TornJersey

Film

Producer/Sound Recordist
Casino Nation. The film documents the Seneca Nation of Indians as they open two Las Vegas-style casinos, one in Niagara Falls, New York and the other on their Allegany territory. This film highlights the impact of sudden prosperity on this small sovereign nation. Will the distinctive culture and identity of these native people be able to withstand the onslaught of American culture’s promise of big and easy money? The film explores these and other issues facing the Senecas during this critical time of sweeping change. More information may be found at www.casinonation.net.

Director/Writer/Editor
What the Hell is Corn Soup? (2001) This short film documents the preparation of a traditional Seneca corn soup. Ingredients include dried white corn, wood ashes, kidney beans and salt pork. It’s an arduous task to prepare this Seneca delicacy because it takes over 12 hours to prepare. It is not uncommon for Terry to host a few corn soup parties during the year. His guests are able to screen the film and taste the soup. There’s a reason why this soup’s ingredients and preparation have remained unchanged for the last 200 years.  CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW VIDEO.

What the Hell is Corn Soup? (2001)

Director/Writer/Editor
Thomas Indian School Reunion (2004). From 1855 to 1956, the Thomas Indian School (formerly known as Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children) operated on the Seneca territory in New York State. Each year, former students gather and share their experience about the boarding school. These former students share their unique perspective of life as they fought to retain their native identity.  CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW VIDEO

Thomas Indian School Reunion (2004)

Producer/Editor
Frybread a Traumedy (2005). This short film is written and directed by Laala Matias. After a five year absence, a Native American man returns home an unemployed vegetarian. Familial chaos ensues.  I produced and edited this film while attending the ABC/Disney Summer TV/Film Workshop at Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM. CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW VIDEO

Frybread: A Traumedy (2005)

Producer/Editor
American Indian Community House Gallery Exhibitions (2005-2006).  This project was coordinated and hosted by then-AICH Gallery Curator, Sarah Sense.  During the 2005-2006 gallery schedule, I was contracted to produce and edit five 30-minutes programs.  Native artists included Janice Toulouse Shingwaak, Star Wallowing Bull, Maria Hupfield, Barry Ace, Jeffrey Gibson and Bill Miller.  Each episode featured one or more of the artists during their opening night festivities as well as an artist talk, which was held the next day.  These episodes aired on Manhattan Neighborhood Networks (MNN).  Support for these programs were provided by New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) – Visual Arts Program, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Manhattan Neighborhood Networks (MNN) – Community Media Grant Program.  Although the gallery at AICH has since closed down, I really enjoyed making these programs.   CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO SEE SCREEN SHOTS FROM THE EPISODES AS WELL AS PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS.

Director/Writer/Editor
Through the Eyes of Clint (1991). This short film is a first person account of reservation life from the point of view of Terry’s younger teenage brother, Clint. Clint explains about the cultural differences he faced while attending the Gowanda Central School District. Clint and other Indian children were bussed from the Seneca Territory to a near-by white school district where Indians got their first experience of white society.

Editor (sort of)
The Bag (2003). This was my first attempt at editing with Final Cut Pro. In the Fall of 2003, I attended a digital filmmaking class at Film/Video Arts.   The class collectively worked on a 4-minute film.  One person was selected to write the script and we all filmed the sequences together and then we were allowed to edit our own versions of the “The Bag”. CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW VIDEO

The Bag (2003)