian experience, while telling it in an entertaining, fun, fast-moving, visually-impactful way.
My challenge was to tell the story from the American Indian perspective. Therefore, I had to break molds to tell it fully and accurately. The true hero of the story is the Army of American Indians in their battle to regain ancestral pride.
Ultimately, the story became an hybrid of action, adventure, fantasy, horror and sci-fi.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Sailing, the Ocean and the blue blue Sky.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
A fantasy Si-Fi Festival… Fantasy Si-fi almost exactly describes the genre of American Indian Uprising.
Thank you for the feedback. Many good points.
*****
Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
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