Cherokee Nation Does "Fancy Dance" At Sundance
The Cherokee Nation and its film office are celebrating the world premiere of Fancy Dance, the first recipient of the tribe’s film incentive. Fancy Dance recently debuted at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival as a finalist in the U.S. Dramatic Competition.
Filmed in the Cherokee Nation Reservation in Oklahoma, the film features Native American talent and crew while illustrating important and current issues faced by Indigenous women, children and their families.
“The future is bright for filmmaking in the Cherokee Nation as we are quickly becoming a leading hub for Indigenous storytellers in film and television,” said Jennifer Loren, senior director of Cherokee Film. “We are extremely proud to offer our film incentive and services to such incredible projects as Fancy Dance that deliver accurate, current and unique Native storylines while featuring Native Americans both above and below the line.”
Utilization of the Cherokee Nation Film Incentive translated to significant expenditures paid to Native-owned businesses, as well as wages paid to Native American citizens. In addition to its director and co-writers, more than 40% of the film’s roles, both in front of and behind the camera, were also fulfilled by Natives.
Based on a script by Erica Tremblay (who also served as director-producer) and Miciana Alise, the film stars Lily Gladstone from Killers of the Flower Moon. Produced by Deidre Backs, Heather Rae, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Tommy Oliver and Confluential Films, Fancy Dance was developed and produced with the support of the Cherokee Nation Film Incentive, Sundance Screenwriters Lab, Directors Lab, Creative Producing Lab and Indigenous Intensive, as well as the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Film Fund.
Santa Fe Enjoys "The Curse"
The Curse, a Showtime comedy series produced by A24, completed filming in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to Amber Dodson, director of the New Mexico Film Office.
The Curse is co-created by Benny Safdie (Good Time, Uncut Gems, Daddy Longlegs) and Nathan Fielder (Nathan for You, The Rehearsal), who also serves as director. The show stars Fielder, Safdie, and Oscar winner Emma Stone (La La Land), who executive produces alongside Dave McCary and Ali Herting through their Fruit Tree banner. Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein also serve as executive producers.
The Curse is a genre-bending scripted comedy that explores how an alleged curse disturbs the relationship of a newly married couple as they try to conceive a child while co-starring on their problematic new HGTV show. The series’ guest stars include Oscar nominee Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips), Emmy nominee Corbin Bernsen (L.A. Law, City on a Hill), and Constance Shulman (Orange Is the New Black).
The production employed approximately 150 New Mexico crew members, 30 New Mexico principal actors, and 500 New Mexico background talent.
"Maybe I Do" Lenses In NJ
An all-star cast visited Essex, Union, Hudson, and Passaic Counties in New Jersey for the filming of the multigenerational romantic comedy Maybe I Do. Produced by Endeavor Content, the movie follows Michelle and Allen, who have reached the point in their relationship where they are considering next steps. They decide to invite their parents to finally meet and offer their insights about why marriage works. Turns out, the parents already know one another quite well, which leads to some differing opinions about the value of matrimony. Maybe I Do is produced by Michael Jacobs, Scott Mednick, and Vincent Newman and was released in theaters on January 27.
Edison, NJ native Michael Jacobs wrote and directed Maybe I Do, which features a cast that includes Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon (another Edison native), Richard Gere, William H. Macy, and Emma Roberts. The movie was shot entirely in New Jersey–primarily in Montclair at homes on Mountain Avenue and Edgemont Road, and at The George and MC Hotels.
Motion picture and television production in New Jersey has been booming since the Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act took effect in 2018, and businesses across the state are profiting. In 2021, production work enhanced the local economy by more than $500 million and created thousands of jobs.
