Chris Eyre | |
|---|---|
 Eyre at South by Southwest in 2011 | |
| Born | 1968 (age 55–56) Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Education | New York University (MFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, film producer |
| Years active | 1994-present |
Chris Eyre (born 1968), an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, is an American film director and producer [1] who as of 2012 is chairman of the film department at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design.
Chris Eyre was born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Klamath Falls by his adoptive parents, Earl and Barbara Eyre. Despite his non-native upbringing, he is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. During his time at Klamath Union High School, from which he graduated in 1987, Eyre developed an interest in black-and-white photography, leading him to pursue further education in television production at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon. [2] [3] After completing his studies there, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts from the University of Arizona in 1991. His passion for storytelling brought him to New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where he pursued a Master of Fine Arts in filmmaking from 1992 to 1995. His second-year film, Tenacity (1994), garnered attention at various film festivals, including Sundance. [4] [5]
In 1998, Chris Eyre worked on two film projects. His first release was Things We Do (1998). Eyre's breakthrough came with his direction of Smoke Signals (1998), a film developed from a Sundance directing workshop and later bought by Miramar Films. Winning the Sundance Film Festival Filmmakers Trophy and the Audience Award, the film was noted for being the first nationally distributed feature film directed, written, co-produced, and prominently featuring American Indian actors. It also won "Best Film" honors at the 1998 American Indian Film Festival. [6] Eyre described Smoke Signals as a film about the universal theme of forgiveness, which he believed would resonate with audiences for years. [7] [2]
Following his initial success, Eyre directed several other significant films such as Skins (2002), which was shot on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and Edge of America (2003), which won a Peabody Award. [2]
Eyre's second film, Skins (2002), is the story of two brothers on the Pine Ridge Reservation, a tribal cop and a Vietnam vet battling alcohol and emotional problems. He said at a screening: "The only thing you get in making period pieces about Indians is guilt. I'm interested in doing what non-Indian filmmakers can't do, which is portray contemporary Indians." [5]
Eyre's Edge of America (2004) was the 2004 Sundance Film Festival "opening night" film. Edge of America (2004) is loosely based on the true story of a black English teacher who goes to the Three Nations Reservation to teach, but ends up coaching the very underachieving girls basketball team and takes them all the way to the state finals. In the process, he learns as much about their culture and race relations in America as they learn about winning and self-esteem. On January 29, 2006, Eyre won the Directors Guild of America's award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs for Edge of America, becoming the first Native American to win the award. [8] [9]
Eyre's short film, A Thousand Roads (2005), the "signature film" for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, opened in Washington, D.C., on April 10, 2005, for an unlimited and exclusive engagement. It is a contemporary film, following four American Indians in different locations, as they each confront everyday events. [10]
In 2011, Eyre finished Hide Away (2011), collaborating with Salem writer Peter Vanderwal. His work, deeply reflective of his rural, Klamath Falls upbringing, often explores themes beyond Native American stories, focusing on universal human experiences and the spirit of living vicariously through varied characters. The film's cast includes Josh Lucas and Ayelet Zurer. [11]
Other notable projects include The Doe Boy (2001) and Freedom Riders (2009).
Eyre has also made contributions to television, directing episodes of popular series like Law & Order and Friday Night Lights. [9]
Eyre has also directed two episodes of the famed PBS series Mystery! ; A Thief of Time (2004) and Skinwalkers (2002) starring Adam Beach as Jim Chee, and Wes Studi as Joe Leaphorn. Both were executive produced by Robert Redford and based on the best selling Tony Hillerman novels. Skinwalkers (2002) is a mystery involving skinwalkers or shape-shifters, and the murders of several medicine men. A Thief of Time (2004) is a who-dunnit that intertwines very competitive anthropologists, possible artifact thievery, a missing professor, and the legend of the Anasazi. [2] [4]
In 2008 Eyre directed the first three episodes of We Shall Remain (2009), a mini-series that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history from PBS's acclaimed history series American Experience . [12]
In 2017, Eyre is reported to be working on a documentary on "racism in New Mexico", with his starting point being the monument to Juan de Oñate in Alcalde, New Mexico, whose foot was cut off in 1997. [13]
In recent years, Eyre has been involved in the Navajo noir series Dark Winds , which premiered on AMC+ in 2022. Serving as an executive producer and director, Eyre has worked alongside notable figures such as Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin. The series represents a shift towards television for telling Native stories, a medium where Eyre believes there has been a significant opportunity for Native voices to be heard. [14] [15]
Chris Eyre's directorial style is characterized by its poignant storytelling, rich character development, and deep respect for cultural values. His films often address issues of identity, redemption, and the complexities of Native American life in modern America. [16] [12]
Chris Eyre's upbringing in Klamath Falls with his adoptive parents instilled in him a love for the rural aesthetics and simple pleasures of life, such as driving pickups. His search for his birth mother, Rose Lumpmouth, and discovery of his roots have profoundly impacted his personal life and professional work, infusing his projects with themes of identity, belonging, and reconciliation. Eyre is known for his dedication to his heritage and cultural advocacy, actively participating in initiatives that promote Native American culture and education. His personal experiences and background not only shape his filmmaking perspective but also drive his commitment to telling stories that resonate with authenticity and depth. [16] [9]
Chris Eyre is considered a pivotal figure in Native American cinema. His work has not only contributed to a greater understanding and appreciation of Native American cultures in mainstream media but has also inspired a new generation of Native American filmmakers. [9]
Chris Eyre was named a 2007 USA Rockefeller Foundation Fellow and awarded a $50,000 grant by United States Artists, a public charity that supports and promotes the work of American artists.
Chris Eyre was appointed as chairman of the film department at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design as of January 2012. [17]
| Year | Film | Credited as | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Producer | ||
| 1998 | Things We Do | Yes | |
| Smoke Signals | Yes | Yes | |
| 2001 | The Doe Boy | Yes | |
| 2002 | Skins | Yes | Yes |
| Skinwalkers | Yes | ||
| 2003 | Edge of America | Yes | Yes |
| 2004 | A Thief of Time | Yes | |
| 2005 | A Thousand Roads | Yes | |
| 2007 | Imprint | Yes | |
| 2008 | After the Mayflower | Yes | |
| Tecumseh's Vision | Yes | ||
| 2011 | Hide Away | Yes | Yes |
| 2015 | The Seventh Fire | Yes | |
Sherman Joseph Alexie Jr. is a Native American novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and filmmaker. His writings draw on his experiences as an Indigenous American with ancestry from several tribes. He grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation and now lives in Seattle, Washington.
Adam Beach is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his roles as Victor Joseph in Smoke Signals; Frank Fencepost in Dance Me Outside; Tommy on Walker, Texas Ranger; Kickin' Wing in Joe Dirt; U.S. Marine Corporal Ira Hayes in Flags of Our Fathers; Private Ben Yahzee in Windtalkers; Dr. Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa) in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee; NYPD Detective Chester Lake in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; and Officer Jim Chee in the film adaptations of Skinwalkers, Coyote Waits and A Thief of Time. He starred in the Canadian 2012–2014 series Arctic Air and played Slipknot in the 2016 film Suicide Squad. He also performed as Squanto in Disney's historical drama film Squanto: A Warrior's Tale. Most recently he has starred in Hostiles (2017) as Black Hawk and the Netflix original film Juanita (2019) as Jess Gardiner and Edward Nappo in Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog.
Smoke Signals is a 1998 coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Chris Eyre from a screenplay by Sherman Alexie, based on Alexie's short story collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven (1993). The film won several awards and accolades, and was well received at numerous film festivals.
Skinwalkers is a 2002 mystery television film based on the novel of the same name by Tony Hillerman, one of his series of mysteries set against contemporary Navajo life in the Southwest. It features an all-Native cast, with Adam Beach and Wes Studi playing officers Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn. It was produced as part of the PBS Mystery! series, filmed on the Navajo reservation and directed by Chris Eyre.
Sundance Institute is a non-profit organization founded by Robert Redford committed to the growth of independent artists. The institute is driven by its programs that discover and support independent filmmakers, theatre artists and composers from all over the world. At the core of the programs is the goal to introduce audiences to the artists' new work, aided by the institute's labs, granting and mentorship programs that take place throughout the year in the United States and internationally.
The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023. The festival takes place every January in Park City, Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah; and at the Sundance Resort, and acts as a showcase for new work from American and international independent filmmakers. The festival consists of competitive sections for American and international dramatic and documentary films, both feature films and short films, and a group of out-of-competition sections, including NEXT, New Frontier, Spotlight, Midnight, Sundance Kids, From the Collection, Premieres, and Documentary Premieres. Many films premiering at Sundance have gone on to be nominated and win Oscars such as Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Four Sheets to the Wind is a 2007 independent drama film written and directed by Sterlin Harjo. It was Harjo's first feature film, and won several awards at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and American Indian Film Festival.
Older than America is 2008 American suspense drama film directed by Georgina Lightning and starring Adam Beach, Wes Studi, Tantoo Cardinal, Georgina Lightning and Bradley Cooper. The film explores the devastating personal and cultural effects of the American Indian boarding schools on the members of a Native American family in Minnesota.
The portrayal of Native Americans in television and films concerns indigenous roles in cinema, particularly their depiction in Hollywood productions. Especially in the Western genre, Native American stock characters can reflect contemporary and historical perceptions of Native Americans and the Wild West.
Sterlin Harjo is a Seminole filmmaker. He has directed three feature films, a feature documentary, and the FX comedy drama series Reservation Dogs, all of them set in his home state of Oklahoma and concerned primarily with Native American people and content.
Songs My Brothers Taught Me is a 2015 American independent coming-of-age Native American drama tragedy film written and directed by Chloé Zhao in her feature film directorial debut, and produced by Zhao and Forest Whitaker. Developed at the Sundance Institute workshops, the film, set in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, explores the bond between a Lakota Sioux brother and his younger sister.
Sydney Freeland is a Native American (Navajo) filmmaker. She wrote and directed the short film Hoverboard (2012) and the film Drunktown's Finest (2014), which garnered numerous acclaims after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Her second film, Deidra and Laney Rob a Train, debuted at Sundance and was released on Netflix in 2017.
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Randy Redroad is a film director, film editor, writer and songwriter. He is best known for his films The Doe Boy (2001) and Among Ravens (2014).
The 1491s are a Native American sketch comedy group, with members based in Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Montana. While the members' sketch comedy has had a growing cult following since the mid-2000s, and their videos since 2009, they are perhaps best known for their work in more widely-known shows such as Rutherford Falls and Reservation Dogs.
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Rod Rondeaux is a Native American actor and stuntman. As an actor, his work includes the 2005 miniseries Into the West, Comanche Moon in 2008, the Cayuse character in the 2010 Kelly Reichardt film Meek's Cutoff, and the lead role in the 2015 film, Mekko. His stunt work includes Reel Injun and Comanche Moon.
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Union is a 2024 American documentary film, directed by Brett Story and Stephen Maing. It follows the Amazon Labor Union as they seek to unionize Amazon's JKF8 Warehouse in Staten Island.
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