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The Rainbow Boy Project Watch trailer
I am an independent Navajo filmmaker making a movie about my people with a universal message about the human relationship to Mother Earth. What began as a "short video story" has blossomed into an independent feature film with inspiring acting performances by new Navajo actors, and wonderful technical production values. This movie is a co-production between my company, REZWOOD ENTERTAINMENT, and 220-PRODUCTIONS.
The Rainbow Boy is an allegorical tale about the consequences of loss of culture and human devastation of planet earth. The story tells about an ancient Navajo warrior, Eagle Catcher, who enters a sacred cave despite an ancient prophecy that warns against entering the cave. Eagle Catcher is transported to the future, which is our own present, where he sees and lives the prophetic devastation of modern humans. His arrival profoundly affects young Ozzie Yazzie, a modern Navajo punk kid struggling to understand his own identity and culture. Almost dying, Eagle Catcher is assisted by his Navajo people, who take him back to the holy cave. Upon returning to his own time, he is given four prophecies about the dire consequences of human choices and actions for the future of planet earth.
The Rainbow Boy is groundbreaking in that it was written by a Navajo, is directed and produced by a Navajo, and has an entirely Navajo cast. It's also shot almost entirely in the Navajo language, with subtitles. The development of the story was an iterative process of research and ongoing dialogue and consultation with my grassroots community, elders, and traditional practitioners.
In this way it's a unique and original film that is Navajo specific, at the same time the story is universal to all people.
The production values and concept draw heavily on the ancient Navajo storytelling process and structure inherent in chants, ceremony, philosophy, and language. To develop the script, this story telling process was combined with the modern film industry formula, to both entertain and to inspire.
The Rainbow Boy cast is composed entirely of Navajo people, many of whom had never acted before. It includes approximately 60 Navajo youth under the age of 25 as actors, extras, and crew members. The majority of the principle photography was completed in November of 2009, as was the editing of the promotional teaser/trailer.
As of March 2010, we have five more days of principle photography to complete, which includes locations in Gallup, New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. Funds derived through Kickstarter will pay for the final five days, and also go towards the final editing and completion of the original score and soundtrack of The Rainbow Boy.
Our goal is to seek and acquire distribution for the International European and American audiences. As of this writing we have one American and two international distribution companies interested in distributing THE RAINBOW BOY, but first we must finish the film. The movie will be premiered in the five different agencies of the Navajo Nation, and Gallup, New Mexico. Other plans include a grassroots tour of Europe, Native American communities, and film festivals.
In addition to simply a love of film and a desire to tell entertaining stories, I am highly motivated to contribute to the preservation of Navajo culture and language. I strongly believe that this project will create pride in language and culture among Navajo youth, at the same time it inspires mankind with the universal message of redemption and love that we all share.
Respectfully,~Norman Patrick Brown
Jenny Pond owns 220-Productions, along with the Executive Producer of The Rainbow Boy, Larry Muckerman. She is director and producer of the documentary POISON WIND, which chronicled the negative legacy of uranium mining on the health of former miners and their families. She is currently co-producing The Rainbow Boy. She has worked in the film industry since 2004 with credits for FLIGHTPLAN, MTV, THE KINGDOM & COWBOY DREAMS.
Screenwriter, Director, Producer Norman Patrick Brown
Straightpin Gallup, NM is Tse nalh bith nii (Sleep Rock People ) and born for Bii bithonii (Deer Water People) and is originally from Chinle, Arizona on the Navajo Nation. He’s a professional filmmaker, producer, actor, and writer. His production company is REZWOOD ENTERTAINMENT.
His film roles include principle roles as an actor: 1987 in RAISING ARIZONA, 1994 as Sgt. Begaye in BLACK DAY, BLUE NIGHT, 1999 as "Ptv Henry“ in THE THIN RED LINE” which was filmed in Australia, and in 2003 he was “Bear” in “THE DOE BOY.” He has been a cultural consultant for Hollywood productions and projects.
Norman’s passion is creating films for his Navajo people in their own language.
In 1989, he wrote, directed and produced, AWAKENING. The first Navajo language film written and directed by a Navajo for Navajos, in conjunction with the docu-drama, The BEAUTY WAY OF LIFE. AWAKENING first premiered in San Francisco, California’s American Indian Film Festival and the Sundance Festival in Park City, Utah in 1990.
His second critically acclaimed Navajo language film is called HORSE SONG, which had its world premiere at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. He also wrote, directed, and produced REZ HOPE, in 2005, about today’s Navajo high school students dealing with issues concerning self-identity, drug and alcohol abuse, student violence and teenage pregnancy.
In 2006 and 2007, Norman ventured into documentary filmmaking. He co-produced a documentary called POWER PATHS that examines the use of the Sun and Wind as clean renewable energy in Indian country. POWER PATHS was seen on P.B.S. INDEPENDENT LENS in 2009. He also co-produced POISON WIND, a documentary about proposed uranium mining on Havasupai, Laguna, and Navajo lands. The documentary examined health and social impacts of past uranium mining through the eyes and stories of former uranium miners.
THE RAINBOW BOY is Norman’s first feature length film. Almost entirely shot in the Navajo language with english subtitles. it combines the ancient Navajo story telling process with the modern film industry formula, producing a unique film that is both Navajo specific and universal to all people.
Personal Statement:
I was blessed by Navajo parents to learn, understand, and to promote Navajo values, culture and language in all my life’s goals. My dedication, knowledge and motivation come from my Navajo elders who instilled in me a sense of pride and urgency to fight, advocate and continue my life as a warrior for my land and people, to share, cherish and promote Navajo values and culture for the next generations of Navajos.
REZWOOD ENTERTAINMENT
Co-producer Jenny Pond 220-PRODUCTIONS
Executive Producer Larry Muckerman 220-PRODUCTIONS
Executive Producer Pony Vigil Green Earth Films
Director of Photography Vincent Pascoe
Sound Bob Witsenhausen
Boom Operator Anthony Scott Gartman
Associate Producers Chirstine Leigh Chantal Viellard
2nd Unit Director of Photography Christina Leigh
Stunt Coordinator Reggie Mitchell
Navajo Language/Culture adivsors Henry Barber Larry Holiday Oscar Detso Anderson Hoskie
Cast: Leland Grass – EAGLE CATCHER Joshua Sandoval – OZZIE YAZZIE Oscar Detso – JOE BRO Cami Leonard – NONABAH TSO Reggie Mitchell - HASKE DZIIL Ben Silversmith – YELLOW EYES Anderson Hoskie –HATALI YAZHI Shelby Lynn Jose –AKINABAH TSO Katie Warner Yazzie - MARYELLARENA JOE
The Rainbow Boy teaser/trailer editor Paul Denigris
THE RAINBOW BOY is still in post production. Completion date is March 2011.
Project location: Gallup, NM
your support is greatly appreciated!
Lets make a pebble dropped into a pond ripple into a tsunami across the world.
