Actor gives youths an insider's perspective of movie industry

Wes Studi talks to students in Barney Bush's advanced film-making class at Rough Rock High School about what it is like to be an actor. Studi has been in such films as "Heat" and "The New World." He was speaking to classes as part of the annual Rough Rock Film-Making and Film-Writing Workshops. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau

Wes Studi autographs a wallet for Diamond Knight at Rough Rock High School. Studi has been in such films as Heat and The New World, he was speaking to classes as part of the annual Rough Rock Filmmaking and Filmwriting workshops. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

ROUGH ROCK — More than a dozen kids in Barney Bush's English and Native Logic Program leaned back in desks as actor Wes Studi took questions about his profession.

"Did they let you keep the tomahawk?" one kid asked.

Studi nodded.

"I have that," he said. "I also have the, the, ... powder gun ..."

"The musket," the class interrupted.

A few minutes earlier, one student asked Studi what his favorite movie was and Studi's answer "The Last of the Mohicans" sparked a slew of questions.

"Have you ever did any drugs?" another student asked.

"Well," Studi joked, "the press is here, so I can't answer that."

It was nearly 4 p.m. and the class was wrapping up.

Studi spent an overcast Wednesday on the isolated campus offering students tips on acting and camera operation.

"If I can find one out of 12 people interested in acting and pursing it, it was worth it to me," he said.

Studi and other actors, writers, producers, and directors visited Rough Rock Community School as part of Bush's annual film-making and film-writing workshops.

During the next three weeks, students in Bush's classes as well as those referred by other teachers will get an inside scoop on what it takes to make it in the film industry. This is the third year of the workshops.

"It brings reality from people who work in the industry," Bush said. "(Students) hear experiences from people who have roots that are deeply embedded in Native America (culture) and who have 'made it' in the industry."

Studi is just the beginning.

Ava Hamilton, a director and producer of documentaries from the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, plans to stay throughout the entire workshop, sharing what she has learned since starting out more than 20 years ago.

"I want to really support their interests, to get what they're working towards," Hamilton said. "(It's amazing) how much dedication it takes to be yourself ... writing is really the key to film-making."

Tyson Lewis, an 18-year-old senior at the school, will soon get a taste of this.

Hamilton wants to take a 10-minute script Lewis wrote and help him produce it during the course of this workshop.

Lewis said he based his script on "a lot of stuff sex, drugs ... " although his script focuses on a woman who stole pinions from a boy.

The workshop is the first of several that Bush plans to offer.

In the spring, Bush has slated a lineup of workshops that include a drama festival featuring Randy Redroad, Yvonne Russo, Kimberly Gueno, and James Duvall and A Celebration of Din Authors with Kris Barney, Ester Belin, and Orlanda White.

Barney said that the workshops are a way to inspire students to look beyond the old Bureau of Indian Affairs and missionary mind-set of trade school.

A mind-set he calls degrading.